Manager, Legal Talent

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is one of Canada’s leading business law firms. Advising many of Canada’s corporate leaders, as well as U.S. and international parties with extensive interest in Canada, our more than 1,000 firm members are based in offices in Toronto, Montréal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary and New York.

Osler prides itself on attracting and maintaining some of the brightest talent in the legal arena. Our lawyers, students, management and staff have created a unique firm culture which nurtures mentoring and the exchange of ideas. Osler is a dynamic and exciting place to further your career or carve out a new path.

Reporting to the Director of Legal Talent, the Manager of Legal Talent will manage the operations of the national Associate Program. This includes overseeing and executing complex tasks involving a high degree of accuracy and professionalism, including the following:

• Performance management (formal firm-wide mid-year evaluation, year-end evaluation, and year round feedback processes)
• Management of employment services for associate lawyers (performance management, leaves of absence, voluntary and involuntary departures, secondments, office/department transfers, alternate employment arrangements, lateral and first year associate integration, etc.)
• Associate engagement initiatives (Advisor and Peer Mentor programs, mid-year Reflect & Connect process, support of Associate Representative Committee (ARC), team building events, etc.)
• Management of associate employment policies and supporting the development of new policies
• Associate Program operations budget
  
  

In addition, this position supports the Director, Legal Talent and the Chief Legal Talent Officer in various national projects and programs related to legal professionals.

This role has 4 direct reports. Two Legal Talent Specialists who divide operational responsibility by the Firm’s practice areas; one Performance Management Specialist and one Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities:

Associate and Income Partner Evaluation and Performance Management Processes:

• Manages Firm-wide processes and procedures with respect to evaluation and performance management matters including management of the Associate and partnership candidate mid-year, and the Associate and Income Partner year-end performance review processes
• Reviews evaluations/feedback, prepares bespoke year-end evaluation packages for approximately 300 associates and 45 income partners
• Prepares year-end reports to the Partnership Board and General Partnership outlining the philosophy applied in the associate and income partner progression, salary/draw strategy, bonus awards
• Drafts and oversees the execution of individual associate and income partner evaluation reports “Report Cards”, performance bonus memos, salary adjustment memos, retention bonuses, as well as supports RRSP administration
• Manages the development and design of the LPC-IPC Year End Website to support Legal Professional Committee and Income Partner Committee compensation setting processes
  
  

Employment Matters:

• Manages all employment matters as they arise for associates: leaves (pregnancy, parental, paternity, medical, unpaid, education), client and office secondments, department or office transfers, part-time/reduced hours or other role changes, retention arrangements, and life events (wedding, birth, bereavement) including development and maintenance of procedures, policies, databases and reports
• Manages all administrative matters in relation to voluntary and involuntary departures, and conducts exit interviews
• Acts as point of contact for associates in relation to Firm policies, precedents and protocols and being knowledgeable to answer effectively
• Provides advice regarding precedent setting decisions based on previous experience and historical understanding of Firm policies and processes which may require detailed research and report generation
• Supports regional office Legal Talent colleagues with respect to the interpretation of Firm policies and first point of contact for all regional counterparts with respect to Legal Talent protocols/templates/processes/best practices
• Collaborates with payroll and benefits team regarding the administration of Firm benefits, pay schedules, updates to employment and the administration of salary changes, bonuses, and appreciation certificates
• Provides advice regarding precedent setting decisions based on previous experience and historical understanding of Firm policies and processes which may require detailed research and report generation
• Prepares and maintains various reports and summaries including productivity reports, attrition charts, retention programs, leaves, vacation use, docketing practices, employment histories, etc.
• Stays appraised of all legal professional personnel matters on a Firm wide basis for the purposes of establishing and maintaining precedent databases and monthly reporting to the Legal Professionals Committee, Department Chairs & Senior Management
• Reports on national associate attrition, recruitment and engagement for senior management
  
  

Engagement and Integration:

• Manages the annual assignment of advisors in the firm-wide mentoring program for all associates, as well as first year and lateral hire associate advisor & peer mentor program for all offices, working with LPC members and Department Chairs; stays abreast of advisor relationship best practices; updates advisor program “tool kit” material
• Meets with lateral hires during onboarding and monthly check-ins to support integration
• Executes quarterly and ad hoc team building initiatives for associates
• Assists with planning of associate retreats and social events for associates
• Manages the appreciation program including accurate tracking and reporting on appreciation certificate patterns
  
  

Associate Policies:

• Manages the administration of associate policies
• Conducts market research, analyzes data, drafts recommendations, updates and maintains Firm policies impacting legal professionals
• Maintains the Associate page on OslerNet
  
  

Budget:

• Responsible for monitoring and reconciling monthly expenses for the Associate Program
• Allocates and advises the Associate Representative Committee of their budget amounts for associate engagement initiatives in the Toronto Office
• Prepares forecast and operations budget
  
  

Data Collection:

• Develops and oversees the maintenance of all associate employment data, including the implementation of new data collection processes in HCM
  
  

Position Requirements

Education and Experience

• An undergraduate degree and post-secondary education in Human Resources or related discipline
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Human Resources or related discipline as a people leader, ideally in the professional services industry
• Experience with program implementation, administration and management
• Project management experience an asset
• An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• High sense of urgency given service level expectations from our partners
• Customer service orientation and developed relationship building skills
• Highly developed organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple demands and priorities
• High degree of professionalism (in speech, writing, and personal presentation)
• Advanced computer skills and proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, viDesktop, SharePoint, UKG/other HRIS
• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills including ability to tactfully and effectively listen, question, and probe for information; collaboration skills
• Advanced research and analytical skills
• Proactive, creative problem solver
• Innovative thinker; process improvement oriented
• Abides by Firm policies and maintains confidentiality of Firm, client, employee and candidate information
• Stays abreast of market trends for lawyers, trends in performance management tools and techniques, engagement and legal community and business trends
• Understanding and respect for the Firm’s culture and key elements of associate talent management programs
  
  

For the safety of firm members and visitors, Osler is committed to complying with the recommendations of public health authorities, including with respect to adopting mandatory vaccination policies. Employment at Osler is therefore conditional on complying with any vaccination policies that Osler may adopt from time to time in response to the recommendations of public health authorities.

We are currently working in a hybrid work arrangement, which includes a requirement to work primarily in the office and flexibility to work remotely up to 2 days per week.

Accessibility and Accommodation

We thank all applicants for their interest in Osler; however, only chosen applicants will be contacted. Osler is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, and we welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and people with diverse backgrounds, identities, and cultures. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates in all phases of the selection process.

Background and Reference Checks

Please note that any offer of employment will be conditional upon background and reference checks, including a criminal record check, credit check, and employment and educational verifications.

If you have the required background with the ability to provide exceptional customer service and wish to work in one of Canada's leading law firms, please reply in confidence with a cover letter and résumé by the closing date.

No agencies or phone calls/emails please.