About Smokeball Who we are Smokeball helps law firms bill more without their clients paying more. Intriguing, right? We were founded by technology leaders with more than 20 years of experience in delivering impactful legal technology products. Our leadership continually strives to develop a company, culture, and team that share a profound love for the law and is compelled to help small law firms find success. Our 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 sacred. As a 'Best Places to Work' winner four years in a row, we believe company culture is the single most important ingredient to our success. At the end of the day, it is all about our people. The best product in Legal Tech. We think deeply about the challenges small law firms face. We do not bother with simply delivering a faster horse, we drive innovations that truly enhance the lives and businesses of our clients. Check out our ratings on G2, Capterra, and Google. The Legal Tech industry is estimated to be worth around $15bn and is growing every year. Smokeball is growing right along with it, and we like to take our people with us. Our working model At Smokeball, we believe there is nothing more powerful than a community of people coming together to work on a product that they, and our clients, love. When it comes to working as a community, we see the value in both coming together and allowing our Smokeballers the flexibility that remote work offers. All Chicago employees are in the office on Wednesdays and Thursdays. While our office is open 5 days a week, we allow you to choose what works best for you on Monday, Tuesday and Friday. Our office is in the heart of the Loop within 10 minutes of the Metra and all EL trains. And, we have lots (and lots) of snacks.
The Role We are seeking a strategic-minded, data-driven, empathetic People Leader. The leader of P&C will play a critical role in building programs, processes, and practices that keep Smokeball an employer of choice.
This is a hybrid role with our office being in Chicago, IL. Applicants for this position should note they are expected to be onsite 2-3 days per week. A Typical Day Involves - 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
- Partner with senior management and people leaders to provide strategic direction, creative solutions, and execution of deliverables related to staffing and retention, talent development, employee relations, resource planning, compensation and benefits, and performance management
- Provide day-to-day guidance to people managers (e.g., coaching, counseling, career development, disciplinary actions, etc.)
- Propose and implement impactful L&D initiatives that help give employees a path forward in their careers
- Monitor adherence to all relevant Human Resource-related policies and practices and drive consistency across the function
- Manage and resolve complex employee issues
- Maintain 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
Meet Some Teammates Your Manager Ruchie Chadha: Hi, I'm Ruchie! I am the President here at Smokeball. I oversee the US Executive Team which is made up of the Product, Marketing, Sales, Finance, and Client teams. As a practicing attorney in Chicagoland, I know firsthand how important it is to find the best way to serve your clients and build a healthy business. I 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!
The Team Yvette Morales: Hi!! I'm a People & Culture Specialist and I've been with Smokeball since October 2021. Smokeball has given me an opportunity to grow my career in HR, and I love to be able to have a direct, positive impact on our employees' experience. My favorite parts about working here are getting to onboard our new hires and working with so many kind, collaborative people. Outside of work, I'm passionate about illustration and music. You can find me exploring the outdoors with my husband, dancing at a concert, or painting while our 2 cats keep me company. Julianne Cozette: Hi there! I am the Office Manager & Marketing Coordinator, and I've been here since February of 2024. I appreciate how much Smokeball emphasizes the community experience of our office, and I've loved the opportunity to be creative with how we recognize and celebrate employees and events throughout the calendar. I love a good crossword puzzle, cooking dinner for my family, and Disney movies.
What You Bring - 5+ years of progressive experience in HR/People roles
- 2+ years' experience managing a team
- Education or certification in HR required
- Proven experience leading organizational strategy and development, employee engagement, talent acquisition, learning and development, performance management, and compensation and benefits
- Passion for and experience with leading DEI initiatives
- Experience leading the People function in a rapidly growing company a plus
- Experience working with remote-friendly companies a plus
- Empathy, kindness, keen judgement, and a desire to solve problems required
Life at Smokeball - Great Culture: Named 2024'S 10th Best Place to Work in the Technology Industry nationwide!
- Work-Life Balance: 20 vacation days, 7 sick days, 3 reboot days, 10 paid holidays, birthday off, volunteer time, and more!
- Career Growth: Smokeball believes in investing in our own people and promoting from within. Our own President started at Smokeball as an Account Manager!
- 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 product. At 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 meet. When we are bringing new team members into the Smokeball Family, we look for compassion, drive, keen judgement, varied perspectives, and no egos.
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.* Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications! We encourage anyone who is interested to apply based on the responsibilities and requirements outlined. You 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 The pay range for this role is: $150,000 - 175,000