Research Manager, Asia Pacific Sidley Austin LLP Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

About the job

Summary: 

The Research Manager is a recognized leader in the Library & Research Services Department and works collaboratively to foster a team-focused approach. The Research Manager will oversee and handle more involved or time-sensitive research requests, as well as managing the team for specific projects. S/he serves as mentor to the Research Team members, assisting in more complex research tasks, helping to understand legal topics and encouraging participation in professional and legal educational opportunities. The Research Manager will manage expenditure on resources and monitor the department’s budget in the region. The Research Manager will help to implement the standards and best practices of firmwide Library & Research Services.

This role is based in the Hong Kong office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Research Manager will be required to perform the following duties:

• Responsible for day to day operations of the regional Research Team and provide information support to other offices
• To coordinate information requests from all offices and conduct high-level, customizable research and analytics in legal, business and other subjects including:
• Sourcing of precedents for drafting agreements, prospectuses, offering circulars and announcements
• Provision of company and people searches, background information for business development purposes
• Case law/litigation research
• Document retrievals
• Legal and business topics research
• Legislative/regulation history search
• And other enquiries
• To supervise and coordinate current awareness services to specific user groups:
• Regulatory news bulletins
• HKEX and SFC news
• HKSAR Gazette
• Assist in daily news search by practice teams
• Other newsletters from subscribed databases
• Work closely with the Global Library & Research Services Team to coordinate research resources, internal policies and other aspects of the Department.
• Conduct periodic new joiner orientation and provide training for lawyers, paralegals, and other firm staff; including participating in the planning and presentation of educational sessions and quick ‘on the spot’ training sessions as needed
• Assist in the preparation of instructional and marketing materials, including research guides and competitive intelligence dossiers
• Prepare renewal review report for APAC resources: coordinate user surveys, analyze usage, compare resources with other firm resources and competing products to make informed recommendations for renewal or cancellation
• To work with Technical Services team and Procurement to maintain and manage external vendor contracts and trails
• Participate in collection development including evaluation of new databases, websites and print material
• Works on special projects as assigned by the Asia Pacific Director of Administration, Director of Research Services or the Firmwide Director of Library & Research Services
• Supervise, train and evaluate direct reports

Qualification Requirements:

Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
• A minimum of five (5) years experience in a law library, concentrating on research and reference services
• Demonstrable supervisory and leadership experience
• Proficient in English and Chinese (both traditional and simplified characters), spoken Mandarin preferable
• Ability to work in a fast-pace and high-pressure environment

Preferred:

• Diploma or Degree in Library & Information Management or a related discipline
• Strong technical skills, including familiarity with SharePoint, MS Office, social media, and other related technology tools

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent computer knowledge and research skills (including cataloguing, business and legal research online databases)
• Able to quickly learn new technologies and then teach others
• Displays professionalism, quality service and a ‘can do’ attitude to the internal members/departments of the firm as well as external clients and vendors via electronic and print correspondence, over the telephone and in-person
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Good interpersonal communication skills
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills
• The ability to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• The ability to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• The ability to work under pressure
• The ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities
• Demonstrated leadership ability

Nothing contained in this job description, or conveyed during any interview which may be granted or during any period of employment (if hired) with Sidley Austin LLP (the “Firm”), is intended to create an employment contract with any employee or prospective employee of the Firm for any specified period of time. Work rules and benefits in effect are subject to change from time to time, according to the needs of the Firm. Any and all employment with Sidley Austin LLP is “at will,” that is, for no definite or determinable period and subject to termination at any time, with or without cause and with or without prior notice, at the option of either the employee or the Firm.

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.