Inclusion Lead

Sidley Austin LLP; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP seeks an Inclusion Lead to develop, implement, and administer programs advancing the Firm’s inclusion objectives. You will collaborate with partners, Affinity Groups, and leaders to drive engagement and touchpoints across offices and time zones.

The role supports the Inclusion Director and works with HR, Marketing, Recruiting, and clients to promote inclusive programming and measurable impact. Hybrid work model in DC area; travel ~25%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 5 years of related experience.
• Proficient with Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel ~25%.
• Commitment to inclusion and cross-cultural communication.

Responsibilities

• Drive lawyer engagement and touchpoint initiatives with leadership and stakeholders.
• Design and deliver bespoke inclusion programming and engagement initiatives.
• Develop knowledge of inclusion goals in dynamic environments.
• Align programming with Firm policies and risk considerations.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Confidentiality

Travel readiness

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

J.D. preferred

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Web-based tools

Job description

The Inclusion Lead supports the development, implementation, and administration of programs and initiatives that advance the Firm’s inclusion objectives and support the priorities of the Firm’s Inclusion Committees and Affinity Groups. Reporting to the Inclusion Director (Attorney Touchpoints), the Inclusion Lead collaborates closely with Firm lawyers, Inclusion Committees, Affinity Groups, Firm leadership, Human Resources, Marketing and Communications, Recruiting, Learning and Development, clients, alumni, and external organizations to advance impactful lawyer engagement, touchpoint, and inclusion initiatives.

As part of the Firm’s global Inclusion Team, the Inclusion Lead contributes to fostering a collegial and inclusive environment, advancing Firmwide inclusion strategies, implementing leading practices, and promoting equal opportunity for all lawyers.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Driving Lawyer Engagement and Touchpoint Initiatives

• Drive lawyer engagement and touchpoint initiatives for the Firm in collaboration with the Inclusion Director, leadership, and relevant stakeholders. This responsibility requires extensive collaboration with strategic partners across the Firm, clients, and external parties at various levels.

• Work in conjunction with the Inclusion Director and strategic partners across the Firm to design and deliver other bespoke inclusion programming, lawyer engagement and touchpoint initiatives for the Firm.

• Develop and maintain a deep knowledge of the goals and objectives of law firms and corporate inclusion programming in dynamic environments to inform program design and strategies.

• Partner with the Inclusion Director, the Office of General Counsel, and Firm leadership to help ensure programming, lawyer engagement and touchpoint initiatives, and related materials, align with Firm policies, legal guidance, and risk considerations; exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive matters and elevate issues as appropriate.

Managing Program and Touchpoint Initiative Operations and Strategy

• Develop and manage standardized workflows and policies to increase and maintain efficiency in Inclusion programming and touchpoint initiative processes, including managing a budget that sets and tracks programming and touchpoint initiative processes spend, including managing a budget that sets and tracks related spend in compliance with Firm practices and policies.

• Support the Inclusion Director in developing and implementing strategies, metrics and tracking tools that measure and increase the impact of Inclusion programming, engagement and touchpoint initiatives, and extend the market reach of these initiatives with clients and friends of the Firm.

• Collaborate with the Firm Communications and Marketing teams, and Inclusion Team colleagues to develop coordinated communications and other materials to promote the Firm’s Inclusion programming, initiatives, engagement and touchpoint initiatives and related objectives.

Local Office and Affinity Group Support

• Collaborate with the Inclusion Director and other team colleagues as needed in supporting Inclusion Committees, Affinity Groups, and local Inclusion activities that enhance community building and belonging in local offices.

• Maintain operational infrastructure for Inclusion Committee and Affinity Group programs, including systems, templates, tracking tools, and processes that support efficiency and reporting.

• Assist with the execution of assigned Inclusion programs and activities across offices and time zones, in alignment with Firm priorities and local needs.

Additional Responsibilities

• This position may require occasional work outside standard business hours to support Firm programming and events.

• Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree

• A minimum of 5 years of related prior work experience

• Experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and web-based services and related applications

• Strong project management and organizational skills

• Demonstrated ability to spot concerns and issues and to formulate and execute responses or solutions

• Demonstrated ability to marshal the resources of an organization across many departments to present excellent programs and effective initiatives

• Demonstrated commitment to inclusion, equal opportunity, and cross-cultural communication

• Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time, including overnight travel

Preferred:

• Advanced degree, particularly a J.D.

• Law firm, corporate experience

• Prior work experience where collaboration on projects was required

• Experience developing programs focused on building community and belonging

• Experience supporting affinity groups and/or inclusion committees

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

#LI-GK1

#LI-Hybrid

The target salary range for this role is:

$120,000 - $160,000 if located in Washington D.C.

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.