Kennedys is seeking a Pro Bono Manager, a new role in our growing Responsible Business team, which sits within the HR department. Our team aims to integrate responsible business into our operations, governance and decision-making, and we deliver the firm's social impact, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I), wellbeing and environment programmes. We are looking for someone who can build the firm's global pro bono programme and support our lawyers to make a social impact through their legal skills and expertise.
Our responsible business initiatives span the entire firm, which means you will have access to colleagues across all our regions globally. The successful Pro Bono Manager will identify and set up new pro bono projects that cater to the expertise and interests of our lawyers, as well as design the systems, processes and policies that enable an impactful pro bono programme to be delivered.
Based in our Manchester office working on a hybrid basis.
Team
Kennedys HR team supports the firm around the world with all people related matters.
We are a global team with HR presence in Chelmsford, Manchester and London for the UK, Dublin and Belfast for EMEA, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia for APAC, Basking Ridge for US and Miami/LATAM for Latin America. The areas of HR that we have responsibility for are Business Partnering, Learning and Development, Recruitment, Responsible Business (Environment, Social Impact, Wellbeing and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), Policies and Operations, Reward and HR Systems.The HR function is also responsible for the Secretarial function in the UK.
You will be working in a fast-paced, demanding, and global environment as we strive to make a difference for our people, clientsand communities where we work.
Key responsibilities
- Work with the senior-level pro bono steering group and senior Responsible Business team members to develop a global pro bono strategy for the firm
- Consult partners and internal stakeholders to understand interests and challenges for pro bono across all jurisdictions in which we operate
- Source pro bono projects and initiatives, and develop pro bono partnerships, including collaborations with clients
- Ensure the pro bono programme is aligned with, and contributes to, our wider responsible business objectives and priority Sustainable Development Goals, such as in relation to climate action and reducing inequalities
- Design effective processes for delivering pro bono and work with relevant HR, IT and Finance teams to put in place necessary infrastructure to deliver a global pro bono programme
- Develop an impact reporting framework that delivers against the pro bono strategy and set up processes for collecting pro bono impact KPIs
- Drive a culture of pro bono and build awareness of its benefits and positive impacts across the firm
- Collaborate with the marketing and communications team to develop campaigns and create engaging content for internal and external communications channels that highlight our pro bono initiatives
- Produce content for client-facing credentials, tender and pitch documents
- Research and advise on emerging pro bono best practice and trends across our operating regions
- Work with other HR teams to support objectives under the Global Strategy Plan, such as with Learning and Development and how pro bono can support professional development
- Act as an ambassador and representative for the firm at external events and forums, and collaborate with external stakeholders in the pro bono community
Required experience
- Direct and demonstrable experience of delivering pro bono initiatives within a law firm context
- At least a degree (or equivalent course) in law
- Ability to translate regulatory requirements in order to conduct pro bono matters across Kennedys' jurisdictions
- A genuine interest in harnessing lawyers' expertise to make a positive social impact
- Attention to detail and demonstrated project management skills
- A global view and understanding of pro bono - we operate in 20 countries
- Excellent organisational and written communication skills
- A team player who is able to work in a highly collaborative, fast-paced environment with different teams within a global law firm setting
- Ability to deal with highly confidential and sensitive data
- Knowledge of the MS suite of products
Please let us know if you require any additional support or adjustments to be made in order to submit your application to Kennedys.
*where a level of experience is indicated, this is a guideline only and represents the amount of time we would usually expect a candidate to accumulate the requisite level of experience. This does not preclude applications from candidates with more or less experience.