Senior Director, Business Management

Location: Chicago, IL

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

The Senior Director, Technology Business Management serves as the strategic Business Manager to the BU CIO teams supporting Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM), Wealth Management (WM) and Asset Servicing (AS)Technology teams.

This role is accountable for leading the business management function across these technology organizations, driving execution of strategic priorities, financial management, workforce planning, governance, risk and regulatory activities, executive communications, operational effectiveness, and organizational performance.

The role provides leadership to the existing business management teams supporting NTAM, WM, and AST, creating a unified operating model and enabling effective execution across a global technology organization.

Acting as a trusted advisor to senior technology executives, the role ensures alignment between technology investments, business strategy, regulatory requirements, talent priorities, and operational objectives. The position operates globally across North America, EMEA, and APAC and is responsible for ensuring consistent management practices, transparency, and governance across geographically distributed teams.

Organization Supported

• BU Management of Technology organizations supporting: Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM) Wealth Management (WM) Asset Servicing Technology (AST)
• Partner closely with Technology CIOs, business executives, Finance, HR, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Procurement and Enterprise Operations leaders.
• Influence outcomes through collaboration across matrixed global teams.
• Acts as a key member of the CIO leadership teams and contributes to overall business and technology strategy.

Teams

Direct leadership of Business Management leaders and teams supporting NTAM, WM, and AST.

Financial Accountability

• Oversight of consolidated BU CIO technology group operating budgets.
• Governance of expense planning and management.
• Headcount and workforce investment planning.
• Capital investment and technology portfolio funding coordination.
• Vendor and third-party spend oversight.

Strategic Business Leadership

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the NTAM, WM, and AST leadership teams on organizational priorities, business performance, investment strategy, and operational effectiveness.
• Translate enterprise and business unit strategies into executable technology operating plans.
• Lead annual and multi-year business planning activities, including strategic goals, investment priorities, transformation initiatives, and workforce strategies.
• Facilitate leadership governance routines, including executive staff meetings, business reviews, operating committees, governance forums, and strategic planning sessions.
• Drive cross-functional execution of key transformational and organizational initiatives.

Financial & Resource Management

• Own consolidated business management processes for the technology organizations supporting NTAM, WM, and AST.
• Partner with Finance to manage operating expenses, headcount planning, forecasts, technology investments, vendor expenditures, and capital allocations.
• Oversee budget planning, expense management, financial reporting, and variance analysis across the portfolio.
• Ensure effective allocation of resources to strategic priorities and business outcomes.
• Develop executive reporting and performance dashboards to provide transparency into financial and operational performance.
• Facilitate position management, requisition governance, and strategic resource allocation across the organization.
• Champion employee engagement priorities, culture initiatives, communication strategies, and leadership effectiveness.

Risk, Regulatory & Governance Management

• Provide oversight and coordination of first-line risk management activities across the technology organizations.
• Ensure alignment with enterprise risk, compliance, audit, and regulatory expectations.
• Coordinate regulatory examinations, internal audits, risk assessments, remediation programs, and governance reviews.
• Lead business management support for key regulatory and control activities, including RCSA, compliance training, operational risk assessments, and issue management.
• Monitor and report risk metrics, control effectiveness, and governance outcomes to senior leadership.

Executive Communications & Reporting

• Lead development of executive presentations, board materials, management committee updates, regulatory reporting, and strategic communications.
• Build and maintain performance scorecards and KPI frameworks across financial, operational, workforce, risk, and delivery dimensions.
• Develop concise narratives and insights that enable executive decision-making.
• Coordinate communications and change management activities across global technology organizations.

Governance Oversight & Operational Excellence

• Provide governance oversight across strategic initiatives, programs, and technology portfolios.
• Monitor execution against strategic commitments, budgets, objectives, and delivery milestones.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, efficiency, scalability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Establish standardized management processes, metrics, and reporting practices across the organization.
• Lead resolution of complex organizational and operational challenges requiring cross-functional coordination.

Experience and Qualifications

• 15+ years of leadership experience within technology, financial services, business management, COO, strategy, operations, or related functions.
• Significant experience supporting senior technology executives and managing enterprise-scale business operations.
• Strong financial acumen, including budget management, forecasting, workforce planning, and investment governance.
• Deep understanding of risk management, regulatory oversight, audit processes, and governance frameworks within financial services.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, matrixed, and globally distributed organizations.
• Experience developing executive-level communications and board-ready materials.
• Exceptional influencing, stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.

Preferred

• Experience supporting Asset Management, Wealth Management, Asset Servicing, or enterprise technology organizations.
• Prior Business Management, COO, Strategy, Chief of Staff, or Technology Operating Office leadership experience.
• Proven track record leading organization-wide transformation and operating model initiatives.

Salary Range

$137,400 - 240,400 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.