The Director of DE&I  is responsible for conceiving, promoting, and implementing policies and programs that enhance the firm’s culture and support its goals to foster, recruit, retain, and promote attorneys and professional staff from traditionally underrepresented groups. The Director of DE&I will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and other Directors of the firm, the DE&I Committee, the Diversity Scholars Committee, and the firm’s Affinity Groups.

Responsibilities:

Lead and manage firm initiatives related to internal and external diversity, equity, and inclusion. Develop relationships with internal stakeholders, attorneys, and staff to identify priorities and challenges for the DE&I team to address. Recommend solutions and action items. Lead DE&I efforts from inception through implementation, including:

• Lead the DE&I Committee and partner with the Committee members to set agendas, facilitate discussions, and execute resulting initiatives.
• Lead the Diversity Scholars Committee and collaborate with Committee members to achieve the firm’s annual diversity scholarship program goals.
• Support firm management and departmental leaders with addressing DE&I issues.
• Manage data (including voluntary self-identification process), analytics, and reporting related to DE&I surveys, RFPs, and special programs. Track and report on the firm’s progress.
• Recommend policies and training content to support DE&I goals.
• Work with other firm Directors and personnel to help onboard new attorney and staff hires.
• Work with other firm Directors and personnel to support diversity with case staffing and other related matters.
• Oversee development and management of affinity groups and provide guidance on activities and related history/heritage month observances and other cultural celebrations.
• Develop and manage the firm's annual DE&I budget in coordination with the CFO and COO.
• Assist with the planning and coordination of DE&I trainings, workshops, programs, and meetings.
• Serve as a member of the Hiring Committee and collaborate with the firm’s Hiring Committee Chair and Director of Attorney Recruiting and Development to strategize on diversity pipeline goals and support the onboarding of new attorneys and laterals.
• Partner with our Business Development and Marketing Director on internal and external DE&I profile-raising opportunities.

About Keker, Van Nest & Peters

For more than 40 years, Keker, Van Nest & Peters has litigated complex, high-stakes civil and criminal cases throughout the nation. We take cases where companies, products, and careers are riding on the result. Our clients are high-profile individuals, as well as some of the world’s most successful companies, including Genentech, Google, Instacart, Major League Baseball, Meta, Netflix, Lyft, and Qualcomm. Recently we have been named as The Recorder’s Tech Litigation Department of the Year and The American Lawyer’s Litigation Boutique of the Year, among many additional prestigious recognitions. The firm not only prides itself on its record of success at trial, but in the office culture it maintains.

Our firm’s hybrid work policy includes 3 days in-office work and 2 days remote work weekly. Our office, in the historic Jackson Square district of San Francisco, features brick and timber architecture, an eclectic modern art collection, and an open-door policy. The office environment is fast-paced, dynamic, and informal. Enjoy the camaraderie of a smaller firm that values each team member’s contributions. Salaries and benefits are competitive with the legal market. If this sounds like a good fit, we are excited to hear from you. Please email resumes to Jeanne Freed, Human Resources Manager, staffrecruiting@keker.com.

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• At least three years of DE&I experience required, preferably within a law firm or professional services organization.
• Conversant and current in DE&I best practices and trends.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment, exercise discretion and judgment to reach strategic objectives; highly motivated.
• A strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Experience building and delivering effective multi-year DE&I strategies, including full life cycle plans in the areas of recruitment, talent management, learning, and engagement.
• Ability to engage with all firm employees to promote trust, collaboration, participation, and partnership on DE&I efforts and initiatives.
• Experience working with confidential and highly sensitive subject matters.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain strict confidentiality.

About Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP

Keker, Van Nest & Peters is a litigation-focused law firm in San Francisco with more than 100 lawyers and 90 staff. Our practice areas include antitrust, contract & commercial litigation, consumer and class actions, intellectual property litigation, professional liability, securities litigation and white collar criminal defense. We offer a superior benefits and compensation package including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, and long-term disability insurance. In addition, we offer flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) plan, back-up childcare, and PTO.

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