Organizational Effectiveness Senior Lead

Sidley Austin LLP; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 129,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligibility

Benefits package

Job summary

Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago is seeking an Organizational Effectiveness Senior Lead to plan, structure, and deliver high-impact initiatives across operating model design, organization design, and change management. You will partner with leaders across Finance, Marketing, Data & AI, and other business functions to translate complex needs into clear plans and actionable deliverables.

The role emphasizes driving disciplined delivery, developing executive-ready materials, and enhancing EF tools,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development, Business Administration, Human Resources, Industrial / Organizational Psychology, Operations, Communications, or a related field.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in organizational effectiveness, management consulting, business transformation, organizational development, process improvement, change management, strategy, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives in complex, matrixed, confidential, or professional services environments, with the ability to operate with independence.
• Experience applying consulting-style methods to structure problems, conduct analysis, synthesize stakeholder input, and develop practical recommendations.
• Experience supporting operating model, organization design, process excellence, implementation planning, project delivery, or change management work.
• Experience developing executive-ready presentations, project plans, status updates, dashboards, meeting materials, action logs, and decision-support documents.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Lead or support complex, cross-functional initiatives involving operating model design, organizational design, process improvement, implementation planning and execution, stakeholder engagement, and change management.
• Conduct current-state assessments by gathering stakeholder input, reviewing data, identifying themes, and documenting opportunities for improvement.
• Apply consulting-style approaches to structure ambiguous business problems, develop hypotheses, identify root causes, and evaluate practical options.
• Synthesize complex information into concise findings, insights, recommendations, and decision-ready materials for leaders and project sponsors.
• Facilitate meetings and working sessions that align stakeholders, surface risks, clarify needs, and drive progress toward agreed outcomes.
• Support operating model and organization design work, including future-state structures, services, workflows, governance, roles and accountabilities, and ways of working.
• Map and document current-state processes, pain points, handoffs, and improvement opportunities; support future-state design with streamlined workflows, clear ownership, and AI-enabled process improvements where applicable.
• Develop and maintain project charters, integrated workplans, milestone trackers, RAID logs, status reports, and action logs to support disciplined delivery.
• Build productive relationships with leaders, project sponsors, HR colleagues, functional stakeholders, and cross-functional partners to ensure Organizational Effectiveness work is well-coordinated and effectively implemented.
• Contribute to Organizational Effectiveness tools, templates, delivery standards, and self-service resources; identify and share opportunities to improve the consistency, efficiency, and quality of Organizational Effectiveness work.

Skills

Org skills

Attention to detail

Judgment

Interpersonal comms

Analytical skills

Team collaboration

Confidentiality

Pressure handling

Multi-project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

PMP/Prosci/Lean Six Sigma/SHRM (preferred)

Tools

MS Office

Smartsheet

MS Project

Visio

Miro

Qualtrics

Workday

Job description

The Organizational Effectiveness Senior Lead helps plan, structure, and deliver high-impact initiatives across operating model and organization design, process improvement, implementation planning and execution, stakeholder engagement, and change management. The Senior Lead partners with leaders across Finance, Marketing, Data & AI, and other business professional functions to translate complex business needs into clear plans, practical recommendations, and actionable deliverables. The role also contributes to the continued maturity of the Organizational Effectiveness function by strengthening tools, templates, delivery standards, and ways of working.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead or support complex, cross-functional initiatives, including work within and across functions involving operating model design, organizational design, process improvement, implementation planning and execution, stakeholder engagement, and change management.
• Conduct current-state assessments by gathering stakeholder input, reviewing available data, identifying themes, and documenting opportunities for improvement.
• Apply consulting-style approaches to structure ambiguous business problems, develop hypotheses, identify root causes, and evaluate practical options.
• Synthesize complex information into concise findings, insights, recommendations, and decision-ready materials for leaders and project sponsors.
• Facilitate meetings and working sessions that align stakeholders, surface risks, clarify needs, and drive progress toward agreed outcomes.
• Support operating model and organization design work, including future-state structures, services, workflows, governance, roles and accountabilities, and ways of working.
• Map and document current-state processes, pain points, handoffs, and improvement opportunities; support future-state design with streamlined workflows, clear ownership, and AI-enabled process improvements where applicable.
• Develop and maintain project charters, integrated workplans, milestone trackers, RAID logs, status reports, and action logs to support disciplined delivery.
• Build productive relationships with leaders, project sponsors, HR colleagues, functional stakeholders, and cross-functional partners to ensure Organizational Effectiveness work is well-coordinated and effectively implemented.
• Contribute to Organizational Effectiveness tools, templates, delivery standards, and self-service resources; identify and share opportunities to improve the consistency, efficiency, and quality of Organizational Effectiveness work.

Education and/or Experience:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development, Business Administration, Human Resources, Industrial / Organizational Psychology, Operations, Communications, or a related field.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in organizational effectiveness, management consulting, business transformation, organizational development, process improvement, change management, strategy, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives in complex, matrixed, confidential, or professional services environments, with the ability to operate with independence.
• Experience applying consulting-style methods to structure problems, conduct analysis, synthesize stakeholder input, and develop practical recommendations.
• Experience supporting operating model, organization design, process excellence, implementation planning, project delivery, or change management work.
• Experience developing executive-ready presentations, project plans, status updates, dashboards, meeting materials, action logs, and decision-support documents.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Preferred:

• Prior experience in management consulting, internal consulting, business transformation, or a corporate strategy / transformation function.
• Experience in a law firm, professional services firm, or similarly complex partnership environment.
• Master’s degree in Organizational Development, Business Administration, Human Resources, Industrial / Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience using AI-enabled tools to improve work quality, efficiency, analysis, synthesis, documentation, presentation development, process improvement, or project delivery.
• Experience using Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Visio, Miro, Qualtrics, Workday, or similar project, process, collaboration, survey, or HR technology platforms.
• Experience with process mapping, Lean, Six Sigma, change management, project management, or organization design methodologies.
• Relevant certification such as PMP, Prosci, Lean Six Sigma, SHRM, or a similar credential, where aligned to the candidate’s experience.

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-JW1

#LI-Hybrid

The target salary range for this role is:

$129,100 - $184,000 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.