Benjamin Schneider
San Diego,CA
Summary
Accomplished HR and labor relations executive with over 18 years of experience in employment law, organizational design, and workforce strategy. Demonstrated proficiency in job architecture, job evaluation, employee classification, HR compliance, legal practice management, and implementing people programs. Skilled at spearheading scalable initiatives that align with business objectives, handling intricate employee relations issues with sensitivity and confidentiality. Recognized for reshaping workplace culture, establishing compliant structures, and guiding top-performing teams through operational transformations.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of People & Culture
Modern Family Law
09.2024 - Current
- Serve as the senior-most HR executive for a multi-state firm, overseeing job classification, organizational design, employee relations, compensation structure, and performance strategy.
- Led a firmwide initiative to re-architect job families and career tracks across all departments, integrating market data and internal equity principles.
- Partner with Finance and Legal to ensure FLSA compliance, correct misclassification risk, and align job structures with functional outcomes.
- Rebuilt performance management systems to drive accountability, reduce attrition, and improve engagement scores by 17%.
- Spearheaded manager development programming to address skill gaps in coaching, communication, and organizational planning.
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Coordinated and worked with management on performance evaluations, supervisory practices, dispute resolution, and employee accountability.
- Reason for leaving: Despite making significant contributions, the organization’s cultural resistance to sustainable strategic change conflicts with my values and vision for proactive HR leadership.
Talent Services Manager (Northern California)
Greenberg Traurig LLP
03.2023 - 08.2024
- Directed job architecture, compliance, and people operations for all California offices, encompassing over 500 employees.
- Redesigned onboarding and compensation frameworks to address discrepancies in classification, internal mobility, and DEI outcomes.
- Partnered with senior legal and business leadership to oversee all workplace investigations, litigation risk mitigation, and HR audits.
- Maintained optimal staffing levels by tracking vacancies and initiating recruitment and interview processes to identify qualified candidates.
- Monitored budget and utilized operational resources.
- Worked collaboratively with functional leaders to implement new procedures and corrective actions to improve quality.
- Reason for leaving: Personal and economic safety concerns during tenure in San Francisco; decision made to relocate to Southern California.
Firmwide HR Compliance Manager
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
05.2021 - 02.2023
- Oversaw people strategy during a high-growth period, implementing job evaluation tools and refining job leveling structures to support rapid scaling.
- Designed performance review models and leadership development programs tailored to professional services.
- Prepared and presented comprehensive reports to upper management and audit team, covering issues and recommendations.
- Reviewed documents, files, transcripts, and other records to assess compliance and potential risk.
- Defined, implemented, and revised operational policies and guidelines.
- Reconciled account files and produced monthly reports.
- Reason for leaving: Role was eliminated following changes in firm leadership and regional consolidation.
Compensation & People Operations Specialist
Faegre Drinker LLP
03.2018 - 05.2021
- Designed and led compensation strategy and performance management programs post-merger.
- Acted as HRBP supporting corporate functions and professional staff.
- Created new processes leveraging Workday and analytics tools to drive operational efficiency and DEI objectives.
- Maintained company compliance with local, state, and federal laws, in addition to established organizational standards.
- Processed employee claims involving performance issues and harassment.
- Assisted with writing job postings and job descriptions for boards.
- Advocated for staff members, helping to identify and resolve conflicts.
Labor & Employment Paralegal / Consultant
Various Employers
12.2007 - 03.2018
- Specialized in job classification audits, policy drafting, and employee/labor relations consulting for public and private sector employers.
- Conducted over 200 workplace investigations and policy reviews across California and federal regulatory frameworks.
- Advised employers on union relations, classification audits, position redesign, and compliance with ADA, FMLA, FLSA, and Title VII.
- Served as a subject matter expert in job evaluation methodologies, competency modeling, and HR compliance training.
Education
Juris Doctor -
Northwestern California University School of Law
Master of Arts - Legal Studies (Labor & Employment Focus)
American Military University
Charles Town, WVBachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MISkills
- Strategic planning and execution
- Financial controls implementation
- Process improvements
- Resource allocation
- Litigation support
- Operations management
- Human resources management
- Vendor engagement
- Budgetary planning
Certification
- SHRM-SCP (Senior Certified Professional) – SHRM, 2024
- SHRM-CA (California HR Law Specialist Credential) – SHRM, 2021
- SHRM-PMQ (People Manager Qualification/Trainer) – SHRM, 2021
Affiliations
- San Diego SHRM
- San Diego County Bar Association
Timeline
Director of People & Culture
Modern Family Law
09.2024 - Current
Talent Services Manager (Northern California)
Greenberg Traurig LLP
03.2023 - 08.2024
Firmwide HR Compliance Manager
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
05.2021 - 02.2023
Compensation & People Operations Specialist
Faegre Drinker LLP
03.2018 - 05.2021
Labor & Employment Paralegal / Consultant
Various Employers
12.2007 - 03.2018
Master of Arts - Legal Studies (Labor & Employment Focus)
American Military University
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
Grand Valley State University
Juris Doctor -
Northwestern California University School of Law