HR Operations Transformation Analyst

LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 74,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, IL seeks an HR Operations Transformation Analyst to support HR transformation initiatives, with emphasis on Workday HCM, process mapping, and project coordination within a fast-paced professional services environment.

The role assists with strategy roadmaps, status reporting, and cross-workstream delivery, offering exposure to HR strategy, operations, and HR technology and ample growth opportunities as the function evolves.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in consulting, HR Operations, project coordination, business analysis, or related role.
• Hands-on Experience with Workday HCM strongly preferred (any module).
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate projects with multiple moving parts (tracking tasks, deadlines, stakeholder actions).
• Proficiency in MS Outlook, Word, Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP), and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with Smartsheet, Visio, etc.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist the HR Operations and Strategy Senior Manager in maintaining and updating the firm-wide HR strategy roadmap, tracking initiative status, milestones, and dependencies.
• Help translate strategic objectives into structured project plans by organizing tasks, timelines, and owner assignments under HR leadership.
• Support the preparation of presentations, status updates, and summary materials for HR leadership and internal stakeholders.
• Assist with prioritization reviews by compiling data on resourcing, project scope, and business impact for leadership review.
• Support post-implementation Workday HCM projects, including process refinement and workflow optimization efforts.
• Help coordinate overall Workday roadmap and prioritization in the HR function’s strategy and roadmap.
• Assist in scheduling and hosting project meetings, including agendas, facilitating discussion, capturing notes, and tracking actions.
• Monitor project timelines and flag risks or delays to the HR Operations and Strategy Senior Manager for resolution.
• Support development of process maps, swimlane diagrams, Quick Reference Guides (QRGs), and SOPs.
• Identify process gaps and opportunities for improvement and compile findings for review.
• Maintain resource tracking tools and spreadsheets to support visibility into capacity across the HR Portfolio.
• Balance multiple tasks and priorities with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Maintain professional and collaborative working style across HR and the broader firm.

Skills

Organization

Attention to detail

Communication

Analytical skills

Project management

Discretion

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

MS Outlook

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Smartsheet

Visio

Job description

The HR Operations Transformation Analyst is a key contributor within the Human Resources function, reporting directly to the HR Operations and Strategy Senior Manager. This role is well-suited for a professional with a consulting background or analytical mindset who is eager to apply structured thinking and project support skills to an HR team undergoing key HR Transformation projects.

The Analyst will assist with a range of HR initiatives spanning process documentation, project tracking, and operational reporting. A significant focus of this role will be supporting projects connected to the firm's recently implemented Workday HCM system — as Workday sits at the center of many of the firm's current and upcoming HR initiatives, this individual will play an active role in helping the organization maximize the platform's value across both HR and the broader firm. The ideal candidate is organized, collaborative, and comfortable managing multiple workstreams in a fast-paced professional services environment. This role offers meaningful exposure to HR strategy, operations, and HR technology, with real opportunities for growth as the function continues to evolve.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the HR Operations and Strategy Senior Manager in maintaining and updating the firm-wide HR strategy roadmap, tracking initiative status, milestones, and dependencies

• Help translate strategic objectives into structured project plans by organizing tasks, timelines, and owner assignments under the direction of HR leadership

• Support the preparation of presentations, status updates, and summary materials for HR leadership and internal stakeholders

• Assist with prioritization reviews by compiling relevant data on resourcing, project scope, and business impact for leadership review

• Support post-implementation Workday HCM projects, including process refinement and workflow optimization efforts

• Help coordinate overall Workday roadmap and prioritization efforts in the overall HR function’s strategy and roadmap

• Assist in scheduling and hosting project meetings, including preparing agendas, facilitating discussion, capturing meeting notes, and tracking action items to closure

• Monitor project timelines and flag potential risks or delays to the HR Operations and Strategy Senior Manager for resolution

• Support the development of process maps, swimlane diagrams, Quick Reference Guides (QRGs), and Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs)

• Help identify process gaps, opportunities for improvement, redundancies, or inconsistencies and compile findings for review

• Maintain resource tracking tools and spreadsheets to support visibility into capacity across the HR Portfolio

• Balance multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously, demonstrating strong attention to details and follow-through

• Maintain a professional and collaborative working style, building positive relationships across the HR team and the broader firm

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field

• 2-4 years of experience in consulting, HR Operations, project coordination, business analysis, or a related role

• Hands-on experience with Workday HCM (any module) strongly preferred; candidates with exposure to Workday through an implementation, post go-live support role, or end-user experience in an HR capacity will be given strong consideration

• Demonstrated ability to support and coordinate projects with multiple moving parts, including tracking tasks, deadlines, and stakeholder actions

• Proficiency in MS Outlook, Word, Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic data analysis), and PowerPoint

• Familiarity with process-related tools and platforms (Smartsheet, Visio, etc.)

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

Preferred:

• Prior work experience in a consulting firm, professional services environment, or in-house HR function

• Prior experience with a cloud based Human Resources Information System(s)

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 - $94,000 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.