DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
PARSIPPANY, NJ, STAMFORD, CT.
OR HARTFORD, CT
Day Pitney is an East Coast law firm with approximately 300 attorneys in eleven offices in
Boston, Stamford and Hartford, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Washington,
D.C. Day Pitney’s mission is to work collaboratively with our colleagues and clients to resolve
complex legal challenges through sophisticated and innovative client solutions. Day Pitney's
Corporate, Litigation, and Trusts and Estates attorneys represent a variety of clients from
individuals to Fortune 50 companies. We are proud of our accomplishments in creating a work
environment where all our professionals have the skills and support to perform their best, our
sponsorship of bar associations that focus on creating opportunities for diverse attorneys and
removing barriers to their success, and our internal programs and initiatives that have attracted
and retained women and diverse attorneys throughout their legal careers.
Position Summary:
We are seeking an experienced D&I professional with a track record of accomplishment who is
seeking an opportunity to take our firm to the next level in attracting, developing, sponsoring,
and retaining diverse attorneys and women. This position can be located in either our
Parsippany, NJ office, Stamford, CT office or Hartford, CT office. As our brand ambassador,
this individual will continue the Firm’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive legal environment
by providing visionary and strategic leadership to senior leaders and helping to enhance DP’s
employment brand among diversity bars and other associations, potential recruits, and clients.
This senior management team member will be the internal thought leader on D&I and provide
strategic best practices recommendations from both within and outside the legal industry.
Additionally, this individual will collaborate with internal teams such as Human Resources and
Marketing, as well as our Attorneys of Color, LGBT, and Women’s employee resource groups,
to implement strategies that attract and retain the best diverse talent.
Reporting to the Chief Talent Officer of the Firm, with dotted line reporting to both the
Managing Partner and Chair of the D&I Committee, this individual should be a seasoned D&I
professional able to work independently, as well as part of an integrated Human Resources team.
Essential Position Responsibilities:
• Be the Firm’s strategic thought leader, ambassador and advocate on diversity, inclusion,
and equity initiatives and issues. This role is expected to be client facing.
• Collaborate with the Firm's Executive Committee, Chief Talent Officer, D&I Committee,
and Hiring Committee on developing and executing the Strategic D&I Plan, and ensuring
that fostering diversity and inclusion remains a core value and key firm imperative.
• Strengthen close recruiting relationships with law schools through participation in
interviews on campus and other recruiting events.
• Actively work with DP employee resource group members to ensure their professional
development, advancement and promotion within the firm.
• Consult and provide input on compensation and promotion decisions related to employee
resource group members
• Support client development by assisting in preparing responses to client RFPs and
industry surveys
• Participate in client pitches as a critical and vocal pitch team member.
• Create and deliver on holistic D&I branding strategy for both internal and external
audiences.
• Collaborate with Chief Talent Officer to integrate a D&I lens into all people processes
including recruiting, performance management, promotions, and leadership development.
• Serve as a key member of the Firm's senior administrative team focusing on ensuring that
policies and practices continue to enable a diverse and inclusive environment.
• Maintain knowledge of legal and non-legal industry trends and best practices in
attracting, developing and retaining diverse and women attorneys.
• Translate data into meaningful and actionable executive reporting and initiatives.
• Forge strong relationships internally to ensure effective execution of diversity and
inclusion strategies and programs.
• Manage the development and communication of information related to diversity and
inclusion in the workplace, including training, educational programs, and cultural
heritage celebrations. Collaborate with Marketing to publicize DP’s successful efforts.
• Collaborate with the Firm’s DP’s Attorney of Color (DPAC), DP Alliance (LGBT) and
Women Working Together (WWT) employee resource groups, attend meetings, and
coordinate their activities with other Firm D&I initiatives.
• Represent the Firm and develop strong relationships at bar association events sponsored
by the Firm. Participate with others from the Firm as representatives at various diversity
and inclusion functions. Present at and attend conferences as DP spokesperson.
• Help identify and engage speakers with diverse backgrounds for internal diversity and
inclusion programs.
• Develop, evaluate, and manage a D&I sponsorship strategy. Ensure effective use of D&I
funding.
The Ideal Candidate (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities):
• Minimum five to ten years of relevant D&I experience in a professional, legal, or
corporate setting is required; large law firm and management of D&I at firm or divisional
level is preferred
• Demonstrated success in building relationships throughout the organization and in
working with senior leaders, including firm leadership, to make recommendations and
execute strategies
• Experience as a change agent who is able to mobilize and influence key stakeholders
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated success in building external relationships
and networks
• Experience training and presenting to groups
• The ability to interact credibly and diplomatically with all levels within the organization
and in the outside community, tailoring communications effectively for different groups
and stakeholders
• Ability to travel regularly is required (including to Firm offices and for purposes of acting
as the Firm ambassador at diversity and inclusion and recruiting events)
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; a J.D. or advanced degree in
organizational development, human resources, or advanced studies related to D&I would
be helpful