Travel, Meetings & Events Specialist

Kirkland & Ellis; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 88,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago seeks a Travel, Meetings & Events Specialist to plan and execute a wide range of events from concept to completion. You’ll partner with attorneys and MBD staff to ensure strategic alignment, overseeing budgets, vendor sourcing, registrations, on-site support and post-event analysis.

The role emphasizes collaboration, meticulous execution, and continuous improvement in a fast-paced legal environment, with a focus on delivering exceptional attendee experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CMP or CSEP designation a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in event planning and management.
• Experience negotiating contracts with vendors and venues.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end planning and delivery of internal and external events.
• Manage timelines, logistics and stakeholder communications.
• Collaborate with attorneys and internal partners to align goals.
• Source venues, develop RFPs and assist with vendor contracts.
• Coordinate registration, RSVPs and post-event reporting.
• Oversee on-site event logistics and budgets.
• Develop post-event recaps and insights for future planning.
• Establish best practices to improve event quality and efficiency.

Skills

Event planning

Project management

Contract negotiation

Communication skills

Client service

Executive presence

Industry knowledge

Tech proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

CMP certification

CSEP certification

Tools

Cvent

MS Office

SharePoint

Job description

At Kirkland & Ellis, we don’t just meet the standard for legal excellence — we set it. Our culture is built on teamwork, ingenuity and an unwavering commitment to continuous growth. We tackle the most sophisticated legal challenges with bold ideas and innovative solutions, powered by the exceptional experience and ambition of our 7,000+ people, including 4,000+ attorneys, across 24 offices worldwide. Our dedicated professionals share our lawyers’ commitment to excellence and show up each day to do meaningful work that helps drive global business, investment and innovation forward.

What You’ll Do

Are you a detail-oriented events professional who thrives on creating exceptional experiences and managing high-profile events from concept through completion?

Kirkland & Ellis is seeking aTravel, Meetings & Events Specialist within the Travel, Meetings & Events (TME) team of the Firm’s Marketing & Business Development (MBD) Department in Chicago. In this role, you’ll plan and execute a wide range of internal and external events, including seminars, conferences, client dinners, receptions, retreats and virtual programs.

Reporting to the Senior TME Manager, you’ll partner with attorneys, MBD professionals, and other internal stakeholders to lead events from strategy and planning through execution while establishing and implementing best practices. The MBD team operates from a team-first mindset and values honesty, diligence, collaboration and open communication.

This is an exciting opportunity for a proactive, solutions-oriented professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, navigating complex challenges, and building trusted partnerships across the Firm.

• Event Planning & Execution:Lead the successful planning, coordination and delivery of internal and external meetings and events from inception through post-event reporting.
• Project Management:Manage timelines, logistics, stakeholder communications and event deliverables while balancing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Stakeholder Partnership:Collaborate with attorneys, MBD professionals, Office Administration, Talent teams and other internal partners to align event goals and execution.
• Venue Sourcing & Contracting:Support site selection, develop requests for proposals (RFPs) and assist with vendor and venue contract negotiations.
• Registration Management:Coordinate registration processes, RSVP tracking, attendee communications and post-event attendance reporting using Cvent and other tools.
• Logistics Coordination:Manage food and beverage, audiovisual services, technology, transportation, giveaways, signage, nametags and other event requirements.
• On-Site Event Support:Serve as a lead on-site resource, overseeing registration, vendor coordination, event flow and troubleshooting to ensure a seamless attendee experience.
• Budget & Financial Management:Prepare cost estimates, monitor event expenses, reconcile budgets, process invoices and support cost-effective event delivery.
• Reporting & Analysis:Develop post-event recaps, attendance reports, budget summaries and insights to measure event success and support future planning.
• Continuous Improvement:Help establish and implement best practices that enhance event quality, efficiency and stakeholder satisfaction.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree required with CMP (Certified Meeting Planner) or CSEP (Certified Special Events Professional) designation a plus; 8+ years of experience in event planning.
• Event Management Expertise: Demonstrated success managing complex events, coordinating logistics and delivering exceptional attendee experiences.
• Contract Negotiation Skills:Experience negotiating and managing contracts, vendor relationships, budgets and event-related risk while balancing business objectives and cost considerations.
• Project Management Strength:Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to prioritize competing demands, manage multiple initiatives simultaneously and execute with exceptional attention to detail.
• Communication & Relationship Building:Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact professionally with senior attorneys, clients, staff and guests of the Firm.
• Initiative, Problem Solving & Judgment: Demonstrated ability to take initiative, navigate ambiguity, anticipate challenges, evaluate options, exercise sound judgment and make informed decisions while independently driving priorities forward in high-pressure, deadline-driven scenarios.
• Client Service Focus:Excellent client service orientation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Professional Presence:Demonstrated executive presence, business acumen, diplomacy and discretion when handling sensitive business matters and interacting with senior stakeholders.
• Industry Knowledge:Knowledge of hospitality, hotel sourcing, travel and meeting management practices, industry trends and supplier networks.
• Technical Proficiency:Solid command of MS Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and SharePoint; experience using Cvent.

If you’re passionate about delivering exceptional events, building trusted partnerships and driving memorable experiences in a high-performing environment in this Travel, Meetings & Events Specialist role, we’d love to hear from you!

Compensation

The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position in Chicago. This range may differ based on your geographic location and cost of living considerations. At Kirkland & Ellis, we consider compensation more than just a base salary. We offer an exceptional range of flexible benefits including comprehensive healthcare, paid time off, and retirement. We also offer personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work.

Compensation Range:

Chicago: $88,000 - $109,000

Don't meet every job requirement? That's okay! If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't perfectly fit every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right person for this role or others at Kirkland.

All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #LI-Hybrid #LI-KK1