Content Design Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

About Kirkland & Ellis
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 passionate about helping people successfully navigate technology change through impactful learning experiences and thoughtful communication strategies?
As the IT Change Strategy & Learning Design Manager, you will lead the change, learning, and communication strategy for global technology initiatives. In this highly visible role, you'll partner with Information Technology (IT) leaders, project teams, business stakeholders, and subject matter experts to drive user readiness, adoption, and long-term success across technology rollouts, enhancements, and process improvements.
You'll serve as a strategic connector between change management, learning design, and project execution-translating complex technology changes into clear, engaging, and user-centered experiences that help employees build confidence and embrace new ways of working. Working across multiple regions and cultures, you'll influence stakeholders, shape adoption strategies, and ensure a consistent, high-quality learning experience for users around the world.
This person will need to work on a hybrid basis out of our Chicago or Houston office.
Lead Change Strategy: Design and execute change management strategies for technology initiatives through stakeholder analysis, readiness assessments, impact mapping, and adoption planning.
Drive User Readiness: Translate business and technology impacts into practical learning, communication, and role-based support strategies that help users prepare for and embrace change.
Partner Across Global Teams: Collaborate with project managers, portfolio leaders, practice leadership, application subject matter experts, and global offices to align adoption efforts with business objectives.
Manage Adoption Risks: Identify potential barriers to adoption and develop proactive mitigation strategies that support successful implementation and sustained usage.
Shape Learning Experiences: Develop learning strategies and user-centered content approaches that align with project goals, audience needs, and organizational impact.
Design Engaging Learning Assets: Create and oversee learning experiences such as job aids, microlearning, videos, troubleshooting resources, and scenario-based learning materials.
Conduct Learning Needs Analysis: Assess learning requirements based on user impact and business needs to ensure learning solutions are targeted and effective.
Ensure Content Quality: Establish standards, templates, governance processes, and quality controls for learning materials developed internally and by external partners.
Develop Communication Strategies: Create clear, compelling messaging that explains what is changing, why it matters, and what actions users need to take.
Coordinate Program Communications: Align communication timing, channels, and messaging with project teams to ensure consistency across initiatives.
Measure and Improve Effectiveness: Monitor engagement, adoption, and learning outcomes to continuously enhance strategy, content quality, and user experience.
Maintain Governance and Documentation: Oversee the organization, tracking, and ongoing maintenance of learning assets, adoption materials, and supporting documentation.
What You'll Bring
Education & Certifications: Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent experience will be considered. Degree or certification in instructional design or a related field preferred. Prosci or similar change management certification is a plus.
Relevant Experience: 10+ years of experience in organizational change management, stakeholder engagement, instructional design, learning strategy, change communications, and enterprise-wide technology adoption initiatives.
Learning Design Expertise: Deep knowledge of adult learning principles, user-centered learning design, instructional strategy, and content development methodologies.
Change Management Skills: Proven ability to assess organizational impacts, develop readiness strategies, and guide stakeholders through complex technology transformations.
Communication Excellence: Exceptional written, visual, and verbal communication skills with the ability to simplify complex concepts for diverse audiences.
Stakeholder Influence: Strong relationship-building and consulting skills with experience influencing senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
Global Collaboration: Ability to work effectively across regions, cultures, and time zones while fostering inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Technology Proficiency: Experience with Articulate 360, TechSmith Camtasia, Snagit, Adobe RoboHelp, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Acrobat, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Microsoft 365 applications including SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, and Copilot.
Industry Knowledge: Familiarity with legal industry technologies, including iManage Document Management System, and experience supporting professional services environments is highly valued.
Personal Effectiveness: Highly organized, self-motivated, adaptable, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Attention to Detail: Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to produce high-quality, accurate, and polished learning materials, communications, and change management deliverables.
If you're excited to drive global technology adoption, create meaningful learning experiences, and lead transformational change in this IT Change Strategy & Learning Design Manager 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: $133,000 - $166,000
How to Apply
Thank you for your interest in Kirkland & Ellis LLP. To complete an application and submit your resume, please click "Apply Now."
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.
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. #LI-Hybrid #LI-LB1