Administrative Assistant

LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 74,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Comprehensive benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, Illinois seeks an Administrative Assistant to provide high-level support to the CHRO, HR Directors and teams. The role emphasizes calendar management, confidential handling of information, and professional communication in a fast-paced environment.

The position requires a High School Diploma and 3 years of admin/exec experience, with strong MS Office skills and proofreading abilities. Bonus eligibility and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required and 3 years of admin/exec assistant experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and work independently.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent proofreading skills and grammar.
• Proficiency in MS Outlook, Word, Excel and PPT.
• Preferred familiarity with HRIS Workday and expense platforms.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the CHRO’s calendar and organize large meetings and travel.
• Screen calls, emails and correspondence; respond or escalate as needed.
• Prepare letters, presentations, reports, charts and minutes.
• Proofread communications for accuracy and clarity.
• Handle confidential information with discretion.
• Support HR projects and strategic planning sessions.
• Assist with budget tracking and vendor management.
• Process expense reports, invoices and check requests.
• Generate HRIS reports in Workday and distribute regularly.
• Maintain HR records and audit logs; back up for other admins.
• Coordinate holiday events and weekly anniversary acknowledgments.
• Route inquiries to HR; liaise with other departments and vendors.
• Order and distribute business cards; sort mail; perform other duties.

Skills

MS Outlook

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Communication skills

Prioritization

Interpersonal skills

Proofreading

Organization

Discretion

Detail-oriented

Working under pressure

Independent work

Education

High School Diploma

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Workday

Chrome River

MS Visio

Job description

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO), the Administrative Assistant provides high-level administrative and operational support for the CHRO, several HR Directors, and their corresponding teams. This role requires exceptional organization skills, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple, sensitive priorities in a fast-paced environment. The incumbent will serve as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders and is expected to maintain professional and harmonious relationships with all.

• Maintain the CHRO’s calendar, including scheduling meetings, prioritizing appointments, and resolving conflicts as well as organizing complex activities such as large meetings, travel, conferences and department activities.
• Screen phone calls, emails, and correspondence, responding or escalating as appropriate.
• Prepare correspondence, presentations, reports, charts, agendas, meeting materials and minutes utilizing Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT, Outlook, and Visio.
• Proofread communications for spelling, grammar, and layout and make appropriate changes; responsible for accuracy and clarity of final copy.
• Maintain confidential and sensitive information with the highest level of discretion.
• Support HR projects, initiatives, and special assignments, including executive presentations and strategic planning sessions, as directed by the CHRO.
• Assist with budget tracking and vendor management activities.
• Process expense reports, invoices and check requests.
• Create, run, and appropriately format various reports from HRIS (Workday) and provide on a regular cadence or upon request.
• Maintain HR records, files, and documents as requested, using appropriate tools in accordance with firm policies.
• Assist with holiday events and service awards, including coordinating weekly anniversary acknowledgement for the Chicago office.
• Maintain lawyer and business professional open position logs and audit logs.
• Handle inquiries with professionalism and customer-service orientation. Route questions to the appropriate human resources team.
• Work in cooperation with and provide back-up support for other HR Administrative Assistants.
• Act as a liaison with other departments and outside vendors.
• Order and distribute business cards.
• Sort and distribute mail.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as required and assigned.

Required

• High School Diploma
• 3 years of experience in an administrative/executive assistant role, preferably supporting senior executives or HR leadership.
• Strong proficiency in MS Outlook, Word, Excel and PPT
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and work independently
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• Excellent proofreading skills, including excellent grammar and punction

Preferred

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree
• Experience with HRIS (Workday) and expense report and management platforms (Chrome River)
• Proficiency in using MS Visio

Other Skills and Abilities:

The following will also be required of the successful candidate:

• Strong organizational skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Good judgment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
• Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities

The target salary range for this role is:

$74,000 - $97,000 if located in Illinois

Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email [e-mail] (current employees should contact Human Resources).

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.