Director & Assistant Staff Counsel

Overview

A leading auto insurance organization is seeking a Director & Assistant Staff Counsel to lead the design and delivery of enterprise-wide associate experience and capability-building programs within its Staff Counsel division. This senior legal-facing talent and capability leadership role focuses on attorney and litigation professional development, with an emphasis on litigation role development and oversight.

The position requires substantial legal experience and a Juris Doctor degree to effectively guide training, development, and performance enablement of attorneys and litigation professionals. Reporting to the Senior Director of Litigation and Operations Strategy, the Director will translate litigation strategy and workforce priorities into scalable onboarding, learning, and leadership development programs that enhance legal judgment, consistency, readiness, and execution across the Staff Counsel organization.

Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Operating Model

• Own the associate experience and development roadmap for attorneys and litigation professionals, including onboarding, substantive learning, leadership development, and role readiness aligned with litigation priorities and workforce needs.
• Define program standards, intake, and governance for attorney and litigation professional learning initiatives, ensuring content and delivery reflect sound legal practice and leadership requirements.
• Establish and govern uniform standards, policies, and decision frameworks for interview and hiring processes across all department roles, ensuring consistency and alignment with talent strategy.
• Set success measures for programs (participation, proficiency, time-to-productivity, leader readiness, adoption) and provide regular performance updates to leadership and partners.
• Lead and develop the Senior Manager, Associate Experience & Development; set priorities, coach for impact, and ensure high-quality delivery.

Onboarding, Learning, and Capability Building

• Design and oversee structured onboarding experiences that accelerate time-to-productivity and reinforce legal judgment, litigation workflows, and practice expectations.
• Build and maintain a learning curriculum to develop core litigation capabilities, strengthen role-based proficiency, and promote consistent legal practice across offices and jurisdictions.
• Establish associate experience standards and feedback loops to identify needs and remove friction throughout the associate lifecycle.
• Use program and proficiency data to continuously improve content, delivery, and provide actionable insights for workforce planning and talent discussions.

Leadership Development and Talent Enablement

• Partner with leadership to translate performance expectations into learning paths, leader toolkits, and development experiences supporting coaching, skill development, and growth.
• Develop and maintain progression insights to support talent conversations and succession planning.
• Create and run leadership development programs preparing high-potential attorneys and litigation professionals for expanded responsibilities and management roles.

Learning & Adoption

• Collaborate with Legal Technology, HR, and other partners to develop role-based training, job aids, and implementation support plans that drive adoption of litigation tools and workflows.
• Oversee governance of learning platforms and content, including curriculum structure, version control, accessibility, and effectiveness measures tied to proficiency and productivity.

Communications and Collaboration

• Develop and execute associate-facing communications for onboarding, learning, and change initiatives.
• Coordinate launch plans, reminders, and feedback loops for program rollouts.
• Collaborate with leaders and partners to ensure programs meet business needs and are practical to execute.
• Serve as a trusted partner to management by diagnosing development needs, recommending solutions, and ensuring consistent implementation.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) required; active law license in at least one state preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience with strong depth in litigation practice, legal operations, attorney development, learning design, strategy, program management, or consulting in a complex legal environment.
• Demonstrated people management and senior leadership experience.

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic program leader with legal acumen and credibility to guide attorney development and oversee litigation-role training programs.
• Data-driven operator experienced in defining learning/adoption metrics, interpreting trends, and improving program outcomes.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of developing clear guidance and change communications.
• Proven change leader able to align stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and drive accountability with integrity.

Compensation & Benefits

• Annual salary range: $179,375.00 - $280,850.00.
• Final salary depends on role scope, candidate experience, education, work location, and market considerations.
• Competitive pay, benefits, and flexibility to support well-being and future.

Location

• Remote role with in-office presence and travel as needed.
• Preferred location: Maryland (Bethesda office).

Additional Information

• This employer will not sponsor new applicants for employment authorization for this position.
• Equal employment opportunity is provided regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other protected status.
• Reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities unless it imposes undue hardship.
• The organization maintains a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and intimidation, promoting mutual respect among all associates and applicants.