Senior Director, Business Management

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

Benefits offered by this job

401k and pension

Health and welfare

Paid time off

Leave policy

Life and disability insurance

Well-being benefits

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Northern Trust seeks a Senior Director, Technology Business Management to lead the business management function for NTAM, WM and AST technology teams. This role coordinates strategic priorities, financial management, governance, and workforce planning across a global technology organization.

The position requires guiding executive communications, governance routines, and transformation initiatives while ensuring alignment with risk, regulatory, and enterprise objectives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years leading technology or financial services operations.
• Experience supporting senior technology executives.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and governance capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead consolidated technology budget and financial reporting across NTAM, WM and AST.
• Drive annual and multi-year business planning and workforce strategies.
• Oversee risk governance, regulatory alignment, and control activities.
• Develop executive presentations, dashboards and board-ready materials.
• Establish standardized processes and an operating model across global teams.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

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.

Senior Director, Technology Business Management

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.

Management of Technology organizations supporting: Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM), Wealth Management (WM), Asset Servicing Technology (AST).

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 adviser 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 organisations 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 organisation. 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 organisations. 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 organisations.

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 organisational effectiveness. Establish standardised management processes, metrics, and reporting practices across the organisation. Lead resolution of complex organisational 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 organisations.
• 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 organisations.
• Prior Business Management, COO, Strategy, Chief of Staff, or Technology Operating Office leadership experience.
• Proven track record leading organisation‑wide transformation and operating model initiatives.

Salary Range

Salary Range: $137,400 - 240,400 USD Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay.

Benefits

• 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
• other voluntary and well‑being benefits
• 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.

Terms and Conditions

Candidate Privacy Notice. California Applicant Privacy Notice. Pay Transparency. Nondiscrimination Provision (U.S). Transparency in Coverage Disclosure – North America Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center or call 1‑800‑807‑0302 (North America), +630‑276‑5353 (Asia Pacific), 1800‑425‑0333 (India), [phone] (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

APAC/INDIA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy and practice of Northern Trust to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Northern Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age. All employment decisions will be made in a non‑discriminatory manner in accordance with our obligations under the law and codes of practice. This includes human resources’ decisions relating to recruitment, terms and conditions of employment, transfers, promotions and access to learning and development.

Canada EEO STATEMENT

Northern Trust is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Hiring and other employment decisions at Northern Trust are made without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, ethnic origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, record of offences, marital status, family status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, provincial, or local law, regulation, or ordinance.

EMEA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy and practice of Northern Trust to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Northern Trust does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability or age. All employment decisions will be made in a non‑discriminatory manner in accordance with our obligations under the law and codes of practice. This includes human resources’ decisions relating to recruitment, terms and conditions of employment, transfers, promotions and access to learning and development.

USA EEO STATEMENT

It is the policy of The Northern Trust Company to afford equal opportunity in all phases of employment without regard to an individual's age, race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic tests and information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

EEO Know Your Rights (U.S.)