Manager, Lateral Associate Recruiting

Manager, Lateral Associate Recruiting

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.

We are seeking a Manager, Lateral Associate Recruiting to join K&L Gates. The Manager, Lateral Associate Recruiting, manages lateral associate searches across the firm's U.S. practices. The role is not assigned to a single practice; work is allocated based on practice demand, expertise, and capacity so that coverage remains flexible and workload stays equitable across the team. The Manager owns end-to-end search execution for assigned roles, leads direct-outreach sourcing, manages search firm engagement, and serves as the primary recruiting contact for hiring partners on those searches.

POSITION SUMMARY The Manager, Lateral Associate Recruiting, manages lateral associate searches across the firm's U.S. practices. The role is not assigned to a single practice; work is allocated based on practice demand, expertise, and capacity so that coverage remains flexible and workload stays equitable across the team. The Manager owns end-to-end search execution for assigned roles, leads direct-outreach sourcing, manages search firm engagement, and serves as the primary recruiting contact for hiring partners on those searches.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS Reporting to the Senior Manager, Associate and Entry-Level Recruiting, this role receives search assignments based on hiring priorities established by the practice Senior Managers, Legal Recruiting and Strategic Growth. The Manager partners closely with those Senior Managers, hiring partners, Practice Operations, and Human Resources, and provides guidance to specialists and coordinators supporting lateral associate recruiting. The Manager also provides backup support for U.S. entry-level recruiting programs and peak recruiting periods as business needs require.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Manage end-to-end lateral associate searches for assigned roles, including sourcing, screening, interview management, offer development, and handoff to onboarding.
• Execute searches against hiring priorities set by the practice Senior Managers and allocated by the Senior Manager, Associate and Entry-Level Recruiting.
• Maintain search momentum and timeline discipline across a concurrent portfolio of searches spanning multiple practices and offices. Establish priorities and ensure search commitments are met.
• Flex across practice groups as demand shifts, supporting cross-training and equitable distribution of work across the team.
• Lead direct-outreach sourcing, building candidate pipelines in advance of externally posting roles.
• Use recruiting platforms, market research, referrals, and networking to identify and engage lateral associate talent.
• Maintain awareness of competitor activity, associate talent movement, and market conditions relevant to assigned searches.
• Represent the firm and its practices credibly to prospective lateral associate candidates.
• Serve as the primary recruiting contact for hiring partners on assigned searches, providing status updates, market context, and hiring recommendations.
• Partner with the practice Senior Managers to confirm role requirements, candidate profiles, and evaluation criteria.
• Manage search firm engagement for assigned roles, including scoping, submissions, feedback, and performance assessment.
• Facilitate candidate evaluation and selection discussions with hiring partners and practice stakeholders.
• Deliver a responsive, high-touch, and professional candidate experience throughout the search.
• Coordinate timely communication among candidates, search firms, and internal stakeholders.
• Partner with Human Resources and Integration to support a smooth transition following offer acceptance.
• Manage compliance requirements, including conflicts checks, due diligence, and complete recruitment file documentation.
• Maintain accurate, real-time data in applicant tracking systems, recruiting platforms, and trackers, and produce pipeline and hiring metrics to support decision-making.
• Serve as a subject-matter resource to recruiting colleagues and share market intelligence and practical guidance across the team.
• Provide day-to-day direction and mentorship to specialists and coordinators supporting lateral associate recruiting.
• Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen consistency, efficiency, and quality across lateral associate recruiting.
• Contribute analysis and recommendations to long-term lateral capacity planning, including hiring trends, time-to-fill, and market conditions.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

EXPERIENCE SKILLS REQUIRED

• Minimum of seven years of legal recruiting, talent acquisition, or related experience, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment, including direct experience managing lateral associate or comparable professional-level searches.
• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience preferred; advanced degree a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage a portfolio of concurrent searches and stakeholder relationships across multiple practice areas and offices.
• Experience managing search firm relationships, including scoping, submissions, and performance feedback.
• Demonstrated direct-sourcing capability, including pipeline development through market research, networking, and targeted outreach.
• Strong understanding of legal talent markets, recruiting trends, and the competitive landscape for associate talent.
• Ability to use recruiting data, market intelligence, and candidate feedback to inform search strategy and stakeholder recommendations.
• Proven ability to build credibility and trusted relationships with partners, candidates, search consultants, and internal stakeholders.
• Strong project management, organizational, written and verbal communication, relationship-building, and client-service skills.
• Sound judgment and a solutions-oriented approach to resolving complex recruiting and operational issues.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a matrixed and geographically dispersed team.
• Proficiency with applicant tracking systems, recruiting platforms, spreadsheets, presentation software, and standard business applications.
• Ability to work outside regular business hours and travel periodically when business needs require.

ADDITIONAL ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Must be able to manage the demands of a fast-paced work environment, including multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Must be able to exercise sound judgment, adapt to changing priorities, and communicate effectively with individuals at all organizational levels.
• Must be able to accommodate a flexible work schedule that may require extended hours and occasional weekend work.
• Desk-type position requiring a combination of sedentary and standing activities.
• Daily use of a personal computer and associated software systems.
• Some travel and in-office work required.

Compensation Salary $97,000 - $182,500 / year

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.

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located 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.

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Please be advised that this position requires successful completion of a background check. In accordance with the Washington State Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Califo