Senior Manager - HR Operations Process & Technology

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 24 offices worldwide.

About the role

The Senior Manager, HR Operations Process & Technology leads complex, high-impact HR technology projects in alignment with the Firm's project lifecycle, standards, and priorities. This role is responsible for building and managing the HR project portfolio across business units, ensuring work is focused on the Firm's most critical objectives in coordination with HR leadership. The Senior Manager mentors and guides teams to deliver measurable results on time and within budget, while also leading projects directly as needed to drive outcomes and continuously improve processes.

This role requires a structured, solution-oriented professional who can assess issues, develop and test solutions, and ensure thorough documentation for resolution. Success depends on strong relationship-building, deep product knowledge, and the ability to work effectively with senior leadership, attorneys, technical teams, and end users to gather and translate business requirements. The ideal candidate is results-driven and comfortable operating in a high-demand, fast-paced environment with strong communication, business analysis, and technical writing skills. Experience working with developers, architects, and external vendors is essential.

Responsibilities

• Strategic & Change Leadership
  • Lead complex organizational development initiatives, including team development and strategic change efforts.
  • Drive change within scope of influence by identifying priorities and removing barriers to performance.
  • Focus teams on achieving key goals while maintaining accountability for individual and team results.
• Decision Making
  • Make sound, timely decisions informed by experience, analysis, and judgment.
  • Integrate new and historical information to guide outcomes and coach others on effective decision-making.
  • Hold team members accountable for quality and timely execution.
• Communication & Stakeholder Management
  • Partner with leadership to develop organizational objectives, milestones, and implementation plans.
  • Structure and communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively, translating strategy into actionable plans.
  • Deliver regular communication to teams and stakeholders while leading performance, development, and career discussions.
  • Demonstrate strong active listening skills.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness
  • Build strong relationships and lead through influence.
  • Proactively identify and resolve conflict, guiding teams and stakeholders toward productive outcomes.
  • Navigate challenging situations with sound judgment and strong negotiation skills.
  • Motivate and inspire others to achieve results.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years of project and/or portfolio management experience.
• Prior people management experience preferred.
• Computer Science degree and/or graduate-level education is a plus.

Skills

• Strong project and portfolio management experience.
• Experience with Agile methodologies and Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
• Experience with workflow and project management software.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability and willingness to learn and adopt new technologies.
• Excellent communication, business analysis, and technical writing skills.

Technology & Tools

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Visio
• JIRA
• Project and workflow management platforms

Pay

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations.

• Chicago: $153,000 - $191,000

Benefits

At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including:

• Comprehensive healthcare
• Paid time off
• Retirement plans
• Personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities