Professional Development Specialist

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm's core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Professional Development Specialist

The Professional Development ("PD") Specialist ("Specialist") plays an important role in supporting the firm's professional development and well-being initiatives. Working under the direction of the Professional Development Managers and Senior Specialist, the Specialist provides project management, logistical, operational and administrative support to ensure that programs run smoothly from planning through completion. The Specialist also assists with the production of virtual programs and recording/editing of program videos.

This role requires strong, organizational, communication, and project management skills, along with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced environment. The Specialist is expected to maintain the highest degree of professionalism and confidentiality in all firm matters.

The Professional Development Specialist can sit in our Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York office. Katten offers a hybrid work model allowing the flexibility to work both on-site and remotely on a regular basis (KattenFlex).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but may not be limited to, the following.  Other duties may be requested and/or assigned.  Regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the position.  Essential functions are primary job duties that an individual must be able to perform successfully with or without a reasonable accommodation.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develop and execute end-to-end logistics plans for all events, ensuring alignment with event objectives and Firm standards.

• Collaborate with PD Managers and cross-functional teams to provide project management support for professional development programs, initiatives, and milestone events.

• Provide comprehensive project management and logistical support for in-person, virtual, and hybrid programs and other initiatives, including creating and managing timelines, coordinating with presenters and conference services, scheduling, preparing and distributing invitations and reminders, providing detailed instructions to speakers and attendees, and onsite support. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align logistics, technology, and materials for a high-quality participant experience.

• Produce virtual training programs via Zoom, including creating meetings, polls, and breakout rooms, managing live sessions, and troubleshooting technology as needed.

• Partner with PD Managers and other functional teams to organize Academy and other in-person programming and related communications.

• Coordinate with internal and external speakers, including scheduling meetings, reviewing presentation materials, and processing expenses.

• Support and execute key initiatives, including the firm's mentoring program, Mentoring Award program, and Katten Coaching Center, by coordinating logistics, tracking participation, preparing communications and materials, and partnering with PD Managers to ensure successful delivery and engagement.

• Manage various administrative aspects of professional development and well-being programs, including surveys, reporting, and special projects.

• Draft, maintain, and update content on the PD intranet pages to ensure information is accurate, current, and engaging for users.

• Oversee the submission, processing, and tracking of vendor invoices, including liaising with Accounts Payable to ensure timely payment and accurate recordkeeping.

• Provide general team support, including coordinating meetings, maintaining timelines and checklists, and liaising with internal business professional teams to ensure seamless execution.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree required. Minimum of three to five years of professional services experience; prior law firm or professional development experience strongly preferred.

• High proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel). Familiarity with Zoom and/or virtual conferencing required. Experience with learning management systems (LMS), continuing learning education (CLE), minimum continuing legal education (MCLE), legal billing software (Aderant), and AI prompting are preferred.

• Strong interpersonal and client service skills with the ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with individuals at all levels of the firm.

• Excellent organizational, planning, and project management abilities, including experience managing timelines, tracking deadlines, and coordinating logistics.

• Dependable team player who is proactive, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong critical-thinking skills, sound judgment, and flexibility to adapt to changing workflows and priorities.

• Impeccable attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.

• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 10 pounds (files, materials, or office supplies).

• Position may occasionally require work beyond 37.5 hours per week.

For our Chicago Office, the annualized salary range for this position is $80,000 to $95,000.  Actual pay will be adjusted based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law.

We offer an outstanding benefit package which includes: medical/dental/vision, 401k with employer contribution, parental leave, transportation fringe benefit program, back-up care option, generous paid time off policy, and long-term and short-term disability policies.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.