Resource Manager in Birmingham

Purpose of the Role

A newly created role within the Projects EMEA team, part of the Finance & Projects (F&P) practice group. We are seeking an experienced Resource Manager to establish and implement a Resource Management function within the team. Working alongside the existing Group Resource Manager, the post-holder will help embed effective RM practices before transitioning to solo responsibility for managing the function.

Job Description

The role will initially focus on supporting partners and senior fee earners in the Projects EMEA team by identifying capacity and assisting with effective allocation of resource across approximately 190 lawyers in eight UK offices and six international offices. While the initial emphasis will be UK-focused, the remit is expected to broaden internationally, potentially at pace depending on progress and business need. The role will also provide Resource Management support to other F&P teams as required.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Establish and embed a Resource Management function within the Projects EMEA team/group, including setting up new processes, educating on best practice and managing change.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the team/group on strategic manpower planning and resourcing, with an initial UK-focused remit that is expected to broaden internationally as the function develops.
• Attend regular operational management meetings/calls, providing management support.
• Work closely with the pricing and legal project management teams to ensure aligned and efficient matter delivery.
• Liaise with partners and senior fee earners to identify and scope future resourcing requirements across the national team.
• Optimise the allocation of work and the deployment of staff to maximise profitability by ensuring work is allocated to minimise pockets of high or low utilisation.
• Hold regular meetings with office leads to discuss workloads, projects and any capacity issues.
• Work with the Director of Finance and Operations and HR managers to identify and reduce capacity within the Group.
• Resolve resourcing conflicts by being creative and innovative in the use of resource, identifying potential issues early, challenging requests where appropriate and dealing with conflicting demands.
• Support the lawyer recruitment process by advising on skill gaps, utilisation trends and future resourcing needs.
• Assist in the implementation of systems and processes for identifying, monitoring and reporting on capacity and utilisation.
• Liaise with the Vario-Variable Resource team, assisting with the recruitment, onboarding process and engagement terms for flexible resource according to demand.
• Act as the main point of contact for identifying and deploying available resource at peak times.
• Provide Resource Management support to other F&P teams as needed, with the expectation that the function may extend across the wider practice group as it matures.

Qualifications

• Degree educated.
• A-Level (or equivalent) English.

Relevant Experience

• Experience of working in an international law firm or professional services environment.
• Proven people management skills with the ability to influence decision & outcomes at a senior level.
• Ability to influence and negotiate and remain tenacious.
• Commercially minded with good operational business acumen.
• Ability to take effective decisions using sound judgement.
• Strong problem solving and conflict resolution experience.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong internal and external working relationships.
• Good analytical skills with ability to manipulate complex data into a comprehensive format.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience of introducing change and new ways of working.
• An understanding of the issues faced by professional service firms and how our business works.

Key Skills

• Methodical and forward-thinking; able to produce project plans and timetables on own initiative.
• Highly IT literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Office products, especially PowerPoint, Excel and a willingness to learn more; knowledge of Power BI would be an advantage.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Numerate.
• Strong team player.
• Pragmatic and creative.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Pinsent Masons we value diversity and inclusion. We are committed to creating a better workplace where all our talent can succeed and feel like they belong. We want to attract, retain and develop people at all levels and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates whatever your ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability/ long term condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or another characteristic protected by local law in the jurisdictions in which we operate.