Chief Talent Officer

Chief Talent Officer

Title: Chief Talent Officer

Location: Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA, Miami/Coral Gables, FL, New York, NY

Salary Range: Estimated $290-$315k annually.

Workplace Type: Hybrid

Description

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm headquartered in Chicago, with approximately 600 lawyers. Founded in Chicago in 1934, the firm now has 27 offices in 17 states. Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead and unify the firm's end-to-end attorney talent strategy, spanning lateral and entry-level recruiting, integration, professional development, performance management, workforce planning, succession, and culture to drive measurable business outcomes in growth, profitability, client service, and risk mitigation.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Chair, Managing Partner, COO, and Management Committee, embedding talent and strategic plan priorities into industry team strategies, practice economics and client-service initiatives.
• Align hiring strategy with the firm's strategic growth plan.
• Build an integrated talent operating plan tied to the Strategic Plan's growth, profitability, and succession milestones, with KPIs and reporting to the Management Committee.

Attorney Recruitment

• Lead the recruiting process for lateral partners in coordination with firm leadership.
• Oversee hiring of entry-level and lateral associates in all offices in coordination with our Associate Hiring Committee.
• Conduct hiring needs assessments and manage the requisition process.
• Manage end-to-end integration programs with defined milestones for onboarding, client/matter ramp-up, cross-selling, and cultural assimilation, with time-to-productivity and retention targets.
• Oversee the onboarding and logistical integration of new hires.
• Draft offer letters and prepare lateral partner questionnaires (LPQs).
• Manage the candidate diligence process, conflicts of interest analysis, and financial analysis.
• Serve as the primary contact between the firm and legal search firms, candidates, and law schools.
• Manage the planning and administration of the Summer Associate Program.

Talent Development and Retention

• Determine how the firm trains and develops its junior, mid-level, and senior associates as well as counsel.
• Assist with Hinshaw University's creation and management of legal talent development programs, including training, mentorship, and succession planning.
• Evaluate and optimize performance management and processes.
• Develop long-term succession plans in alignment with attorneys' career advancement and the organization's future staffing needs.
• Create and implement retention strategies to minimize turnover.
• Review, enhance, and operationalize performance management, mentoring, CLE, and career development programs to strengthen, leverage, utilization, realization, and long-term growth.

Employer Branding and Reputation Management

• Lead brand building and reputation management in the market, ensuring candidates are aware of the values and goals of the firm.
• Showcase the firm to target candidates and build the firm's brand to attract top legal talent.

Workforce Planning and Analytics

• Establish workforce planning and talent analytics to align headcount, capability, and location strategy with demand trends, practice mix, and margin objectives.
• Provide insights on pipeline health, integration progress, retention and utilization, and develop change-readiness and skills initiatives to capture productivity from technology, including generative AI.

Qualifications Required Experience

• 10+ years of progressive senior leadership in HR/talent within a law firm, including significant experience in attorney recruiting, lateral hiring, and professional development.
• Strong understanding of legal industry talent trends, law school recruiting cycles, lateral hiring best practices, and attorney career trajectories.
• Experience working collaboratively in a multi-office law firm environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in talent acquisition and management strategies.
• Strong knowledge of best practices as applied to the legal industry.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Proven strategic thinking, drive, initiative, and results-focus.
• Outstanding relationship-building skills with all levels of professionals, from associates to partners.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to inspire confidence with partners and firm leadership.
• Effective client service skills and the ability to set priorities and lead complex projects.
• Data-driven orientation with proficiency in talent analytics, reporting, and KPI management.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret workforce trends and data.
• High level of integrity and adherence to confidentiality standards.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree in HR, management, or related field preferred.
• Advanced degree or certifications (e.g., JD, MBA, SHRM-SCP) strongly preferred.