Specialist, Digital Transformation

ntrs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 137,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

401k plan

Health insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Well-being benefits

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a senior leader to drive the operational digital strategy for NTAM and to own the vision, prioritization, and measurable impact across platforms and processes.

The role partners with business, data, operations, and technology to deliver scalable solutions, leveraging agile and product management best practices and steering AI-driven initiatives with clear value propositions and governance.

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of the investment management business and financial technology systems.
• Experience delivering enterprise-scale digital and AI-driven platforms.
• Strong understanding of investment management platforms, data, cloud, and AI technologies.
• Expertise in modern digital platform management, agile delivery, and commercialization.
• Proven ability to influence leadership with data-driven storytelling.
• Global mindset with sensitivity to cultural differences.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a multi-year operational digital delivery strategy and roadmap aligned to NTAM's business priorities.
• Take on the role of transformative and inspirational leader by crafting vision, building consensus and alignment, and delivering digital platforms with precision.
• Lead prioritization, delivery, and lifecycle management of a portfolio of digital platforms using agile and product management best practices.
• Natively cross operational, investments, and business verticals in a horizontal fashion to plan for and influence upstream and downstream dependent platforms and processes.
• Assess build versus buy decisions and develop compelling business cases based on business priorities and enterprise guardrails.
• Partner intimately with business, data, operations, and technology to translate business needs into scalable solutions.
• Lead vendor evaluations and negotiations aligning with Enterprise Procurement standards and guidelines.
• Oversee digital delivery budgets to ensure value delivery against established product roadmaps.
• Shepherd new products ideas or enhancements through enterprise governance processes.
• Drive change management adoption of digital products and AI capabilities through clear value propositions, engagement metrics, and continuous feedback loops.
• Establish and track KPIs to ensure investments deliver measurable value, including revenue growth, cost optimization, and improved client experience.
• Ensure platforms are built on a resilient, scalable, and governed data and technology architecture in partnership with enterprise teams.

Skills

Investment management knowledge

Digital platforms

Agile delivery

AI capabilities

Stakeholder management

Data & cloud

Leadership influence

Vendor negotiations

Education

Bachelor’s in Finance/Engineering/CS

MBA is a plus

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.

Role Summary

Northern Trust Asset Management (NTAM) is a $1.6 trillion dollar investment management firm entrusted by investors around the globe to help them navigate changing market environments, so they can confidently realize their long-term objectives.

The Specialist, Digital Transformation is a senior leader responsible for defining and delivering the operational digital strategy supporting Northern Trust Asset Management's platforms, systems, and processes. This role owns and drives the strategic technology roadmaps and oversees the execution to improve scale, efficiency, and client outcomes across the business. This role also owns setting vision, prioritizing delivery, driving adoption, and ensuring measurable business impact-while collaborating across the organization with a mission focused approach.

Essential Responsibilities

• Define and execute a multi‑year operational digital delivery strategy and roadmap aligned to NTAM's business priorities.
• Take on the role of transformative and inspirational leader by crafting vision, building consensus and alignment, and delivering digital platforms with precision.
• Lead prioritization, delivery, and lifecycle management of a portfolio of digital platforms using agile and product management best practices.
• Natively cross operational, investments, and business verticals in a horizontal fashion to plan for and influence upstream and downstream dependent platforms and processes.
• Assess build versus buy decisions and develop compelling business cases based on business priorities and enterprise guardrails.
• Partner intimately with business, data, operations, and technology to translate business needs into scalable solutions.
• Lead vendor evaluations and negotiations aligning with Enterprise Procurement standards and guidelines.
• Oversee digital delivery budgets to ensure value delivery against established product roadmaps.
• Shepherd new products ideas or enhancements through enterprise governance processes.
• Drive change management adoption of digital products and AI capabilities through clear value propositions, engagement metrics, and continuous feedback loops.
• Establish and track KPIs to ensure investments deliver measurable value, including revenue growth, cost optimization, and improved client experience.
• Ensure platforms are built on a resilient, scalable, and governed data and technology architecture in partnership with enterprise teams.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Solid understanding of the investment management business, financial technology systems within a large-scaled Asset Manager, Consulting, or Fintech vendor.
• Demonstrated success delivering enterprise‑scale digital and AI driven platforms in complex, matrixed environments.
• Strong understanding of investment management platforms, data, cloud, and AI technologies.
• Expertise in modern digital platform management, agile delivery, and commercialization.
• Proven ability to influence leadership and secure alignment through clear business cases and data‑driven storytelling.
• Strong commercial acumen and a track record of delivering successful digital products in startup environments in matrixed cultures.
• Exceptional, analytical, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and complexity.
• Global mindset with sensitivity to cultural and organizational differences.

Necessary Experience and Education

• Highly motivated and experienced senior leader with 10+ years of experience in building and scaling digital product capabilities in financial services, preferably in investment management environments.
• Bachelor's in Finance, Engineering, Computer Science, or other relevant disciplines are required. MBA is a plus but not required.
• Experience with Investment Management Platforms, preferred a blend of vended and in-house developed applications.

Salary Range:

$137,400 - 233,600 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay.

• 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

No