Career Strategy Manager- Paralegal Services

POSITION: Manager, Career Strategy- Paralegal Services

HOURS: 9:00 to 5:00 WFH up to 1 day per week

COMPENSATION: $175,000-$200,000, with some potential flexibility

Manager, Career Strategy- Paralegal Services| Global Law Firm | Chicago, IL Our highly prestigious full-service AmLaw 100 law firm client is hiring an experienced Manage, Career Strategy- Paralegal Services. As a leader within the career strategy function, the Manager, Career Strategy – Paralegal Services champions the professional growth, long-term development, and career advancement of paralegal professionals across the firm. This role partners closely with the Director, Career Strategy as well as the paralegal supervisors across offices and serves as a trusted advocate and advisor to paralegals at all levels, designing and driving career pathways, development programming and training, and identifying resources to allow paralegals to meaningfully contribute to their matter teams. In addition to its career development focus, this individual plays a key role in talent management, resource planning, and innovation. The Manager ensures high levels of client satisfaction, team performance, and cross-office collaboration to support firmwide goals and legal service delivery. Our client is offering a highly competitive salary and benefit package.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Career Strategy & Development

• Design and implement a firmwide career development framework for paralegals, encompassing structured career pathways, competency models, and clear advancement criteria that align individual growth with firm strategy.
• Lead end-to-end paralegal talent management — from recruitment and onboarding through ongoing development — identifying opportunities that serve both individual career goals and firm needs.
• Oversee the performance evaluation process and establish benchmarking standards that drive consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the paralegal population.
• Ensure all paralegals have the resources, tools, and support needed to deliver responsive, high-quality, client-focused service.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and all applicable professional development requirements, including CLE obligations and technical competency standards
• Lead regular meetings across the paralegal population to share updates on firm news and active matters, align on priorities, and drive ongoing training and professional development conversations.

Resource Management

• Optimize resource allocation, project staffing, and workflow processes to maximize efficiency and ensure the right talent is deployed to the right matters.
• Monitor performance metrics and workload distribution to ensure billable hour targets are consistently met, making proactive adjustments as needs shift.
• Serve as a strategic liaison between attorneys, legal teams, and administrative leadership to ensure seamless integration of paralegal resources within case teams and drive opportunities for improved service delivery and efficiency.
• Provide leadership and advocacy for paralegal professionals, aligning team goals with firm priorities, ensuring staffing levels meet business needs while promoting a collaborative, high-performance culture.

Change Management & Innovation

• Champion the use of new technologies and practice-specific tools to enhance productivity and collaboration.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and innovations in legal service delivery; serve as a thought leader within the department and broader firm.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Qualifications and Requirements

• Minimum of five (5) years as a practicing paralegal with a strong preference for trial experience; law firm, government agency, or investigations background also highly valued.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced legal education or training — including a J.D. welcomed.
• Periodic travel to regional offices to support collaboration and projects.
• Proven leadership experience managing legal support teams or paralegal departments in a fast-paced, service-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence, deliver results, and lead high-performing teams.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and legal technology platforms, including SharePoint, Relativity, Opus 2, Lexis/Westlaw, and other trial support software.
• Must be able to work in a hybrid office setting and meet the physical demands of the position.
• Committed to maintaining confidentiality and upholding the highest standards of professional ethics.