Associate Director IT Operations Governance

About Kirkland & Ellis

At Kirkland & Ellis, we are united in our ambition and drive to move forward. We share core values that help us achieve excellence: collaboration, talent empowerment, service, inclusion, respect and gratitude. Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in the brightest talent and encourage a diversity of perspectives and strengths to create dynamic teams that operate at the pinnacle of their field. Our talented professionals show up every day knowing they will engage in meaningful work, continuous learning and professional development.

As one of the world's leading law firms, we serve a broad range of clients with market-leading practices. We handle the most complicated and sophisticated legal matters because we don't just meet industry standards, we create them. We bring innovation and entrepreneurialism to every engagement and, as a result, have long-standing client relationships with leading global corporations and financial sponsors. With over 6,500 employees (including approximately 4,000 lawyers) operating from 21 offices across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we are one of the largest law firms in the world and a top financial performer.

Essential Job Functions

This role will oversee the strategic sourcing and management of IT-related products and applications, ensuring alignment with business needs, cost efficiencies, and vendor relationships. Additionally, this role will have governance responsibilities within IT operations, ensuring adherence to internal policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements. This role will require collaboration across multiple functions, such as IT, procurement, finance, and operations, to deliver best-in-class procurement strategies for hardware, software, cloud services, and other IT-related services. The position will involve managing key supplier partnerships, driving innovation in procurement processes, and contributing to the optimization of the IT procurement budget.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented and changed as necessary.)

• Partner Alliance: Build and maintain strong relationships with key technology vendors to ensure strategic partnerships and high-quality service delivery.
• Stakeholder Management: Collaborate closely with senior IT leadership, procurement, finance, legal, and business unit leaders to understand their needs and ensure strategies align with organizational objectives.
• Process Optimization: Lead the ongoing enhancement of IT operational processes through improved definition and institutionalization, including metrics and reporting.
• Contract Management: Oversee technology-related contract negotiations, ensuring compliance, risk mitigation, and favorable terms and conditions working very closely with procurement and procurement counsel.
• Market Research & Innovation: Stay current with emerging IT trends, technology innovations, and market conditions to provide recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Reporting & Analysis: Develop and present regular reports on IT operations performance, supplier performance, spend analysis, and related metrics to senior management.
• Cost Optimization: Identify opportunities to optimize IT operations and establish cost-saving initiatives while maintaining product/service quality.
• IT Operations Coordination: Collaborate with IT operations teams to ensure technology decisions are well-integrated into the organization's broader Kirkland infrastructure and service delivery models.
  • Monitor the impact of IT decisions on operational performance and make adjustments where necessary to ensure efficiency and quality.
  • Contribute to IT operational governance, ensuring that technology strategies support operational continuity, security, and scalability.
• Team Leadership: Mentor and guide junior team members, sharing expertise in IT operations best practices and supporting their professional development.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education, Work Experience, Skills

• 7+ years of experience in IT operations, vendor management, or technology strategy, with at least 3 years in a leadership or senior management role.
• In-depth knowledge of IT products, services, and industry trends.
• Prior experience in vendor management, contract lifecycle management, and setting up vendor governance, service level agreements (SLAs), and controls.
• Strong track record of supplier relationship management and contract oversight.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership and team management experience.
• Bachelor's degree in business, Information Technology, or a related field. MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
• Location flexible.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• For most positions, the below description will suffice. Please discuss with HR if you think you have a position where the below will not be applicable.
• This job operates in a professional office environment.

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: $200,000 - $240,000
  

How to Apply

Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."

Equal Employment Opportunity

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.

Closing Statement

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