Sidley Austin LLP · 1 month ago
Records Management Director
US-IL-Chicago
Full-time
Hybrid
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$280K/yr - $350K/yr
10+ years expSidley Austin LLP is a professional services firm seeking a Records Management Director to lead their global Records and Information Management (RIM) program. The role involves developing strategies, overseeing daily operations, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory obligations related to records management.
AdviceConsultingFinanceFinancial ServicesLegal
Responsibilities
Define the Firm’s global RIM strategy, roadmap, and governance framework, aligned with business goals, client expectations, industry standards, and regulatory requirements
Develop and maintain Firm-wide policies, procedures, retention schedules, and guidelines governing electronic and physical records
Assess current-state practices and lead the design of a modern, integrated records and information lifecycle program supporting creation, classification, storage, retrieval, retention, and disposition
Identify opportunities to improve risk mitigation, operational efficiency, client service, and cost management
Drive Firm-approved milestones, track progress, and demonstrate measurable improvements in all RIM functions
Oversee daily records operations across all offices, ensuring consistency and quality of service delivery
Manage the lifecycle of Firm records—electronic and paper—across practice groups, administrative departments, and global offices
Coordinate processes for intake, indexing, storage, transfer, digitization, retrieval, and secure destruction
Ensure application of standardized taxonomy, metadata practices, and matter-level controls across systems and repositories
Oversee vendor relationships related to offsite storage, scanning, imaging, and related services
Develop and monitor KPIs, operational dashboards, and service-level measures
Partner with IT, Information Governance, and Knowledge Management to evaluate, deploy, and optimize RIM technologies, including:
Lead automation and digitization initiatives to reduce paper, streamline processes, and improve retrieval and reporting
Ensure systems are configured to support retention, disposition, metadata, security, and ethical walls requirements
Oversee system upgrades, data migrations, and integrations with Firm platforms
Ensure adherence to the Firm’s legal, regulatory, and ethical obligations related to records management, information governance, and privacy
Collaborate with the Office of General Counsel, Risk, Compliance, and IT Security to support legal holds, audits, client requirements, and confidentiality protocols
Maintain global retention schedules in alignment with applicable laws, regulations, and best practices
Regularly assess and remediate risk exposures in processes, practices, and systems
Develop defensible disposition programs for electronic and physical materials
Lead, mentor, and develop a global records management team, including managers, supervisors, analysts, and office-based staff
Build consensus with partners, senior leadership, and administrative stakeholders to support program adoption and compliance
Develop and deliver training, communication, and change-management programs to promote RIM awareness and adoption
Serve as a key liaison to attorneys, legal teams, and administrative departments on RIM-related questions, priorities, and projects
Cultivate a culture of accountability, accuracy, confidentiality, and high service standards
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree required (Information Management, Library/Information Science, Business, or related field)
Certified Information Governance Professional (IGP) or Certified Records Manager (CRM)
A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in records management, information governance, or related disciplines, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment
A minimum of 5 years of leadership or management experience, including oversight of multi-location or global teams
Deep understanding of electronic and physical records lifecycles, including classification, retention, disposition, and compliance
Experience with leading RIM and DMS platforms (e.g., iManage, NetDocuments, FileTrail, Iron Mountain, LegalKEY, or similar)
Familiarity with legal industry requirements, including client outside counsel guidelines, data privacy regulations, and ethical walls
Strong understanding of IG frameworks (e.g., ARMA, ISO 15489, NARA, Sedona)
Proven experience implementing large-scale modernization or digitization initiatives
Strong analytical, reporting, and data-driven decision-making capabilities
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
Preferred
Master's degree preferred
Benefits
Bonus eligibility
Comprehensive benefits program
Company
Sidley Austin LLP
Sidley is an elite global law firm.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Sidley Austin LLP has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (51)
2024 (36)
2023 (17)
2022 (33)
2021 (20)
2020 (23)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Anne Falvey
Chief Knowledge Officer
CARTER G. PHILLIPS
Partner
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