Principal, Talent Strategy

About the Role

This role is a senior individual contributor and strategy leader within the Talent Strategy vertical, serving as a core thought partner to the Director of Talent Strategy and broader HR leadership team. The position owns the development of enterprise talent frameworks, workforce architecture, and program design across five interconnected pillars: talent strategy, performance and development, talent acquisition, HR operations, and operating model integration.

Unlike a traditional program or project role, this position is accountable for defining “what good looks like”—translating firm strategy into scalable models, frameworks, and tools that shape how talent is hired, developed, evaluated, and deployed globally. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and influence, partnering closely with HRLT, HRBPs, and functional leaders to ensure talent strategy is analytically grounded, market-informed, and operationally viable.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Director and HRLT on talent-related priorities
• Lead the design and synthesis of complex talent frameworks across multiple domains
• Build executive-ready materials to support decision-making (models, presentations, white papers)
• Establish data-driven approaches to workforce planning, performance, and hiring
• Drive consistency and scalability across all talent programs globally
• Influence stakeholders across HR, Legal Recruiting, PD, HR Ops, and practice leadership
• Ensure all frameworks are practical, implementable, and aligned to firm economics

Talent Strategy & Workforce Architecture (Primary Focus)

• Own the design and evolution of:
  • Firmwide workforce architecture and talent segmentation models
  • Associate-to-partner career journey framework, including progression milestones and alternative pathways
  • Competency models and leadership behavior frameworks aligned to firm strategy
  • Employer value proposition (EVP) and talent positioning strategy
• Key contributions:
  • Develop forward-looking talent and leverage models tied to profitability and growth
  • Lead external benchmarking across Am Law and professional services firms
  • Translate CPO/HRLT priorities into quantitative and conceptual frameworks

Performance Management & Talent Development

• Lead the design of:
  • End-to-end performance management architecture (PDG frameworks, tools, and supporting materials)
  • Promotion and advancement frameworks ensuring clarity, rigor, and consistency
  • HiPo identification and succession planning models
• Own:
  • Development of all core program collateral (guides, toolkits, training content, communications)
  • Design of feedback, calibration, and development planning frameworks

Talent Acquisition & Candidate Strategy

• Shape:
  • Differentiated candidate experience strategy for allied professionals
  • Employer branding and talent value proposition activation in recruiting
• Lead:
  • Market intelligence and sourcing strategy insights
  • Analytical support for ATS selection and hiring strategy decisions

HR Operations & Service Delivery

• Partner to design:
  • Service delivery model and governance frameworks
  • Core operational metrics and performance dashboards
• Contribute to:
  • HR operations playbook, including process standards and documentation frameworks
  • Data-driven insights on service efficiency and effectiveness

Operating Model Integration & Transformation

• Play a central role in:
  • Integrating talent strategy, recruiting, and HR operations into a unified model
  • Building data infrastructure and analytics frameworks to inform workforce decisions
• Own:
  • Development of recurring HRLT insights and reporting dashboards
  • Analytical backbone connecting hiring, performance, and workforce planning

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in HR strategy, talent management, or management consulting
• Demonstrated experience designing enterprise-level frameworks or operating models
• Exceptional ability to synthesize complex inputs into clear, structured outputs
• Advanced analytical capability (Excel/modeling; ability to translate data into insight)
• Strong executive communication skills (written and verbal)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in professional services (Am Law / consulting / accounting)
• Familiarity with performance management systems and workforce planning models
• Background in organizational design, L&D, or behavioral frameworks

Pay

Salary: $128,000 - $257,000 / year. The compensation for this position will be determined during the interview process and will vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to prior experience, relevant expertise, current business needs, and market factors.

About the Firm

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 offices. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S.-based law firms in the world. We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination, and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

Benefits

• Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)
• Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge
• Dental Insurance
• Wellness Program
• Vision Insurance
• Pre-tax Commuting Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Sharing
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Short- and Long-term Disability Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)
• Health Advocacy Services
• Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)
• Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance
• Parental Leave (18 weeks, of which 6 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)
• Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service
• Paid Holidays (12)
• Addiction Resources
• Family Building Benefits
• Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development and CLE Credit Opportunities
• 529 Deductions
• Relocation Accident Insurance
• Employee Referral Program
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities
• Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Programs
• Bereavement Leave
• All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law