Enterprise Portfolio Governance Lead

Northwestern Mutual

Milwaukee (WI)

Hybrid

USD 108,160 - 186,600

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Northwestern Mutual in Milwaukee seeks an Assistant Director to drive enterprise governance for the portfolio. You will execute governance routines, produce executive-ready materials, and partner with senior leaders to shape future-state portfolio management.

With 7+ years in governance or portfolio management and a strong finance/business operations background, you will translate complex information into clear decisions, manage intake and prioritization, and ensure alignment with enterprise

Qualifications

Minimum 7 years of related experience in governance, enterprise portfolio management, finance, business operations, strategy execution, or a related field.
Strong design, execution, and improvement of governance routines, operating cadences, reporting mechanisms, and decision forums.
Comfort operating in ambiguity with the ability to bring structure and move work forward.
Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information and communicate implications clearly to senior leadership.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills for executive-ready materials and leadership discussions.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-moving environments.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage large, complex assignments with enterprise-wide impact.
Team player with initiative and motivation.

Responsibilities

Execute enterprise governance processes: support and run governance routines, including committee activities, portfolio reviews, intake and prioritization, portfolio reporting, risk escalation, and Quarterly Business Review support.
Bring rigor to portfolio reporting: surface risks, watchpoints, dependencies, tradeoffs, and metrics status for timely leadership action.
Prepare senior leader materials: develop agendas, pre-read materials, executive summaries, decision-ready updates, and meeting outcomes.
Translate complex portfolio information into clear written and verbal communications.
Support intake and prioritization: manage intake, evaluation, prioritization, and governance of enterprise work to ensure clarity and decision-readiness.
Escalate risks and watchpoints: identify patterns and risks, frame issues, and support practical mitigation or leadership decisions.
Shape future-state governance: partner to define future governance processes, metrics, operating cadence, and decision forums.
Connect strategy, finance, delivery, and governance: apply business and financial acumen to relate portfolio decisions to enterprise priorities.
Drive clarity through program management and communication across governance activities, maintaining momentum without a rigid project mgmt playbook.