Job details
Job type full-time
Full job description
*who we are
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Smokeball helps law firms bill more without their clients paying moreIntriguing, right? we were founded by technology leaders with more than 20 years of experience in delivering impactful legal technology productsOur leadership continually strives to develop a company, culture, and team that share a profound love for the law and are compelled to help small law firms find successOur mission isn’t simple, but it is straightforward: help small law firms be successful businesses so that they can better serve our communities.
What makes us special?
Culture is sacredAs a `best places to work` winner four years in a row, we believe company culture is the single most important ingredient to our successAt the end of the day, it is all about our people.
The best product in legal techWe think deeply about the challenges small law firms faceWe do not bother with simply delivering a “faster horse,” we drive innovations that truly enhance the lives and businesses of our clientsCheck out our ratings on g2, capterra, and google.
GrowthThe legal tech industry is estimated to be worth around $15bn and is growing every yearSmokeball is growing right along with it, and we like to take our people with us.
*what we need
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We are looking for a strategic-minded, data-driven, empathetic people leader to help scale smokeball’s award-winning culture during a time of high growthThe vp of people & culture will sit on the executive team and play a critical role in building programs, processes and practices that keep smokeball an employer of choiceOur culture is just as important to us as our product, which means we need a people leader who truly understands the importance of the employee experience and how to intentionally cultivate it.
A day in the life:
Create and execute strategies across the people function to help smokeball scale, paying close attention to employee engagement, talent acquisition, total rewards, learning and development, performance management, leadership coaching, and dei.
Establish various feedback programs to understand how employees are doing, then use the data to suggest and implement improvements across the business
Work closely with our leaders to forecast hiring so that we can ensure teams are appropriately staffed to meet growth demands
Provide day-to-day performance management guidance to people managers (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, disciplinary actions)
Evaluate smokeball’s total rewards strategy to ensure we’re competitive and equitable in our approach to compensation and benefits
Propose and implement impactful l&d initiatives that help give employees a path forward in their careers
Manage and resolve complex employee issues, including terminations and investigations
Maintains current knowledge of employment law, reducing legal risks across all people functions
Implement policies and processes that cultivate a culture of respect, transparency, and feedback
Focus on dei initiatives across the business, acting as a resource and guide to smokeball’s dei committee
What you bring
5+ years of progressive experience in hr/people roles
2+ years’ experience managing a team
Proven experience leading organizational strategy and development, employee engagement, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management, and compensation and benefits
Education or certification in hr preferred
Experience leading the people function in a rapidly growing company a plus
Experience working with remote-friendly companies a plus
Passion for and experience with leading dei initiatives
Empathy, kindness, keen judgement, and a desire to solve problems required.
Your future team
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Manager*
Ruchie chadha: hi, i’m ruchie! i am the president here at smokeballI oversee the us executive team which is made up of the product, marketing, sales, finance, hr, and client teamsAs a practicing attorney in chicagoland, i know firsthand how important it is to find the best way serve your clients and build a healthy businessI love working at smokeball because it allows me to combine my legal background and technology to focus on delivering innovative solutions to lawyers all over the country (with the bonus of working with amazing, fun, and dedicated people every day!) when i’m not at smokeball, you can find my nose in a book, recipe testing, or researching my next travel destination!
Colleague
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Sara hawes: * hi, i’m sara! i have been working at smokeball for nearly six yearsIt has been gratifying to see how much the product and company have grownWe’re poised for rapid growth, so it’s an exciting time to join the companyI practiced family law for five years before joining smokeball, and i love having the opportunity to use my legal background at a company that’s on the cutting edge of legaltechAs the vp of client services, i aim to set challenging goals that help us deliver legendary service and grow our team members’ careers.
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Team members*
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Linda stiglicz: * hi, my name is linda and i’ve worked for smokeball for 5 ½ years! i love my hr specialist job at smokeball and how it’s given me the opportunity to learn and grow and redefine my role throughout the yearsOutside of work i’m happily focused on family timeI have a 16-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son, and they keep me busy with their activities, sports, and friendsBut when i get some alone time, i love to shop, take long walks in the city, and listen to thriller audio books and true crime podcasts.
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Marcoiya fair: * hi! my name is marcoiya, and i have been with smokeball for 5 months as the hr talent specialistThere are so many things that i like about working here, including the work-life balance, work flexibility, opportunity for career growth, and the transparency where i can truly be engaged with the businessWe are also an organization that works hard, but also plays hard! i truly enjoy my co-workers! outside of work, my biggest hobby includes traveling, domestic and internationalThis hobby comes from my love of new things: foods, culture, people, experiences, etc.
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Life at smokeball*
Great culture: named crain’s 2021, 2020, & 2019 best workplaces, incMagazine’s 2018 best workplaces
Work-life balance: 20 vacation days, 6 sick days, 10 paid holidays, birthday off, volunteer time, and more!
Career growth: smokeball believes in investing in our own people and promoting from withinOur own president started at smokeball as an account manager!
Flexible working: we trust our people to get their jobs doneWork remotely full-time? in the office full-time? a hybrid of both? your choice!
Benefits: excellent medical coverage, 401(k) match, monthly wellness stipend, generous parental leave
Transparency: we keep employees in the loop through monthly global huddles and local standups where we discuss company goals, updates, new hire introductions, etc.
The office: the kitchen is stocked with breakfast items, snacks, and beverages, and we have plenty of games to help you relax (ping-pong, billiards, pinball, board games, video games)We also offer free monthly massages provided by a licensed massage therapist!
Fun events: in-person happy hours, virtual game nights, family-friendly events, and so much more
Convenient transit: we’re located in the heart of downtown chicago, in walking distance from all major modes of transportation
The values we live by
Creating and fostering a great culture is just as important as providing a great productAt smokeball, we don’t have core values for show, we live and breathe them every day.
Caring is not optional
Make it happen
Deliver legendary service
Innovate for the client, not the press release
Be frank
Keep listening, keep learning
These values inform every strategic decision we make and guide our behavior with every person we meetWhen we are bringing new team members into the smokeball family, we look for compassion, drive, keen judgement, varied perspectives, and no egos.
What dei means to us
At smokeball, we believe that “caring is not optional.” we respect everyone, no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love, where they come from, how they identify, what they believe in, what abilities they have, or what they are trying to overcomeSmokeball is committed to utilizing community partnerships, education, events, and hiring to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for everyone we interact with.
Learn more about our dei program here.
More, more, more!
Why do we do what we do? where did the name ‘smokeball’ come from? how do we give back? learn more here.
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Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualificationsNo one ever meets 100% of the qualifications! we encourage anyone who is interested to apply based on the responsibilities and requirements outlinedYou may be the culture add that we are seeking! we look forward to your application.
Smokeball is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing an open, welcoming environment for everyone.
Job type: full-time
Work location: multiple locations
