Well-Being & Benefits Manager – Operations & Project Management

Latham & Watkins is one of the world’s leading global law firms advising the businesses and institutions that drive the global economy. We are market leaders in major financial and business centers around the world. Our investment in people, commitment to innovation, and focus on the future empower you to build an incredible career and thrive as an exceptional professional in a supportive culture.

About the Role

The Well-Being & Benefits Manager – Operations & Project Management is an integral part of Latham’s Well-Being & Benefits team. This role will drive operational excellence, process governance, systems optimization, and project management across the Well-Being & Benefits department. Responsibilities include conducting comprehensive process audits and reviews of departmental workflows, procedures, and operational practices to identify opportunities for streamlining, standardization, efficiency, risk mitigation, automation, and improved service delivery. The role will recommend and implement operational controls to ensure accuracy, compliance, and service quality. This position is located in our New York office and may be eligible for a flexible working schedule that allows for a hybrid and in-office presence.

Responsibilities

• Develop, formalize, maintain, and govern departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs), process workflows, templates, checklists, and operational documentation to support consistent execution across the Well-Being & Benefits function.
• Establish and maintain process governance standards; review and refine key operational processes to support consistent execution of services.
• Serve as the department’s operational and technical advisor by evaluating existing and emerging systems, tools, and technologies; identify opportunities to improve efficiency, user experience, automation, reporting, knowledge management, and data integrity.
• Partner with key stakeholders to assess, recommend, implement, and optimize technology solutions, platforms, and tools.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual processes through automation, enhanced system functionality, and improved data exchange; collaborate with internal and external partners to resolve data integration issues and implement continuous improvements.
• Serve as the lead project manager for departmental initiatives and programs, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and in alignment with business objectives; develop and maintain project plans, timelines, schedules, stakeholder communications, implementation roadmaps, decision logs, and issue trackers.
• Coordinate and project manage cross-functional initiatives, including market reviews, benchmarking studies, request-for-proposal (RFP) processes, annual renewals, and implementation of well-being and benefits programs, services, technologies, and operational enhancements.
• Partner with subject matter experts and department leadership to support planning, execution, stakeholder communication, and successful delivery of project objectives, as well as ad hoc departmental initiatives.
• Protect and maintain highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information retained by Latham & Watkins.

Requirements

• Advanced project management and program implementation experience, including the ability to sequence dependencies, manage multiple timelines, track deliverables, and drive projects to completion.
• Strong process improvement, workflow redesign, and operational excellence skills, including experience developing SOPs, governance frameworks, and operational controls.
• Experience evaluating, implementing, and optimizing technology solutions, system integrations, data feeds, and business process automation.
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent; eleven (11) years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant experience in human resources operations, project management, or process improvement.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of cumulative experience.
• Familiarity with benefits and insurance plans, preferably in a benefits-related role.

Benefits

• Healthcare, life, and disability insurance.
• A generous 401k plan.
• At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure.
• Well-being programs (e.g., mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more).
• Professional development programs.
• Employee discounts.
• Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff.

Pay

USD $170,000.00 - USD $185,000.00 per year.