The Partner Compensation & Evaluation Associate Director is responsible for leading the Firm’s Partner Compensation & Evaluation function, including support for the Partner evaluation process, compensation review cycles, compensation analytics, documentation, reporting, and coordination with adjacent Partner Matters functions. This role will provide leadership and operational discipline for an increasingly complex function, ensuring compensation and evaluation activity is accurate, timely, confidential, well-controlled, and aligned with Firm leadership expectations as the Firm’s Partner population and compensation structures continue to evolve, including income partner-related processes. Working closely with the Partner Services Director, Partner Relations, Partner Operations, Partner Accounting, Tax, Finance, Strategic Planning, Firm leadership, and other stakeholders, this individual will serve as a key compensation and evaluation process leader, analytical partner, and coordination point for sensitive Partner compensation matters.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Lead the Partner Compensation & Evaluation function and manage the team responsible for compensation process support, evaluation coordination, analytics, reporting, documentation, and stakeholder coordination. Establish clear priorities, timelines, accountabilities, handoffs, controls, and service expectations for compensation and evaluation activity. Manage support for the Partner evaluation and compensation review process, including preparation for Management Committee compensation review meetings. Coordinate evaluation-related timelines, materials, data inputs, stakeholder follow-up, process documentation, and leadership reporting. Analyze quantitative and qualitative factors to support compensation discussions, leadership decision-making, Partner promotions, and other Partner population changes. Oversee the development of compensation analytics, reporting, models, and decision-support materials for Firm leadership. Track compensation-related decisions, individual agreements, committee determinations, special arrangements, and separation-related compensation implications. Coordinate closely with Partner Accounting, Partner Relations, Partner Operations, Tax, Finance, Strategic Planning, and Firm leadership to ensure compensation decisions, changes, payments, and reporting are accurately reflected. Maintain strong controls, documentation standards, confidentiality protocols, data quality, and process discipline for compensation and evaluation-related work. Lead, coach, and develop Compensation & Evaluation team members, including clarifying roles, managing workload allocation, supporting training, providing feedback, and identifying staffing, process, system, or governance improvements.
Education and/or ExperienceRequired: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Economics, Human Resources, Data Analytics, or related field. Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in compensation, finance, accounting, analytics, human resources, professional services administration, or a related function. Experience managing confidential compensation, performance evaluation, financial, or senior stakeholder-related processes. Demonstrated analytical capability, including experience developing reports, models, dashboards, decision-support materials, or executive-facing analysis. Experience leading teams, managing projects or processes, and coordinating work across functions. Demonstrated ability to operate in a complex, matrixed, service-oriented environment.
Preferred:
Experience in a large law firm or sophisticated professional services organization. Experience with Partner compensation, professional services compensation, performance evaluation, executive compensation, or equity / income partner structures. Advanced degree, MBA, CPA, SHRM certification, compensation certification, or related credential. Experience with financial systems, compensation systems, data management tools, or advanced Excel / reporting platforms.
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.
The target salary range for this role is: $161,400 to $229,950 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 sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources).
Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Sidley is an elite global law firm with a known reputation of deploying innovative strategies to achieve powerful results. Business professionals are essential to the firm’s ability to deliver the highest quality legal services to our clients. Sidley employs approximately 2,300 lawyers working with our clients in complex transactional, restructuring, crisis management, investigation, regulatory, and litigation matters. Our 160 years of perspective and reach are truly global, supported by 21 offices strategically situated in key commercial, regulatory, and financial centers across the world. Our lawyers and business professionals, fluent in more than 75 languages, possess the cultural awareness and cross-border legal acumen needed to bring clarity to a dynamic business landscape.
