About Kirkland & Ellis 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 22 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers' commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.
What You'll Do Are you a benefits professional who thrives on translating complex retirement programs into meaningful, well-managed experiences for employees? As a
Senior Retirement Benefits Analyst, you'll play a critical role within the Firm's Talent organization, partnering closely with the Associate Director of Retirement Benefits and the broader Benefits Management team to design, administer, and optimize retirement benefit plans that support employee satisfaction, retention, and the Firm's long-term goals.
In this highly visible role, you'll combine deep technical expertise with strong analytical and communication skills to ensure retirement plans are compliant, competitive, and responsive to the needs of both staff and attorneys. You'll collaborate across Talent, Information Technology, and external vendors, lead initiatives that drive operational efficiency, and provide clear insights that help shape the Firm's comprehensive benefits strategy.
- Retirement Benefits Administration: Oversee the administration of retirement plans, ensuring compliance with plan rules, legal requirements, and regulatory standards while delivering a seamless participant experience.
- Program Analysis & Strategy: Analyze retirement plan utilization, costs, and effectiveness to evaluate performance, inform budgeting, and recommend data-driven enhancements.
- Vendor & Stakeholder Partnership: Manage relationships with vendors and brokers and collaborate across Talent, Information Technology (IT), and other Firm departments to ensure high-quality service delivery.
- Systems & Process Leadership: Lead or support the evaluation, development, and implementation of plan changes, system enhancements, data integrations, and administrative improvements.
- Communication & Enablement: Translate complex retirement benefit concepts into clear presentations, reports, and guidance for Firm leadership, staff, and attorneys.
- Compliance, Governance & Improvement: Stay current on benefits-related laws and industry trends, support audit activities, maintain process documentation, and proactively identify opportunities for efficiency and improvement.
What You'll Bring - Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
- 5+ years of progressive benefits administration experience, with significant focus on retirement plans.
- Proven experience working within layered, nuanced benefits plan and program structures.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and deliver actionable insights.
- Ability to clearly explain complex concepts, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with Human Resources Management Systems (HRMS) such as PeopleSoft or Workday, along with strong financial analysis capabilities (preferred).
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel; proficiency with Adobe and Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
- Experience with PeopleSoft, Structured Query Language (SQL), or advanced query tools.
- Experience within a law firm or professional services environment.
If you're excited to shape retirement programs that support a diverse workforce and help the Firm remain competitive in attracting and retaining top talent, 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: $115,000 - $130,000
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.
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. #LI-Hybrid #LI-CN1
