Human Resources Senior Manager

Permanent Placements; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Short- and long-term disability

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Vacation and sick time

Employee assistance programs

Commuter and transit benefits

Wellness programs

Job summary

Permanent Placements LLC is seeking a Human Resources Senior Manager in Chicago to partner with office and firm leadership. The role oversees recruiting, onboarding, retention, employee relations, performance management, compensation, development, compliance, and workforce planning.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of HR in law firms or professional services, with strong management experience. SHRM credentials are preferred, and discretion is essential for sensitive matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; 10+ years HR in law firms or professional services preferred.
• Prior management experience and strong recruiting, employee relations, and compensation knowledge.
• Solid understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws; Illinois/Chicago familiarity helpful.
• SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP/PHR/SPHR preferred; ability to handle confidential matters with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR strategy for office and firm leadership; oversee recruiting, onboarding, retention.
• Guide employee relations, performance reviews, compensation cycles, and development.
• Ensure compliance, policy governance, and workforce planning; manage complex employee matters.
• Partner with leadership to drive engagement, culture, and change-management initiatives.

Skills

HR leadership

Talent acquisition

Employee relations

Performance management

Compensation & benefits

Workforce planning

Policy development

Training & development

Change management

HR compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS

Workday

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Adobe applications

Job description

Position Overview

Our client, a prominent global law firm, is seeking an experienced Human Resources Senior Manager to join its Chicago office. This is a senior-level HR leadership opportunity for a professional with deep experience in law firms or other sophisticated professional services organizations.

The Senior Manager will serve as a strategic HR partner to office and firm leadership, overseeing a broad range of talent functions including staff recruiting, employee relations, performance management, compensation, professional development, retention, compliance, and workforce planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead recruiting, onboarding, and retention initiatives for professional staff.
• Partner with senior leadership on employee engagement, morale, retention, and workplace culture initiatives.
• Provide guidance to employees and management regarding HR policies, benefits, leave programs, and employment practices.
• Advise on FMLA, short- and long-term disability, workers' compensation, and related employee matters.
• Manage complex employee relations issues and provide coaching and counseling to managers.
• Oversee corrective action, disciplinary matters, performance improvement plans, and employee separations.
• Manage performance review processes for attorneys and professional staff.
• Develop and facilitate management training and professional development initiatives.
• Provide guidance on compensation matters and assist with annual salary and bonus administration.
• Participate in workforce planning, succession planning, and career development initiatives.
• Partner with professional development teams to identify appropriate training and skill-development resources.
• Maintain accurate and compliant personnel records, including I-9, EEO, recruiting, new-hire, and separation documentation.
• Develop and continuously improve HR processes, policies, practices, and procedures.
• Support organizational change and change-management initiatives.
• Supervise legal support personnel and help ensure effective workflow and high-quality attorney support.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues and leadership across the broader organization on firmwide talent initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Human Resources, Business, Organizational Development, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of HR, business management, or related experience.
• Prior HR experience within a law firm or professional services environment strongly preferred.
• Previous management or supervisory experience required.
• Demonstrated recruiting experience and understanding of talent acquisition best practices.
• Significant experience handling employee relations and performance management matters.
• Strong understanding of compensation, benefits, and other core HR programs.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Familiarity with Illinois employment laws and Chicago employment ordinances is important for this role.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification preferred.
• Ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships with attorneys, professional staff, and executive leadership.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with sound professional judgment.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a demanding professional environment.

Technology

Candidates should have experience with:

• HRIS and Applicant Tracking Systems
• Workday or comparable HR technology
• Microsoft Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Outlook
• Adobe applications

Experience utilizing AI-powered tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar platforms to improve professional and managerial workflows is also desirable. Candidates should understand responsible AI practices, particularly with respect to confidentiality, privacy, validation of outputs, and appropriate human oversight.

Compensation

Expected Base Salary: $150,000 - $170,000 annually

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, location, and other job-related factors.

The position may also be eligible for a discretionary bonus.

Benefits

Our client offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Medical insurance with HSA options
• Dental and vision coverage
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Vacation and sick time
• Employee assistance programs
• Commuter and transit benefits
• Additional voluntary insurance and wellness programs

Work Environment

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Position: Full-time
• This is an office-focused leadership role where a meaningful in-person presence is expected to support employees, collaborate with management, and contribute to office culture.