APAC DE&I and Singapore Social Impact Lead

Job Description & Requirements

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with 48 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.

Role purpose

This dual role is responsible for applying an APAC lens to the global DE&I strategy, as well as supporting the Singapore Social Impact Partner with the management, development and promotion of A&O Shearman's Social Impact practice.

The role’s DE&I purpose is to be the main liaison with the central DE&I team to drive the global DE&I strategy in APAC. The role recognises and responds to regional and local DE&I needs, issues and recommends DE&I tools, practices, and benchmarking to support those local needs. The APAC DE&I Senior Manager serves as a thought leader for DE&I, staying informed about best practices, benchmarks, research and competitor activity, using this knowledge to enhance the activities in each APAC office. They will liaise regularly with people across the region to support our DE&I activities.

The role’s Social Impact purpose is to grow and develop the existing Social Impact relationships and programmes into a market leading Social Impact practice for our Singapore office. The Social Impact programme reflects Allen & Overy’s strong commitment and duty as a professional institution to help those in need.

Each office in our global network is encouraged to develop projects that respond to the interests, aspirations and skills of its staff – and match these with the social needs of the local communities in which we operate. The Singapore office has well-established relationships with a diverse range of non-profit organisations within Singapore and across the region and is committed to providing resources to support them. There will be opportunities to work with other offices in relation to Social Impact activity across the region.

Key requirements

• At least five years’ experience in a legal or financial services firm in a DE&I, Social Impact, Business Development, Marketing or Relationship Management role.
• Deep experience of operating effectively and successfully leading DE&I change in a large, complex, and matrixed global organisations within Asia Pacific
• Experience of social impact work as a volunteer or co-ordinator.
• Strong track record of experience in collaborating with and presenting to internal and external partners.
• Interest in volunteer work and/or social welfare law and current affairs.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to drive insights and key messages for different audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to partner collaboratively across all departments and functions.
• Demonstrated ability to understand cultural sensitivities across APAC and ensure communication is suitable for different audiences.
• Tenacity, drive to succeed, can do attitude with ability to use creativity and initiative to ensure the delivery of a stretching strategy.
• Enthusiastic and self-driven; flexible and collaborative, with good team-working skills across global/regional time zones; self-reliant and motivated to deliver excellent results.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in analytical work, in particular diversity data.
• Excellent project management skills and the proven ability to work to tight deadlines and to manage conflicting stakeholder priorities.
• Role model being an inclusive people leader with the ability to upskill other managers and senior leaders.
• Acumen in technology; proficient in Microsoft Office suite and social media.

Beneficial requirements

• Lawyer qualified in Singapore with current practising certificate and at least five years’ post qualification experience (or equivalent).
• Direct legal experience advising and acting for clients.