Work Allocation - Resource Specialist - Brussels

Our People team is responsible for managing and enhancing all aspects of human resources and employee experience. Our team oversees talent acquisition, including recruiting, interviewing and onboarding new hires, ensuring that the Firm attracts and retains top legal talent and business services professionals. We develop and implement HR policies, manage employee relations, and administer compensation and benefits programs to ensure a fair and supportive work environment. Additionally, the People team focuses on training, professional development, work allocation, mobility and fostering a positive workplace culture. We also handle performance management, employee engagement, and compliance with labor laws and regulations. Through our comprehensive HR strategies and initiatives, the People team ensures that the Firm’s workforce around the world is motivated, skilled and mobilized to deliver on the Firm’s objectives.

Work Allocation - Resource Specialist
Are you ready to make your mark as part of our Work Allocation team? Then you’ve come to the right place. At White & Case, we’ll support you, give you responsibility and welcome you as an integral member of our international team from day one.

We are looking for an Allocation & Development Specialist to support our Competition practice group in our Brussels office. This role is crucial for the development of legal talent, engaging with associates to understand their interests and objectives, and providing them with the necessary experiences and relationships for career growth.

The position focuses on effective management and staffing of associates, balancing a well-rounded associate experience with business needs.

The ideal candidate will be a team player, client-focused, ambitious, and passionate about excelling in a global law firm. Responsibilities include networking across EMEA offices and serving as a contact point for Partners and Associates.

Key Responsibilities

Resource Management

• Acting as a neutral third party for Associates and Partners, promoting balanced work allocation and professional development

• Managing staffing requests for all Associates, coordinating closely with Staffing Partners, and serving as a liaison between Associates and Partners

• Monitoring and reporting on work allocation KPIs to practice leadership

• Conducting check-ins with Associates to discuss career interests and gather feedback

• Ensuring efficient and timely staffing by monitoring lawyer utilisation and assessing individual capacity

• Maintaining clear, effective communication with stakeholders on initiatives, developments, business issues, and other critical topics.

• Collaborating with the HR team and Partners on staffing-related issues, providing regular data reports and insights on staffing trends, utilisation, and other metrics

• Escalating sensitive or high-risk staffing situations and monitoring utilisation levels for all associates, ensuring timely feedback and performance information sharing with the HR Senior Manager

• Providing regular data reports and insights on staffing trends and utilisation to leadership and key stakeholders

• Networking with global contacts across the wider team on key trends and best practices in work allocation

Practice Management

• Help drive firm engagement initiatives

• Collaborating with Partners and the People team on the annual evaluation process, participating in local moderation and providing feedback

• Liaising with the Regional Section Head and Staffing Partners to monitor associate performance, development, and career aspirations

• Working with People and Business Development teams to resource approved client secondments

• Assisting with recruitment initiatives as needed

• Liaising with trainee supervisors to monitor performance and allocate work

• Working with Engagement & Development and Professional Support Lawyers to ensure associates receive appropriate training opportunities

Qualifications and skills

• Fluent in English, and French or any additional language will be an asset.

• Significant prior experience in associate development, work allocation, and/or resource management within a large professional services environment, preferably within a law firm.

• Substantial experience in resource management within law firms highly preferred.

• Strong commercial and business awareness, with excellent judgement and client service focus.

• Outstanding skills in diplomacy, negotiation, and persuasive ability to drive change through influence.

• Strong project management skills and a proactive, resourceful attitude; takes initiative.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with persistence and resilience.

• Strong technology skills, with experience in resource management software and proficiency in Excel.

• Flexibility to work outside of standard business hours to address staffing requests, as needed.

• Persuasive; ability to drive changes through influence

• Strong technology skills; Excel proficiency is required

• Experience working with resource management software is a plus

• Flexibility to travel is also required.

What We Offer

When you join us, you’ll be working directly with partners, business leaders and many other inspiring colleagues across our global network of offices. We live by our values—to be pioneering, united and human—and we believe that you’ll experience them from your first day. We will give you the support and development opportunities that will help you achieve your potential.

We believe that consistent high performance merits reward and support. Our compensation package reflects your calibre as an Allocation and Development professional, and our benefits are designed to support your changing needs and priorities across different life stages.

About White & Case

We are a global law firm with longstanding offices in the markets that matter today. Our on-the-ground experience, our cross-border integration, and our depth of local, US and English-qualified lawyers help our clients work with confidence in any one market or across many.

Location and Reporting

This role is based in our Brussels office, and reports into the Senior Manager of Allocation & Development EMEA. Please note that although this role is based in Brussels, there will be a requirement to regularly travel to our other EMEA offices.

Our standard office hours are 09:30-18:00 (with a flexible start and end date of the day), with a current requirement for 4 days in the office per week.

This role reports to

Director, Human Resources – EMEA

Equal Opportunities

White & Case is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law.
 
If you require assistance and/or adjustment to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email us. We will be happy to work with you.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business—specific to the relevant office—before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.