DEI Specialist – West Coast

Reporting to the DEI Director, the DEI Specialist for the West Coast plays a pivotal role in supporting the development and implementation of key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives aligned with the Firm’s overarching objectives. Collaborating closely with the DEI Director, this role focuses on advancing the goals of the Firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, SidleyWomen, and the Firm’s affinity groups. The DEI Specialist will engage with lawyers, including diverse lawyers, women, minority/ethnic minority, LGBTQ+, and lawyers with disabilities, as well as firm leadership, strategic partners, and the broader professional staff.

People: Supporting an Inclusive Culture

• Collaborate with the DEI Director in supporting the Firm’s people, culture, and DEI mission in all California offices (Century City, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, San Diego, and San Francisco) and proximate offices (the “California Offices”).
• Plan and coordinate outreach by the DEI Director to all California Offices to help the DEI Director serve as a resource for historically underrepresented attorneys in their professional development, and engage all colleagues across California offices in helping to maintain an inclusive culture.
• Support the DEI Director in developing practices to support the retention and development of historically underrepresented attorneys in the California Offices. This will include facilitating extensive collaboration with DEI Team colleagues and DEI and office leadership.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of all local office DEI orientations.

Processes: Supporting Committee and Group Processes and Projects

• Assist the DEI Director in supporting the firm’s DEI and SidleyWomen Committees in the California Offices, including organizing meetings, developing agendas, coordinating resources, keeping track of budgets in alignment with Committee and firmwide goals, and addressing questions and issues raised under the guidance and supervision of the DEI Director.
• Collaborate with the DEI Director in supporting assigned firmwide affinity groups, including for LGBTQ+ attorneys and for attorneys with disabilities, and local-office affinity groups. This includes organizing meetings, developing agendas, implementing projects, coordinating resources, coordinating and processing budget requests to support group goals, and addressing questions and issues raised under the guidance and supervision of the DEI Director.
• Coordinate the approval process for office-specific sponsorships for local lawyer affinity organizations, including tracking alignment with DEI Committee goals and related budget allocations, and helping the DEI Director monitor and measure the impact of local sponsorships.

Programs: Supporting Regional and Firmwide Programming

• Partner with California DEI Committees and affinity groups in developing and staffing local programs and events. This includes engaging participants, developing program agendas, researching and engaging speakers, developing communications and materials, managing program budgets and invoices, and extensive collaboration with office managers and business professional staff colleagues on the communications, events, and learning & development teams, among others.
• Work closely with the DEI Director to develop standardized workflows, policies, and processes to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of office-specific programs and events.
• In conjunction with the DEI Specialist for firmwide programming, contribute to the planning and implementation of firmwide programs, heritage month celebrations and commemorations, and retreats.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Perform other duties as assigned. This position may require working non-standard hours in conjunction with programs and events.

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. If an estimated salary range for this role is available, it will be provided in our Target Salary Range section. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found here.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities (Duties) above satisfactorily and meet the requirements below. The requirements listed below 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 staffrecruiting@sidley.com (current employees should contact Human Resources). 

Education and/or Experience: 

Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in a law firm or diversity role
• Ability to travel up to 35% of the time, primarily to California offices, including overnight travel.
• Experience in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and web-based services and related applications
• Strong administrative experience
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and cross-cultural communication and collaboration

Preferred:

• Law firm, corporate experience
• Prior work experience where collaboration on projects was required 

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

Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer