Tech Expense Optimization Asst Dir

Northwestern Mutual; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 108,000 - 162,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual is seeking an Assistant Director, Technology Expense Optimization to shape how we invest in and simplify technology while balancing cost discipline with innovation. You will partner across Technology, Finance, Sourcing & Procurement, and business leaders to increase transparency, efficiency, and reinvestment in our technology portfolio.

You’ll lead high-impact initiatives, turn data into insight, and influence decisions that drive transformation and strategic priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, or a related field.
• 6–12 years of experience in technology, business, strategy, or consulting.
• Experience managing or influencing large, complex workstreams.
• Strong analysis, storytelling, and executive communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Help drive technology expense strategy and cost optimization.
• Lead components of Northwestern Mutual’s technology expense optimization strategy.
• Translate strategy into actionable multi-year plans balancing run costs with transformation investments.
• Deliver financial insight and transparency across labor, vendors, software, cloud, and infrastructure.
• Partner with Technology leaders to optimize application portfolios, cloud usage, and platform investments.
• Support vendor negotiations, renewals, and rationalization efforts with Procurement and Legal.

Skills

Financial analysis

Executive communication

Strategic planning

Vendor management

Cloud cost management

Cost optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Technology, or related field

Job description

Summary

Northwestern Mutual is seeking an Assistant Director, Technology Expense Optimization to help shape how we invest in and simplify technology—balancing cost discipline with innovation and long‑term value. In this role, you will partner with Technology, Finance, Sourcing & Procurement, and business leaders to drive transparency, efficiency, and reinvestment across our technology portfolio. You’ll lead high‑impact initiatives, turn data into insight, and influence decisions that directly apply to transformation and strategic priorities. This is a great opportunity for a finance‑savvy, business‑minded leader who understands technology and enjoys working across teams to deliver measurable results.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Help Drive Technology Expense Strategy
• Lead key components of Northwestern Mutual’s technology expense optimization strategy
• Help shape multi‑year plans that balance run‑the‑business costs with growth and transformation investments
• Translate strategy into actionable plans, targets, and outcomes
• Deliver Financial Insight & Transparency
• Analyze and manage technology spend across labor, vendors, software, cloud, and infrastructure
• Identify cost drivers, optimization opportunities, and trade‑offs
• Develop clear, executive‑ready insights to support decision‑making
• Optimize Technology & Vendors
• Partner with Technology leaders to optimize application portfolios, cloud usage, and platform investments
• Support vendor negotiations, renewals, and rationalization efforts in partnership with Procurement and Legal
• Help drive demand management and cost‑avoidance initiatives
• Influence Across the Enterprise
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Technology and Finance leaders
• Lead discussions that align cost objectives with delivery outcomes
• Prepare recommendations and materials for senior leadership audiences
• Lead and Develop Talent
• Lead and mentor team members contributing to expense optimization outcomes
• Establish repeatable tools, analytics, and ways of working
• Build strong financial and business acumen across the team

What Success Looks Like

• Measurable technology cost out as opposed to cost avoidance
• Improved visibility, predictability, and confidence in technology spend
• Strong partnership feedback from Technology and Finance stakeholders
• Clear, credible executive recommendations that drive action
• Development of scalable, repeatable optimization capabilities

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Technology, or a related field
• 6–12 years of relevant experience in technology, business, strategy, or consulting
• Experience managing or influencing large, complex workstreams
• Strong analysis, storytelling, and executive communication skills
• Ability to influence across teams and levels without direct authority

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in large, complex enterprise environments
• Vendor management, sourcing, or contract optimization experience
• Familiarity with cloud cost management and application portfolio optimization

Skills

• Accountability: Takes ownership of commitments, decisions, and outcomes; establishes clear expectations and follows work through to measurable results.
• Cross‑Functional Partnering & Planning: Builds productive partnerships across functions, aligns competing priorities, clarifies ownership, and coordinates work toward shared goals.
• Problem Solving: Defines complex problems, identifies root causes, evaluates practical alternatives, and implements solutions that consider financial, operational, and technology needs.
• Critical Thinking: Examines information from multiple perspectives, challenges assumptions, identifies risks and dependencies, and uses evidence to make sound recommendations.
• Situational Awareness & Contextual Judgment: Understands the broader business environment, recognizes factors that may not be explicitly stated, and adjusts approach based on the audience, timing, and stakeholder dynamics.
• Business Influence: Establishes credibility, communicates a compelling point of view, and influences decisions across teams and levels without relying on direct authority.
• Negotiation & Managing Objections: Navigates challenging conversations, surfaces underlying concerns, and works toward practical outcomes that balance financial value, technology needs, and business priorities.

Compensation Range

• Pay Range - Start: $108,160.00
• Pay Range - End: $162,240.00
• Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: $118,960.00 USD - $178,440.00 USD
• Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 115: $124,400.00 USD - $186,600.00 USD

We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable.

Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do.

Company Culture

Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

At Northwestern Mutual, we believe relationships are built on trust. That our lives and our work matter. These beliefs launched our company over 160 years ago. Today, they're just a few of the reasons why people choose to build careers at Northwestern Mutual. What started in Milwaukee, WI has grown into 7,000+ home office professionals split across 3 campuses: New York City, Franklin and downtown Milwaukee (HQ) - each one bringing with it its own unique talent and culture. In a company with such a long and storied history, this may be the most exciting and important time to be a part of Northwestern Mutual as we are growing our digital and tech capabilities and are always on the lookout for bright, tech‑savvy candidates.

Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.