Manager, Learning & Professional Development

Join Goodwin’s Global Operations Team, and make a real impact on a global scale. At Goodwin, we work with some of the world’s most successful and innovative investors, entrepreneurs and disruptors in the life sciences, private equity, real estate, technology and financial industries, and where they converge. As part of the Global Operations Team – all business professionals at the firm – you’ll collaborate with colleagues from varied backgrounds and experiences, fostering an environment where cross-functional learning, networking, and collaboration are at the core of what we do. Here, we’re not just supporting a law firm; we’re partnering with attorneys and clients to deliver cutting‑stakes litigation and dispute resolution, world‑class regulatory compliance and advisory services, and complex transactions. Our commitment to integrity, ingenuity, agility, and ambition drives us, and we’re proud to have been recognised as the “Best Business Team” by The American Lawyer. This is your opportunity to grow professionally in a dynamic, global environment, surrounded by forward-thinking peers. Goodwin is seeking a creative, collaborative, and solutions‑oriented Manager to join the Learning + Professional Development team. Reporting to the Director of Learning + Professional Development, the Manager will lead the design, development, and delivery of professional skills, leadership development, and career development programs for the firm's professional staff and lawyers, with select programming for clients. The Manager will serve as a strategic partner to Practice Groups, Industry Groups, and GO Team departments, translating business and talent needs into practical, engaging, and scalable learning and development solutions. This role requires expertise in instructional design, facilitation, stakeholder consultation, career development, program management, learning technology, and adult learning methodologies. The ideal candidate brings a passion for developing talent, advancing professional growth, and creating meaningful learning experiences within a professional services environment.

What You Will Do

Learning Strategy, Career Development, and Stakeholder Partnership

• Partner with the Director to develop and execute a comprehensive professional skills, leadership development, and career development strategy for professional staff and lawyers.
• Serve as a strategic learning and talent development advisor to one or more Practice Groups and GO Team departments, identifying development needs and recommending solutions aligned with business and talent priorities.
• Build trusted relationships with firm leaders, subject matter experts, and stakeholders to ensure learning and development initiatives address evolving organizational needs.
• Consult with stakeholders on competencies, career pathways, development planning, leadership readiness, and growth opportunities.
• Partner with stakeholders to develop career development strategies that support professional growth, internal mobility, succession readiness, and leadership pipelines.
• Collaborate with partners and GO Team leaders to develop and deliver select learning offerings for firm clients.
• Provide strategic consultation on talent development initiatives that enhance individual, team, and organizational effectiveness.

Facilitation and Program Delivery

• Facilitate engaging and impactful learning experiences for professional staff, lawyers, and firm leaders through in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
• Lead and support key firmwide initiatives, including onboarding and integration programs, professional skills curricula, manager development programs, leadership development programs, and the Emerging Leaders initiative.
• Facilitate career development workshops and programs focused on career planning, professional growth, leadership readiness, and advancement within the firm.
• Prepare and coach internal instructors, subject matter experts, and firm leaders serving as program faculty.
• Ensure programs are delivered consistently and effectively across U.S. offices and, as appropriate, global audiences.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Talent and other firm functions to deliver seamless learning experiences and achieve shared talent development goals.

Learning Technology, Measurement, and Continuous Improvement

• Leverage learning technologies and digital resources to enhance engagement, accessibility, scalability, and learner outcomes.
• Stay current on emerging learning technologies, instructional design practices, industry trends, and responsible applications of AI in learning and development.
• Establish program success metrics and evaluate learning and career development initiatives through participant feedback, utilization data, and other available measures.
• Analyze outcomes and recommend improvements that strengthen participant engagement, skill development, career progression, and retention.
• Support the ongoing enhancement of the firm's Learning Management System (LMS) and other learning platforms.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, scale, and improve learning and development processes while maintaining a high‑quality participant experience.

People and Program Management

• Supervise, coach, and develop at least one direct report responsible for the administrative and logistical support of learning programs.
• Establish clear priorities, expectations, and development plans while fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high‑performing team environment.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects from concept through execution, including timelines, communications, stakeholders, budgets, risks, and deliverables.
• Effectively prioritize competing demands while maintaining exceptional quality, responsiveness, and stakeholder service.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and development support to direct reports and project team members.

Additional Responsibilities

• Contribute to departmental and firmwide strategic initiatives as assigned.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen talent pipelines, enhance employee development, and improve the overall learning and career development experience.
• Perform other duties and special projects as needed in support of the firm's learning, professional development, and talent development objectives.

Who You Are

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of five years of experience in learning and development, talent development, career development, organizational development, attorney development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing, delivering, and evaluating professional skills, leadership development, career development, and/or talent development programs.
• Strong knowledge of instructional design, curriculum development, adult learning principles, facilitation techniques, and career development practices.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills, including experience engaging senior leaders and diverse professional audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships, consult effectively with stakeholders, and translate business needs into impactful development solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and build credibility with senior leaders, partners, and other key stakeholders in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Experience partnering with leaders to identify talent needs and develop learning, career development, and growth strategies that support organizational objectives.
• Demonstrated project and program management experience, including the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously and deliver high‑quality results.
• Experience supervising, coaching, and developing team members or leading cross‑functional projects and initiatives through influence in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to use data, participant feedback, and evaluation measures to assess program effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and inform decision‑making.
• Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive learning experiences that support individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and learning styles.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement, navigate ambiguity, and thrive in a collaborative, fast‑paced professional environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a law firm or other professional services environment.
• Experience designing and delivering learning, leadership development, and career development programs for professional staff, lawyers, or other professional populations.
• Experience creating competency models, career frameworks, career pathways, advancement programs, succession strategies, or leadership pipeline initiatives.
• Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), virtual learning platforms, digital learning technologies, and technology‑enabled learning solutions.
• Experience managing external learning vendors, facilitators, coaches, consultants, and content providers.
• Knowledge of learning analytics, program evaluation methodologies, and emerging applications of artificial intelligence in learning and talent development.
• Experience supporting talent initiatives focused on employee growth, internal mobility, leadership readiness, retention, and career progression.

Benefits and More

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Retirement & Savings Plan
• Emergency back‑up child and adult care
• Paid vacation, sick time off, and holidays
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Employee recognition and reward programs
• Employee wellness and assistance programs
• Employee discounts and perks

This position is eligible for overtime: No

The Target Salary Range For This Position Varies By Location And Is Commensurate With Relevant Experience: $135,000.00 - $175,000.00

Professional career paths at Goodwin offer you more – and less – than you might expect. You’ll find less hierarchy and more meritocracy. You’ll have more chances to work across departments and offices, and fewer roadblocks to getting the job done. We believe people are happiest when they’re not limited by a ‘that’s how we’ve always done it’ approach, so we encourage a more imaginative and collaborative working environment. Our Global Operations Team – what we call our GO Team – brings a level of professionalism, enthusiasm and commitment to work each and every day.

Goodwin embraces responsible and ethical use of AI in the Hiring Process.