Diversity and Inclusion Director

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.

Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

K&L Gates is seeking an experienced professional to provide Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) strategic leadership and further cultivate a supportive and inclusive work environment for all our personnel.

The Director, Diversity and Inclusion oversees existing, and develops new, initiatives related to the Firm’s D&I programs.

The position is broad, highly matrixed, visible, and strategic. The position reports to the Firm’s Chief People Officer, partners with the Chairs of the Firm's Diversity and Inclusion and Women in the Profession Committees (Committees) and collaborates with the Office of General Counsel.

The Director works collaboratively and closely with Firm leaders, including members of the Firm’s Management Committee, Advisory Council, Chief Officers, and Directors, to plan and implement strategies for hiring, retaining, training, developing, mentoring, and promoting personnel.

They work closely with the Committees on strategic projects and programs that impact personnel internally and our clients and communities externally.

The position is resident in one of our U.S. offices. Hybrid / periodic remote work is available upon request and approval.

Travel, including attending conferences and visiting Firm offices, is required.

Essential functions of the position include :

PROVIDE STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

• Lead the Firm’s efforts to further build an inclusive culture and retain and develop a diverse workforce.
• Benchmark the Firm’s current programs and initiatives, including training and development programs specific to inclusion, and implement D&I best practices.
• Partner with Firm leadership to develop and implement the Firm’s global D&I strategy.
• In partnership with the Chairs of the Committees, lead the Committees’ efforts to promote and execute a strategy of equity and inclusion across the Firm.
• Collaborate with the Firms’ General Counsel and Chief People Officer to ensure global legal compliance.
• Take the lead in the creation and management of budgets for the Committees.

OVERSEE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES

Work with the appropriate teams to develop and advance innovative strategies to attract and retain personnel of diverse backgrounds.

Collaborate with Firm leaders to ensure D&I continues to be embedded as part of the Firm’s personnel development models, including performance reviews, hours analyses, staffing, pipeline management, legal project management, and promotion processes.

• Oversee the Committees’ task forces and sub-committees to ensure programming and initiatives align with needs of the broader Committees, the Firm, and its personnel.
• Develop, track, and publish metrics in partnership with the appropriate teams to inform strategic planning and decision-making and to ensure accountability in tracking and monitoring D&I initiatives.

Develop and analyze actionable metrics regarding D&I initiatives.

• Serve as a champion and steward of the Firm’s D&I initiatives and collaborate across the platform with allies to further enhance, sponsor, and support personnel of diverse backgrounds.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on D&I matters and, in coordination with the HR team, address D&I concerns and issues that may arise, including actively engaging in the development and delivery of D&I training and awareness programming.
• Advise on current D&I events, developments, and trends and provide thought leadership, particularly with respect to the legal industry.

MANAGE D&I COMMUNICATIONS, SURVEY RESPONSES, AND SPONSORSHIPS

• In collaboration with Firm leaders and business development teams, manage the Firm’s internal and external D&I communication and social media strategy (including the website, newsletters, surveys, brochures, awards, etc.).
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external (e.g., RFP and surveys) diversity data. Lead the team who responds to organizational surveys.

Ensure the accuracy and completeness of information.

Serve as one of the Firm’s key D&I relationship contacts to external organizations. Foster and sustain relationships with diversity and inclusion associations, law schools, civic leaders, and other relevant persons to stay abreast of the latest information impacting D&I, to facilitate connections for the Firm, and to coordinate the Firm’s participation in relevant events.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED :

• Bachelor’s degree required; J.D. or other relevant advanced degree a plus.
• 10-15 years of prior, relevant experience leading diversity and inclusion efforts. Experience at a law firm or professional services firm a plus.
• Depth of understanding of the US, and preferably international / global, issues and requirements involving diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Experienced at presenting to audiences of all sizes.
• Collaborative, innovative, and embodies a willingness to roll up sleeves to get the job done.
• Able to inspire trust, lead a team, think creatively, and take initiative.
• Energetic yet grounded orientation; driven to accomplish goals; able to be an agent of change.
• Able to respect, protect, and maintain highly confidential and sensitive information and exercise sound judgement.
• Highly skilled project manager with the ability to :
• manage projects of varying complexity, responding quickly and positively to shifting demands and opportunities;
• see all projects through to completion;
• assimilate information quickly to grasp larger concepts as well as details; and
• lead and inspire a team of professionals, some of whom may not report to the Director.

Compensation : Salary $180K - $280K

The compensation salary for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

As required by the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative Ordinance and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, qualified applicants for our Los Angeles and San Francisco offices with arrest and conviction records will be considered.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.

S. based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit.

We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients.

The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve.

We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.