Senior Human Resources Specialist

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 24 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

As a Senior Human Resources Specialist, you’ll serve as the primary on-site HR partner in Austin, supporting attorneys, staff, and office leadership across the full employee lifecycle. You’ll play a critical role in shaping a positive, high-performing workplace—leading onboarding, employee engagement, HR operations, and employee relations while collaborating closely with the Associate Director of Human Resources, Manager of Administration, and Senior Director of Administration (SDOA).

• Onsite HR Leadership: Serve as the main HR resource in Austin, providing responsive, end-to-end support to attorneys, staff, and office leadership.
• Onboarding & Integration: Welcome new hires on their first day, deliver orientation, communicate key policies, and ensure a smooth transition into the firm.
• Employee Lifecycle Management: Oversee offboarding processes, including exit interviews and departure logistics, while maintaining a thoughtful and professional experience.
• Employee Relations & Confidentiality: Manage sensitive matters such as terminations and confidential documentation with sound judgment and discretion.
• Engagement & Culture: Plan and execute office-wide engagement initiatives aligned with HR strategy, including wellbeing, inclusion, and community service events.
• Cross-Office Collaboration: Partner with regional HR teams to support seamless operations and provide coverage across locations.
• HR Operations & Documentation: Prepare employment verifications, payroll-related documents, and maintain accurate personnel records.
• Office Mobility & Integration: Coordinate staff and attorney transfers, facilitating smooth transitions through communication, tours, and onboarding support.
• Learning & Development (L&D) Support: Provide logistical support for onsite training programs and collaborate with L&D initiatives.
• Process Improvement & Innovation: Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce manual tasks, and leverage automation and AI tools to improve HR delivery.
  
  

What You’ll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience: 5–8 years of HR experience, preferably within a law firm or professional services environment.
• HR Expertise & Integrity: Strong understanding of HR best practices with a commitment to confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical decision-making.
• Collaboration & Relationship Building: Ability to build trusted partnerships across teams and levels while working both independently and collaboratively.
• Communication & Organization: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Adaptability & Professionalism: Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and maintaining composure while balancing competing demands.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Flexibility: Willingness to work evening or weekend hours as needed to meet deadlines and business needs.
  
  

If you’re passionate about delivering exceptional HR support, enhancing employee experiences, and driving impactful people initiatives, we’d love to hear from you for this Senior Human Resources Specialist role!

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.