Firmwide Director of Talent Acquisition (Business Support Staff)

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.

As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices in private equity, M&A and other complex corporate transactions; investment fund formation and alternative asset management; restructurings; high-stakes commercial and intellectual property litigation; and government, regulatory and internal investigations. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With 6,500 employees (including 3,500 lawyers) operating from 20 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Functions

The Firmwide Director of Talent Acquisition is a member of the Firmwide HR leadership team and provides strategic and tactical leadership to ensure that HR processes effectively support the Firm's strategy and are aligned to the Firm's Administrative Business Support strategic pillars. Reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer, the position will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the firmwide staff talent acquisition strategy. This leadership position involves overseeing the entire recruitment process, from department identification of staffing needs through attracting, evaluating, and hiring elite talent.

The Firmwide Director of Talent Acquisition is a subject matter expert who collaborates with HR Business Partners (HRBPs), HR Centers of Expertise (COEs) and Senior Staff to identify and implement best practices and develop innovative strategies to ensure the Firm attracts and retains a diverse, skilled, and high-performing workforce.

As the Firmwide leader of Talent Acquisition, this role is charged with implementing processes and protocols that support the Firm as an Elite Talent Magnet as set forth in the Firm's Strategic Vision for our Administrative and Business Support Services. This role requires excellent judgment and a high level of attention to detail, is proactive, takes initiative, and has an innovative mindset. Collaboration and client service skills are essential.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented and changed as necessary.)

Strategic Planning

• Develops and implements the Firm's staff talent acquisition strategy with a focus on building a scalable global recruiting function.

• Champions a One Firm mindset by identifying core concepts that should be provided to all candidates consistently across the Firm.

• Works closely with Senior Staff and HRBPs to understand future workforce needs and creates long-term hiring plans.

Team Leadership

• Leads and manages a high-performing Talent Acquisition team, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities.

• Fosters a collaborative and inclusive team culture that values diversity and promotes a positive candidate experience.

• Coaches Recruiting Business Advisors (RBAs) to drive fair, strategic, and timely recruitment processes and review compensation and offer details within their business area.

COE Partnership

• Partners with Integration, Development & Retention (ID&R) COE to ensure an onboarding process that offers a seamless experience for both the new hire and the hiring team.

• Partners with Benefits COE to help ensure the team maintains a working knowledge of Firm benefits.

• Partners with the Compensation COE on compensation and pay transparency strategy as it relates to hiring and offers.

• Acts as a sounding board and trusted business partner for members of the HR Leadership Team and Senior Staff.

Recruitment Process Optimization

• Oversees the end-to-end recruitment process, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of team workflow, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

• Enhances the overall hiring process by working closely with HRIS and Technology (HR Apps) to implement new recruitment technologies and optimize the integration of various tools and platforms.

Networking and Pipeline Building

• Maintains relationships with external partners, including LinkedIn, Glassdoor, really, Talemetry, recruitment agencies, and professional organizations.

• Builds out early talent recruiting strategy and develops relationships with university career services groups.

• Stays current with market-leading best practices and trends for recruiting and the candidate experience.

Employer Branding

• Develops and executes employer branding initiatives to attract top talent and position the Firm as as an elite talent magnet.

• Collaborates with marketing and communication teams to enhance the Firm's employer brand.

Metrics and Analytics

• Establishes key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of talent acquisition efforts.

• Works with HRBPs and Compensation / Data Analytics team to identify hiring and turnover trends and provide actionable reporting to HR Leadership Team and Senior Staff to make better hiring decisions.

• Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement in the recruiting process by utilizing data and analytics to make informed decisions.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

• Partners closely with DEI team to identify best practices that will better engage diverse candidates.

• Ensures that the recruitment process promotes equal opportunities for all candidates.

• Develops and implements strategies to enhance diversity and inclusion within the Firm's workforce.

Compliance

• Ensures all recruitment activities comply with local, state, and federal laws, as well as legal and ethical standards.

• Partner with FW Employee Relations COE on adherence to relevant employment laws and regulations

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master's degree preferred. Candidates with experience in lieu of education will also be considered.
• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 15 years in talent acquisition, with at least 7 years of people management experience.
• Experience in professional services preferred.
• Proven effective leadership and management skills; ability to coach and develop team.
• Excellent presentation, communication and writing skills.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in an organization and inspire trust and confidence at all levels.
• Adept at consulting, advising, and influencing leaders on TA issues.
• Exceptional planning, organizational and program management capabilities; ability to manage multiple priorities at once and influence others to meet deadlines.
• This role requires excellent judgment and a high level of attention to detail, is proactive, takes initiative and has an innovative mindset.
• Strong conceptual flexibility with an ability to synthesize large amounts of data and input from a variety of stakeholders to select and influence/drive the best solution.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful talent acquisition strategies.
• In-depth knowledge of recruitment best practices, employment laws, and industry trends.
• Experience implementing new recruitment technologies and analytics tools.
• Proven change management skills.

Technologies/Software

• Proficiency in PeopleSoft and Microsoft Office Suite

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Equal Employment Opportunity

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Closing Statement

The www.kirkland.com job postings and recruiting mailbox are for candidates only. If you are a recruiter, search firm or employment agency, and do not have a signed contract with Kirkland & Ellis LLP ("K&E") and have not been asked specifically to submit candidates, you will not be compensated in any way for your referral of a candidate even if K&E hires the candidate. Direct contact with K&E employees in an attempt to present candidates is inappropriate and will be a factor in determining any future professional relationship with the Firm.