Head of Organizational Effectiveness

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 137,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits (401k and pension)

Health and welfare benefits

Parental and caregiver leave

Life & accident insurance

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a Head of Organizational Effectiveness to design and scale the organization’s structure, workforce, and operating model. You will partner with senior leaders to translate strategic priorities into organizational solutions, leading a small team with evolving scope.

The role emphasizes advising executives on design, workforce planning, and capability development, while guiding transformation initiatives and leadership effectiveness across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead organization design and workforce transformation initiatives.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and consulting skills.
• Experience advising senior executives on organizational and workforce challenges.
• Knowledge of AI's impact on work and workforce trends is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advise leaders on organizational structures, operating models, governance, decision rights, and role design.
• Lead skills-based workforce planning and future workforce modeling.
• Drive organizational change strategies during business transformations and restructurings.
• Improve leadership effectiveness, decision-making, and cross-team accountability.
• Utilize organizational diagnostics and workforce analytics to inform decisions.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Change leadership

Job description

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 Head of Organizational Effectiveness leads the design and evolution of the organization’s structure, workforce, and ways of working to support business strategy and performance. This role partners with senior business and HR leaders to translate strategic priorities into organizational solutions, including operating model design, workforce planning, organizational change, leadership effectiveness, and capability development.

The role is responsible for building and scaling the Organizational Effectiveness function, establishing common methodologies and standards, and providing strategic advisory support on organizational performance, transformation, and future workforce needs. The position will initially lead a small team, with scope and team size evolving over time based on business demand and organizational priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Design & Operating Model

• Advise leaders on organizational structures, operating models, governance, decision rights, and role design.
• Align organizational design with business strategy, capabilities, and performance objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness, accountability, and execution.

Workforce Planning & Future of Work

• Lead skills-based workforce planning and future workforce modeling.
• Assess the impact of AI, automation, and changing business needs on workforce composition and role design.
• Partner with business and HR leaders to identify future capability and talent requirements.

Change & Transformation

• Lead organizational change strategies associated with business transformation, restructuring, and operating model changes.
• Drive leader alignment, stakeholder engagement, and adoption of change initiatives.
• Build organizational change capability across leaders and teams.

Leadership & Team Effectiveness

• Improve leadership effectiveness, decision-making, accountability, and team performance.
• Diagnose organizational challenges and facilitate solutions that strengthen collaboration and execution.
• Support leadership teams in establishing effective ways of working.

Organizational Insights & Governance

• Utilize organizational diagnostics, workforce analytics, and qualitative insights to inform decisions.
• Establish OE methodologies, tools, governance processes, and standards.
• Manage the OE portfolio, prioritization, and intake process.

Leadership Requirements

People Leadership

• Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team.
• Creates clarity, accountability, and strong execution.
• Balances strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.

Influencing & Enterprise Leadership

• Strong executive presence and consulting skills.
• Ability to influence senior leaders without direct authority.
• Skilled at navigating ambiguity, building alignment, and driving decisions.
• Enterprise mindset with the ability to balance business needs with broader organizational priorities.
• Strong business acumen and change leadership capabilities.

Experience & Qualifications

• 12-15+ years of experience in Organizational Effectiveness, Organization Design, Workforce Planning, Talent Strategy, HR Consulting, Management Consulting, or related disciplines.
• Experience advising senior executives on organizational and workforce challenges.
• Demonstrated success leading organization design, workforce transformation, change management, or operating model initiatives.
• Experience building organizational capability, frameworks, and consulting approaches.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Knowledge of workforce trends, skills-based organizations, and AI's impact on work is strongly preferred.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, trusted advisor, and pragmatic change leader who can help the organization align strategy, structure, workforce, and leadership practices to improve organizational performance and adaptability.

Salary Range

$137,400 - 240,400 USD

• 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 [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.