Senior Director, Enterprise & Client Strategy

At Northwestern Mutual, we are strong, innovative and growing. We invest in our people. We care and make a positive difference.
About the team
As a part of Northwestern Mutual's Strategy function, the Enterprise and Client Strategy team develops informed perspectives and recommendations on the biggest strategic questions the organization faces, from evaluating market differentiators to identifying growth opportunities. We are a centralized strategy team with the mandate to have an in-depth understanding of our client's needs and how our products, services, and distribution channel connect to meet those needs. Our success means we deliver better financial and emotional outcomes to every client.
We are actively seeking an energetic strategist to join a team of high-powered, aspirational leaders that are committed to being at the forefront of emerging trends and evolving client needs. The ideal candidate will have concrete strategy experience, with a passion for imagining the future and crafting a compelling, data-driven strategy to surface our potential.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
In this role, you will be defining industry-leading strategies to drive client acquisition and deepen relationships with clients. Our work leverages different methodologies based on topic (e.g., root cause analysis, scenario-based planning, etc.). This role drives discussions with senior leaders across the enterprise to make strategic investments with significant impact on the company's future direction and performance. You and your team will sit at the intersection of consumer insights, strategy, and business planning & operations to bring our differentiated go-to-market strategy to life.
Key focus areas include:

• Market & trend analysis : Conduct external research (e.g., megatrends, competitive analysis) to inform our strategic perspectives and keep a pulse on market positioning.

• Vision and strategy : Navigate complex business challenges by employing structured problem-solving to develop and drive recommendations, create frameworks from scratch, and build business cases.

• Research & data : Build a learning agenda and deliver in collaboration with research, insights, and analytics teams.

• Client insights : Lead strategic conversations on client challenges and financial goals to inform industry-leading, innovative ways to drive client acquisition, deepen engagement, and build intergenerational relationships with clients.

• Expert management and organization : Independently lead distinct bodies of work and/or projects, including anticipating business needs beyond immediate next steps and connecting the strategy to execution.

• Executive communication : Prepare and deliver executive updates, articulating insights and synthesizing complex ideas into crisp concepts and action plans.

• Field stakeholder management : Spearhead conversations with our top financial advisors to understand best practices and build strategies that are accretive to the advisor and client relationship.

• Concept testing : Collaborate with the Partnerships and Innovation team to validate market desirability and viability of solutions through client/advisor concept testing.

• Internal stakeholder management : Foster strong relationships with stakeholders, including digital product, other internal strategy teams, business partners, etc., ensuring alignment and support for key initiatives.

What this role needs:

• Bachelor's degree
• 7-10 years of experience in strategy consulting or corporate strategy
• Experienced in defining enterprise-wide outcomes and key results that are aligned to the organization's value proposition. Proven ability to leverage data in generating actionable insights is a plus.
• Strong capability to evaluate and convert complex ideas into a simple, digestible format for all audiences.
• Deep industry insights in financial services. Financial planning, wealth and asset management, and/or insurance experience preferred
• Demonstrated understanding of exclusive distribution system, including business model and go-to-market approaches. Experience working with financial advisors preferred.
• Experience building relationships and working collaboratively with top executives and colleagues to identify and resolve issues.
• Exceptional people management skills; ability to lead a small team with enterprise vision, set clear team goals, coach strategic skillsets, and create a collaborative, inclusive culture.
• Proven leadership ability to focus on internal and external relationships, co-create and define mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Excellent oral and written communicator; strong PowerPoint skills required; familiarity with writing executive memos.
• Ability to build project plans, manage tight timelines, and maintain focus on delivering high impact work.

Benefits:

• Tuition reimbursement, commuter plans, and paid time off
• Highly competitive compensation that include base salary plus bonus
• Medical/Dental/Vision plans, 401(k), pension program

#LI-Hybrid
Compensation Range:
Pay Range - Start:
$139,370.00
Pay Range - End:
$258,830.00
Northwestern Mutual pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement in the salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. At Northwestern Mutual, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Please note that the salary range listed in the posting is the standard pay structure. Positions in certain locations (such as California) may provide an increase on the standard pay structure based on the location. Please c lick here for additional information relating to location-based pay structures.
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We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you work or would be working in California, Colorado, New York City, Washington or outside of a Corporate location, please click here for information pertaining to compensation and benefits.
FIND YOUR FUTURE
We're excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

• Flexible work schedules
• Concierge service
• Comprehensive benefits
• Employee resource groups