Senior professional development manager

This role serves as a senior member of the Americas Professional Development team, supporting the Professional Development Director in executing and advancing talent development programs across the region, while contributing to the firm’s global talent development strategy.

Role and Responsibilities

Attorney and Business Professional Talent Development

• Partner with PD Americas leadership and the Global Talent & Development team to develop, manage and implement competency-driven business skills training for Associates, Counsel, and Business Professionals across the Americas.
• Lead execution and delivery of programs aligned to global standards but tailored to regional needs.
• Drive Associate development, including midlevel and senior associate progression, Path to Partner initiatives, mentoring and career development planning. Integrate firmwide initiatives such as Smarter Collaboration and business development skills into regional programming.
• Collaborate with internal experts and external providers to design and deliver high-impact learning.

Program Design, Delivery and Innovation

• Design programs with clear learning objectives and deliver using practical methodologies. Facilitate training sessions across the Americas (virtual and in-person) and implement blended and AI-enabled learning approaches. Continuously review and improve programs based on feedback and data.

Global Alignment and Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain strong alignment with global teams while acting as a key regional contributor. Influence stakeholders to engage in development programs and provide feedback to support global program evolution.
• Support bespoke learning for teams and advise on development strategies.

Program Management and Operations

• Lead execution of programs across the Americas in coordination with Training Events. Oversee program evaluation, ROI analysis, and continuous improvement. Manage external providers and ensure quality and value.

Other Related Functions

• Manage training budget, track program spend and liaise with HR teams and Regional PGs and OMPs on onboarding, mentoring and talent processes.
• Participate in firm initiatives and other cross-functional project teams that promote PD Americas’ goals for a sustainable high performance culture and delivery of client service excellence.

• Extensive experience in Professional Development within a law firm or professional services environment
• Demonstrated ability to design and deliver business skills and leadership development programs
• Strong facilitator, coach and mentor with credibility among Associates and Business leaders
• Experience managing teams and complex projects
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Commercial awareness and ability to align development with business goals
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, high-performance environment.

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide.

Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you’re helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to an inclusive environment, and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimize your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.