Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Human Resources Business Partner

Kirkland & Ellis LLP$135K — $165K *
Business Services
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
  • 7+ years of progressive Talent Management or HR experience, preferably in an HRBP role.
  • Strong knowledge of employee relations and performance management.
  • Proven ability to influence senior leaders and manage complex relationships.
  • Exposure to organizational design and change management initiatives.
  • Comfort leveraging data and evolving tools for business impact.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a trusted advisor to business unit leaders to align people strategies with business goals.
  • Guide organizational design and succession planning to build sustainable capability.
  • Support performance management, feedback, and talent development initiatives.
  • Advise managers on employee relations and drive employee engagement initiatives.
  • Support change initiatives and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
  • Partner with Talent Centers of Excellence to ensure compliant and effective practices.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive healthcare.
  • Paid time off.
  • Retirement options.
  • Personal support services.
  • Tailored learning and development opportunities.
Full Job Description
What You'll Do

Are you a trusted HR leader who thrives at the intersection of business strategy, people impact, and organizational effectiveness?

As a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP), you'll serve as a strategic advisor to functional and business unit leaders, helping strengthen their performance by aligning talent strategies with business goals. In this role, you'll collaborate closely with leaders and Centers of Excellence to deliver thoughtful, consistent, and scalable people solutions across performance management, workforce planning, employee relations, change management, and organizational effectiveness.

What You'll Do
Strategic Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to business unit leaders, aligning people strategies with functional priorities, enterprise goals, and organizational effectiveness.
Workforce, Talent & Succession Planning: Guide organizational design, role clarity, workforce planning, succession planning, and leadership readiness to build sustainable capability.
Performance & Talent Development: Support goal setting, performance calibration, feedback, development planning, onboarding, internal mobility, and career pathing across the business unit.
Employee Relations & Engagement: Advise managers on employee relations, performance challenges, and corrective actions, partnering with Employee Relations and Legal as needed while driving engagement initiatives.
Change Management & Continuous Improvement: Support change initiatives such as technology implementations and operating model shifts, while identifying opportunities to streamline, automate, and elevate work through AI and evolving tools.
Collaboration, Compliance & Insights: Partner with Talent Centers of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Benefits, Compensation, Learning & Development, Employee Relations, HR Operations) to ensure consistent, compliant practices, leveraging data and analytics to inform leadership decisions.

What You'll Bring
Education: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Human Resources certifications (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR) preferred.
Experience: 7+ years of progressive Talent Management or Human Resources experience, ideally in an HR Business Partner or advisory role.
Human Resources Expertise: Strong knowledge of employee relations, performance management, workforce planning, and core talent management practices.
Influence & Judgment: Proven ability to influence senior leaders, manage complex stakeholder relationships, and handle sensitive matters with discretion.
Change & Organization Design: Exposure to organizational design, change management, or talent transformation initiatives.
Analytical & Adaptive Mindset: Comfort leveraging data, evolving tools, and best-in-class practices to drive continuous improvement and business impact.

If you're excited to partner with leaders, shape people strategies, and drive meaningful organizational impact as an HR Business Partner, we'd love to hear from you!

Compensation

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. 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, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Chicago: $135,000 - $165,000

How to Apply

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

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

About Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is an American law firm. Founded in 1909 in Chicago, Illinois, Kirkland & Ellis is the largest law firm in the world by revenue, the seventh-largest by number of attorneys, and is the first law firm in the world to reach US$4 billion in revenue. As of 2021, Kirkland & Ellis ranks third on Am Law's list of profits per equity partner. While Kirkland & Ellis was historically considered a firm focused on litigation, during the 2010s, it expanded private equity and restructuring practices which, together with large-scale commercial litigation, comprise the core legal service areas of the firm. Many attorneys from the firm have served as federal officials or judges, including United States Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and former Attorney General William Barr.
Learn more about Kirkland & Ellis LLP
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1909

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