Talent Management Specialist

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401k and pension

Discretionary bonus

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a Talent Management Specialist in Chicago to lead end-to-end enterprise talent and succession planning, as well as performance management initiatives. You’ll partner with HR and business leaders, translating strategy into actionable plans while guiding cross-functional teams.

The role blends deep talent expertise with consulting skills, critical thinking, and strong executive communication as you shape policy and drive adoption across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Organizational Development, Business, I/O Psychology, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in talent management or organizational effectiveness with enterprise scale programs.
• Strong consulting, business storytelling, and executive-facing communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end design, execution, and evolution of enterprise talent, succession, and performance management practices.
• Serve as trusted thought partner to Talent Management leadership, shaping strategy and priorities.
• Translate strategic direction into detailed, executable plans and operating guidance.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and prioritization for teams and stakeholders supporting talent programs.
• Act as SME on talent management, offering guidance to HR partners and business stakeholders.
• Prepare compelling materials and decks to clarify intent and drive alignment.
• Lead complex cross-functional stakeholder engagement with and without formal authority.
• Navigate ambiguity, applying sound judgment and bias for action to maintain momentum.
• Partner with HR Technology and Workday teams to ensure user-centered, change-ready solutions.
• Establish success measures and continuously improve program effectiveness and impact.
• Lead change and adoption efforts, ensuring leadership understand why practices matter.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Talent management

Organizational development

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Workday

HR technology

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Workday

HR technology platforms

Job description

About Northern Trust:

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.

Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Role/Department:

Talent Management Specialist/Talent Management and Development – Global Practices

This senior individual contributor and program‑lead role serves as a strategic extension of the Talent Management leadership agenda. The role is accountable for end to end design, execution, and evolution of enterprise talent and succession planning and performance management practices. Acting as a day to day operational and thought partner to the Talent Management Leader, this role translates strategic intent into detailed approaches, manages execution across stakeholders and systems, and provides leadership and direction to team members delivering the work.

This role blends deep talent management expertise with foundational consulting skills—including critical thinking, business writing, stakeholder management, and results orientation—to advance enterprise talent outcomes.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Own the end to end approach, delivery, and continuous evolution of enterprise talent and succession planning and performance management practices, from strategy through execution and adoption.


• Serve as a trusted thought partner to Talent Management leadership, contributing informed points of view, analysis, and recommendations to shape strategy, priorities, and future state direction.


• Translate strategic direction into detailed, executable plans—defining frameworks, tools, sequencing, and operating guidance that enable consistent, high quality execution.


• Provide day to day leadership, direction, and prioritization for team members and stakeholders supporting talent and performance programs, enabling focused execution and skill development.


• Act as a subject matter expert on talent management practices, offering clear perspectives, guidance, and decision support to HR partners, Talent Advisors, and business stakeholders.


• Prepare, communicate, and facilitate through compelling written materials and decks that clarify intent, surface trade offs, and drive alignment and decisions.


• Lead complex, cross functional stakeholder engagement, building trust, managing competing inputs, and sustaining momentum without formal authority.


• Navigate ambiguity and evolving requirements by applying sound judgment, critical thinking, and a bias for action—bringing structure and progress where answers are not predefined.


• Partner closely with HR Technology and Workday teams to ensure solutions are user centered, operationally sound, and supported by effective change management.


• Establish success measures, monitor outcomes, and apply insights to continuously improve program effectiveness, simplicity, and impact.


• Lead change and adoption efforts, ensuring leaders and HR partners understand not just what to do, but why it matters and how to apply practices effectively.

Skills/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business, I/O Psychology, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.


• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in talent management, organizational effectiveness, or human performance, with demonstrated ownership of enterprise scale programs or transformations.


• Strong consulting skillset, including the ability to develop and articulate a clear SME point of view, apply critical thinking, and influence decisions through structured analysis and business storytelling.


• Exceptional business writing and presentation skills, with experience communicating complex topics through executive ready decks and facilitation.


• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, translating loosely defined problems and competing inputs into clear recommendations and outcomes.


• Proven stakeholder management skills, including influencing senior leaders and cross functional partners without formal authority.


• Results oriented mindset with a track record of driving tangible outcomes, simplifying complexity, and delivering high quality solutions.


• Strong people leadership skills, including setting direction, enabling execution, and coaching others to deliver at a high standard.


• Experience partnering with HR technology platforms (e.g., Workday) and integrating system design with talent practices.


• Comfort balancing strategic thinking with hands on execution—equally adept at shaping the approach and getting into the details.

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 Model:

Hybrid

We have a balanced hybrid working model to ensure you get the flexibility you need, and the successful candidate will spend their time between working in the office and working from home.

Salary Range:

£114,700 - 194,900 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.

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail].

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.