Director of Career Coaching

O’Melveny has an immediate opening for a Director of Career Coaching in our Washington, DC office. The Director of Career Coaching leads the firm’s career coaching program, providing confidential support and guidance to attorneys at all levels. This role develops and manages initiatives that promote career growth, engagement, well-being, and professional development, in line with the firm’s values. The Director works closely with leadership and practice groups to foster a culture of continuous learning and personal growth, oversees mentoring and training programs, and collaborates across departments to enhance career opportunities. As a trusted advisor, the Director helps shape and advance career development strategies throughout the firm.

The salary range in CA/NYC/DC for this role is $200,000 - $275,000 and represents the firm’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and location.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Design, administer, and maintain firmwide career coaching policies, procedures, and practices in alignment with strategic goals.
Develop and implement tailored coaching strategies that support attorney growth and retention.
Meet regularly with associates, attorneys, and counsel at various stages of their careers, including new hires, laterals, newly promoted Partners, to provide coaching, integration support, and guidance through key career inflection points.
Contribute (when applicable) to the design, implementation, and enhancement of the Firm programs, such as the New Associate Mentoring Program, Upward Reviews, and Leadership Academies, and other professional development initiatives.
Propose enhancements to attorney career development offerings, and professional growth opportunities, in collaboration with the Talent Development team.
Provide guidance on external legal industry career trends, as well as internal organizational trends, professional development benchmarks, retention, and career progression.
Develop and analyze internal reports and projections regarding attorney engagement, retention, and career progression.
Develop and manage collateral materials for career development programs, including website content and other resources.
Collaborate with Practice Group Leaders, Director of Well-being, the DE&I Team Professional Development team, and external coaches and resources to ensure attorneys have access to resources that support their professional growth, personal well-being, inclusion and belonging at the firm, and long term career sustainability.
Collaborate with Attorney Recruiting, Professional Development to support attorney integration, retention programs, and strategic hiring goals.
Stay informed on applicable development initiatives, firm resources, and industry best practices to advise attorneys on leveraging these tools for career advancement.
Lead other professional development projects as needed to foster a culture of continuous growth and leadership within the firm.
Apply coaching mindsets and practices; initiate and collaborate on firmwide projects that promote feedback exchange, build community, and foster curiosity, empathetic listening, inclusivity, and continuous growth; and train key colleagues in coaching fundamentals to embed a coaching culture across the firm to enhance delivery.

Knowledge, Skills And Experience

Bachelor’s degree required; JD or advanced degree strongly preferred.
Coaching certification or accreditation (e.g., ICF) strongly preferred.
Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience in a professional development department of a law firm and/or career advisory role in academia or a professional services firm required.
Adherence to ICF coaching ethics and norms.
Demonstrated expertise in legal industry dynamics, law firm operations, and attorney career development.
Proven track record delivering confidential coaching to attorneys across all levels and career stages.
Strong command of business metrics, attorney development best practices, and current industry trends.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present and engage effectively with large groups.
Excellent judgement and discretion with respect to confidential information
Collaborative, adaptable, and innovative mindset, with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Team-oriented, with excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and communication skills; detail- and results-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.