Director, Legal Talent (Disputes)

About Gowling Wlg

At Gowling WLG, our commitment to excellence begins with our people. As an international law firm with offices in Canada, the U.K., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, we’re proud to recruit and retain top talent who bring energy, insight, and a singular focus on delivering exceptional experiences – for our clients and each other.

We’re intentional about building a workplace that’s both high-performing and supportive, ensuring that everyone is empowered to do their best work and reach their full potential. Our culture is grounded in our shared values: Raise the Bar, Embrace Differences, and Thrive Together. These values shape how we collaborate, lead, and succeed – across teams, time zones, and career paths.

Whether you’re pursuing a role in law or business services, explore what’s possible and make your mark with Gowling WLG.

PROFILE

Director, Legal Talent is a skilled senior professional manager focused on leading the recruitment, development, engagement, retention and career advancement of associates and law students, within the Disputes Department, working in close collaboration with the Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders and Practice Director.

As a member of the Legal Talent shared services team, the Director, Legal Talent implements strategic and talent management initiatives that are aligned to the Firm's Strategic Plan, and our core values. This role collaborates with our other shared services functions (Finance, other People & Culture teams, Business Development & Marketing, Information Technology & AI, Innovation & Knowledge and Operations) to ensure Firm strategies, direction and resources are implemented effectively for legal talent development.

This position is open to candidates across Canada, in any of our Canadian office locations (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Waterloo, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Montréal), with preference given to candidates based in the Calgary area.

Responsibilities

Associate Integration, Engagement & Career Development

• Implement and manage associate and student focused integration, engagement, retention and career advancement initiatives, including by building relationships with associates and students, monitoring workloads, overseeing the delivery of training programs, providing guidance and career coaching, delivering performance feedback, ensuring appropriate mentorship, etc. (working in collaboration with the work providers, mentors, and others as needed). Provide reports on these areas for Department and Practice Group, as needed.
• Implement and administer career development programs for associates and assist in goal setting and follow up for accountability.
• Implement and administer the Firm's mentorship program for associates.
• Work with Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders and Practice Director, as appropriate to help ensure that associates are on track for success and are meeting or exceeding billable targets.
• Assist as needed with associate meetings, professional secondments, and reporting requirements
• Work closely with the Learning and Development and the AI, Innovation & Knowledge teams to deliver internal learning paths/programs to associates
• Support lateral associate onboarding and integration into the Firm, working collaboratively with Practice Group Leaders and Practice Directors
• Monitor associate capacity and work allocation in collaboration with Department Chairs, Practice Group Leaders and Practice Directors, to support balanced, efficient legal working teams.

Associate Performance Management & Compensation

• Manage and administer the associate evaluation and compensation review processes, in conjunction with the Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders, Practice Directors and the Total Rewards team.
• Review and interpret reporting and insights on associate performance metrics to support decision making by Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders and Practice Director.
• Support associates in developing individual action/development plans aligned with Practice Group, Department and Firm objectives.
• Track performance against professional development goals and career progression metrics.

Associate Recruitment & Complement Management

• Support associate recruitment initiatives by working with Department Chair and Practice Group Leaders to determine lateral hiring requirements, manage the recruitment process, prepare business cases for associate hires, etc.
• Collaborate with Finance, Department Chairs, Practice Group Leaders and Practice Directors to monitor associate complement and capacity levels to support balanced, efficient legal working teams.
• Lead lateral associate recruitment efforts, including candidate sourcing, screening, interview coordination, business case development and offer management.
• Maintain visibility of associate recruitment needs across practice groups and support Practice Group Leaders to address challenges, as needed.

Law Student Programs & Recruitment

• Maintain oversight and accountability for the entire life cycle of the law student experience for summer and articling students, including recruitment, orientation, training, performance management, evaluation and hire-back processes, etc.
• Provide guidance on recruitment best practices and provide periodic reporting to help inform recruitment strategies.
• Liaise with the Bar as needed to ensure compliance with regulatory and reporting requirements relating to law students.
• Ensure regular touchpoints and communication with law students throughout their summer and articling terms.
• Coordinate student work assignments in collaboration with Practice Group Leaders to ensure balanced exposure and development opportunities.

