Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist

Cooley (UK) LLP is seeking a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist to join the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team.

Position summary: The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Specialist is responsible for working with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team to support the Firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including the development of practices to recruit, retain and promote diverse attorneys and business professionals, coordination and implementation of firm efforts to support an inclusive culture. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities:
• Support firmwide diversity committee and affinity group management and administration
• Lead the communications, event planning and logistics for firmwide DEI programming, including Diversity Awareness Month, heritage month celebrations and training sessions
• Support in data collection and reporting for certifications, surveys, and internal requests
• Lead on special projects, including attorney hours monitoring and DEI billable credit approval
• Utilize industry diversity databases and internal metrics to produce timely and accurate data reports and analyses as requested, which includes developing visual presentations and quarterly trend updates
• Ensure support of and outreach to law school identity-focused organisations
• Proactively build relationships with different stakeholders across the firm, including legal talent, human resources, office administration, marketing, business development, pro bono, communications and professional development
• Assist with the firm’s diversity hiring efforts, to include the UK Diversity Fellowship, and work in conjunction with the Director of Attorney Recruiting, Legal Talent Managers, Regional Directors and Office Administrators to identify and maintain a pipeline of Cooley Diversity Fellows, diverse summer associate and trainee hires, diverse lateral attorney and professional staff candidates
• Collaborate in budget planning and track spending for the department
• Keep abreast of industry DEI trends and best practices, including global landscape and challenges
• Identify opportunities for continuous process improvements and lead the development of those improvements
• All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:
Required:
• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
• Previous proven experience working in a diversity, equity and inclusion role
• Experience performing quantitative and comparative data validation and analytics
• Demonstrated understanding of Excel and ability to build and maintain spreadsheets, utilize pivot tables and advanced formulas, identify and track trends over time, determine attrition rates, and other key metrics as needed
• Ability to communicate takeaways, methodologies and assumptions for data analysis
• Available to work overtime, as required

Preferred:
• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Law firm or professional services industry experience

Competencies:
• Passion for DEI efforts
• Detail-orientated, organized and process driven
• High attention to detail
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and coordinate multiple projects at once in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of department information
• Strong problem solving, coaching, interpersonal, and verbal and written communications skills
• Self-motivated and self-starter, looks for growth opportunities, takes leadership to develop solutions when answers are not readily apparent
• Team player with the ability to form independent relationships across multiple departments

Reporting to this position:  No direct reports.

Cooley (UK) LLP offers an excellent benefits package and competitive compensation.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement: Cooley (UK) LLP is an equal opportunity employer. Cooley’s recruitment and employment practices are administered without regard to applicants’ protected characteristics unrelated to the job to be performed or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by law.

General Sign-Off :  Specific duties for this position will be assigned; the requirements may vary from time to time, depending on the needs of the firm.