Resource Manager

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

What to expect

For business professionals, our environment is highly collaborative with value being placed on diversity of ideas, skills and mindsets. Not least yours. It’s energetic, fast-moving and there’s always something new to get involved in. You will get exposure across geographies and the firm as a whole. The future is a place of opportunity. Focusing on your success and for what’s next, will ensure you thrive too.

The Team

With over 650 dispute lawyers around the globe we have an international team of dynamic and forward-thinking lawyers who are focused on combining legal expertise and commercial problem solving to provide our clients with the guidance they need. We therefore provide opportunities for people to grow their own careers not just locally, but across the globe and across a wide range of sectors and work types.

We are passionate about helping our clients secure the best outcome in their business dealings. We work alongside our clients through the toughest of times, protecting their interests at every stage of a dispute. Eversheds Sutherland’s Litigation & Dispute Management team is called in to handle threats and disputes of the highest strategic importance.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Strategy & Operations (Litigation), you will become a member of our resourcing team, with work allocation being a strategic priority for the firm. You will engage widely with partners and fee earners, as well as our Business Professional (BP) Leads in Finance, HR and Service Excellence to ensure a co-ordinated approach to resourcing.

You will be responsible for the delivery of resourcing activities across our Construction and Real Estate Litigation teams in the UK and in our Litigation team in the Middle East, with the aim of driving forward our strategic objectives for work allocation and resourcing.

Please note that this is a 15 month fixed term contract.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for an experienced resource professional, ideally from a professional services background on a fixed term contract basis (to cover maternity leave) who has experience of:

• Being a trusted advisor, providing balanced and pragmatic advice around headcount planning and resource management;
• Negotiating and influencing senior stakeholders, identifying resourcing challenges and proposing practical solutions;
• Using your commerciality and business acumen to enhance the profitability of a function; and
• Being client and delivery focussed in everything that you do.

The Resource Manager will play an important role in supporting the implementation and delivery of resource management services to make sure operational excellence is delivered. You will be required to work with the product group partners and associates, HR and Finance to support Eversheds Sutherland’s strategy around the agility and mobility of our people and will support the firm’s Talent Management agenda. You will be required to:

• Feed into the resource management strategy for your practice area;
• Build relationships and communicate continuously with the product group stakeholders and associates;
• Optimise the allocation of work and deployment of lawyers to maximise profitability, offer variety and improve associate development and wellbeing;
• Manage complex, cross product group/jurisdiction resourcing;
• Produce, analyse and gain leverage from management information (MI), with the aim of smoothing utilisation, strengthening client benches, identifying skill gaps and associate development;
• Engage with the product group leaders, team leads and International leads to understand their priorities and put forward appropriate solutions for agreement;
• Share information with other members of the resourcing team in Litigation and with the Head of Strategy & Operations (Litigation) for your groups and provide updates on issues and solutions; and
• Promote the use and support improvement of the capacity management resourcing system to enable effective resourcing.

Skills and experience:

• Trusted advisor who provides balanced, pragmatic advice around workforce planning and resource management to their product groups;
• Relevant field experience working within a Resourcing Team (workforce planning / scheduling / etc.);
• Robust and resilient;
• Able to drive change through innovative thinking;
• Ability to develop strong working relationships and engagement at all levels and be credible with senior stakeholders;
• Proactive with a positive, flexible, assertive, can do attitude;
• Ability to work with tight deadlines in a fast-changing environment;
• Experience of conflict resolution, with the ability to manage complex conflicts between numerous parties;
• Logical thinker with pragmatic analytical skills;
• A keen interest in developing deeper industry-specific expertise;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; and
• Excellent IT skills – particularly Microsoft Office and use of in-house technology.

Applicants will be / have:

• Commitment to excellence
• Strong attention to detail
• Relationship builder
• Communication skills
• Planning and organisational skills
• Methodical approach
• Resourcefulness.

What’s in it for you?

At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

• We’re fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.

For you,

For your success.

And what's next.