Budget & Financial Management

• Provide input into and be accountable for associate and student programs budgets.
• Monitor budget performance for associate and student programs, including recruitment, training, events and professional development expenses.
• Oversee expense management for associate and student programs in partnership with the Senior Director Firm Legal Talent and Strategic Initiatives, Department Chairs Practice Group Leaders and Practice Directors and Office Managing Partners, as appropriate.

Strategic Planning & Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Department Chair, Practice Group Leaders and Practice Director to shape and execute legal talent strategies in alignment with the Firm's strategic plan.
• Support Department Chair and Practice Group Leaders in identifying talent needs and developing talent plans aligned with Practice Group business plans.
• Partner with the AI, Innovation and Knowledge team to optimize the deployment of innovative practice tools amongst associates and within the Legal Talent Programs and act as a champion for innovation.
• Identify opportunities to transform or optimize legal talent processes and programs, in partnership with AI, Innovation and Knowledge.

Qualifications

• JD or Bachelor's degree in law (depending on jurisdiction).
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience as a lawyer in a law firm.
• Prior experience in or a desire to build a career in legal talent management with demonstrated interest in, or previous experience supporting recruitment and professional development.
• Exceptional people management and leadership skills with an ability to motivate others, work collaboratively, coach, counsel, train, and develop others.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including a comfort with public speaking.
• Relationship building with all levels of stakeholders.
• Strong project management, time management, administrative and organizational skills, with an ability to prioritize, plan, and implement numerous projects, programs, and special events.
• Results-oriented with a sense of ownership and accountability for projects and tasks, and a strong work ethic with the ability to take initiative.
• Ability to be diplomatic and maintain confidentiality when faced with sensitive matters.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills with proven problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work independently in a high-volume and deadline-driven environment with flexibility and the ability to adapt to change.
• Embraces innovation and modernization.
• Resilient and change-adept.
• Champion of DEI, wellbeing and performance,
• Strong team leadership and mentorship.
• Thick skin, empathy and tenacity.
• Ability to influence, build consensus, and drive outcomes across partners, associates and students.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other Firm members, with the aptitude to take care of clients’ needs in a professional and courteous manner.
• Produce a high quality and quantity of work product, occasionally under tight timelines.
• Able to prioritize and to redefine priorities when necessary.
• Bilingualism (French) is considered an asset.

Benefits/Perks

Gowling WLG’s total rewards program is designed to foster a culture where high performance and personal well-being go hand-in-hand. We support your career and life with:

• 100% employer-paid health, dental, and mental health coverage, plus an annual lifestyle spending allowance
• Benefits coverage for Firm members and their dependents from day one!
• 15+ vacation days and hybrid work flexibility
• Parental leave top-up for 26 weeks (after 12 months of full-time employment)
• Group Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
• Financial protection through short & long-term disability, life, accident & critical illness insurance
• Employee & Family Assistance Program, guided CBT, and an internal network of 120+ trained Mental Health First Aid responders
• Recognition awards, appreciation events, and a supportive, collaborative work culture
• Perks and preferred pricing programs, referral bonuses and more

The starting range for this role is $165,000 to $205,000. Starting salary will be determined based on location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, internal and market equity. Gowling WLG employees have the potential to exceed this range based on tenure and performance.

This position is currently vacant and is open to both internal and external candidates. Gowling WLG is recruiting for this role to support ongoing firm needs and team operations.

This employer may use tools within our applicant tracking system that include artificial intelligence–supported features, such as automated candidate matching. These tools do not make hiring decisions; all screening, assessments, and selections are reviewed and completed by human recruiters and hiring managers.

Gowling WLG is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. If you are in need of accommodation or support at any time during the recruitment process, please let us know.