Job Description

Purpose of the Role

A newly created role within the Projects EMEA team, part of the Finance & Projects (F&P) practice group. We are seeking an experienced Resource Manager to establish and implement a Resource Management function within the team. Working alongside the existing Group Resource Manager, the post-holder will help embed effective RM practices before transitioning to solo responsibility for managing the function.

The role will initially focus on supporting partners and senior fee earners in the Projects EMEA team by identifying capacity and assisting with effective allocation of resource across approximately 190 lawyers in eight UK offices and six international offices. While the initial emphasis will be UK-focused, the remit is expected to broaden internationally, potentially at pace depending on progress and business need.

The role will also provide Resource Management support to other F&P teams as required.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Establish and embed a Resource Management function within the Projects EMEA team/group, including setting up new processes, educating on best practice and managing change. This will be done initially in collaboration with an existing Group Resource Manager, before transitioning to solo management of the function
• Act as a trusted advisor to the team/group on strategic manpower planning and resourcing, with an initial UK-focused remit that is expected to broaden internationally as the function develops
• Attend regular operational management meetings/calls, providing management support
• Work closely with the pricing and legal project management teams to ensure aligned and efficient matter delivery.
• To liaise with partners and senior fee earners to identify and scope future resourcing requirements across the national team
• Optimise the allocation of work and the deployment of staff to maximise profitability by:
  • Understanding the capability of lawyers and partners in each office, including their preferences, development needs and objectives. Maintain knowledge of individual skills, development needs, experiences and personal / professional aspirations and apply this knowledge in resourcing decisions
  • Ensuring work is allocated to ensure pockets of high or low utilisation are minimised
  • Creating client teams for our major clients
  • Ensuring priority is given to high risk / reputational / critical work
• Hold regular meetings with office leads to discuss workloads, projects and any capacity issues
• Work with Director of Finance and Operations and HR Managers to identify and reduce capacity within the Group
• Resolve resourcing conflicts by being creative and innovative in the use of resource, identifying potential issues early, challenging requests where appropriate and dealing with conflicting demands.
• Support the lawyer recruitment process by advising on skill gaps, utilisation trends and future resourcing needs
• Assist in the implementation of systems and processes for identifying, monitoring and reporting on capacity and utilisation
• Liaise with the Vario- Variable Resource team:
  • Assisting with the recruitment, on-boarding process and engagement terms for flexible resource, according to demand
  • Acting as the main point of contact for identifying and deploying available resource at peak times
• Provide Resource Management support to other F&P teams as needed, with the expectation that the function may extend across the wider practice group as it matures.