Senior Director, Innovation Strategy & Planning at Northwestern Mutual

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Financial Services, InsuranceIndustries

Requirements

A strategist and an operator, equally comfortable in concept and execution
Adept at translating ideas into narratives, questions into plans, and momentum into results
Trusted by senior leaders because you think three steps ahead and tell the truth with grace
Obsessed with context; you don’t just execute, you connect the dots others don’t see yet
Deeply collaborative, with a bias toward preparation, follow-through, and shared success
Trusted for your judgment, known for your reliability, and valued for the way you work

Responsibilities

Help shape and translate priorities into clear, compelling strategy artifacts ranging from decision support materials to vision frameworks and operating plans
Act as a connective thread across initiatives, ensuring consistency in story, insight, and implication
Track objectives, confirm alignment, and translate ideas into structured plans
Distill outcomes, anticipate follow-ups, and shape next steps with calm clarity
Filter the noise from the signal, surfacing only the decisions that truly need escalation
Manage one or more project managers/operations specialists, with potential for broader portfolio operations oversight
Build simple systems that support effective execution without bureaucracy: meeting rhythms, action tracking, light-touch planning frameworks
Remove friction where possible, and elevate only what truly needs executive attention
Partner across the function and the business to support alignment, momentum, and shared context
Build trust with peers and partners, earning a reputation for clarity, reliability, and follow-through

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Strategy DevelopmentStorytellingProject ManagementOperations ManagementCross-Functional CoordinationExecutive CommunicationPlanning FrameworksAction TrackingGenAIWorkforce Innovation

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

Is this a remote or on-site position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What salary or compensation is offered for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What key skills are required for the Senior Director role?

The role requires strategic thinking, operational coordination, cross-functional relationship management, storytelling, planning, execution support, and team operations management.

What is the company culture like for this team?

The team is part of Workforce Innovation & Insights, focused on shaping how work evolves through emerging technologies, design, data, and digital experiences, with a collaborative environment that values context, preparation, follow-through, and shared success.

What makes a strong candidate for this position?

Strong candidates are strategists and operators comfortable in concept and execution, adept at translating ideas into narratives and plans, trusted by senior leaders for thinking ahead, obsessed with context, deeply collaborative, and known for reliability and judgment.

Northwestern Mutual

Provides financial security services, and wealth management

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual offers personalized financial planning, life insurance, and investment services, leveraging leading-edge technology to manage over $125 billion in client assets for more than 4.5 million clients.

Milwaukee, WisconsinHeadquarters

1856Year Founded

N/ACompany Stage

Consulting, Fintech, Financial ServicesIndustries

10,001+Employees

Benefits

Growing your Career

Compensation & Time Off

Insurance plans

Health Savings Account

Wellness programs & resources

401(k) plan and cash balance contributions

Risks

Fintech platforms like Carefull challenge traditional financial advisory services.

Internal competition may arise from Wellthi's focus on the Black community.

Customer dissatisfaction may grow due to increased retirement age expectations.

Differentiation

Northwestern Mutual maintains the highest financial strength ratings in the industry.

The company launched 'The Great Realization' campaign to refocus customer priorities.

Northwestern Mutual offers a unique Long-Term Advantage product with life insurance benefits.

Upsides

The aging population increases demand for retirement planning and long-term care solutions.

Partnerships with tech firms enhance Northwestern Mutual's data analytics capabilities.

Digital transformation in insurance leads to more personalized customer experiences.

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