Digital Transformation Execution Effectiveness Specialist

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

2d

About The Position

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 Summary · The Specialist Digital Transformation role supports the Digital Modernization Office (DMO) on special projects and enterprise initiatives by solving complex, ambiguous problems in a fast paced environment and partnering with technology and business executives to improve execution effectiveness, productivity, operating models, and program health. · This role requires sophisticated analytical judgment, a balanced Cross functional perspective, and the ability to influence decisions and outcomes across disciplines.

Requirements

• Proven track record driving complex cross-enterprise initiatives (operating model, funding model, productivity, modernization, or large program remediation)
• Experience rolling out a capability / Product operating model at scale
• Strong analytical capabilities (problem structuring, hypothesis-driven analysis, synthesis) and ability to produce executive-level storylines and recommendations.
• Demonstrated stakeholder management skills with technology and business leadership; ability to influence without authority.
• Experience developing business cases and/or financial models (ROI, investment / benefit sizing, productivity metrics).
• Specialized depth and/or breadth of expertise in digital transformation, operating model designs, and execution effectiveness
• Strong understanding/exposure to capability-based operating model (Product Operating Model) strategies and enterprise change initiatives
• Ability to interpret internal/external business challenges and recommend best practices to improve products, processes, services, and delivery outcomes.
• Practical understanding of digital strategies, tools, and technologies (conceptual + applied).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; able to communicate difficult concepts and negotiate with stakeholders to adopt different points of view.
• High adaptability and comfort operating with imperfect information in ambiguous environments.
• Seasoned multi-disciplinary expert with extensive technical and/or business knowledge and functional expertise.
• Typically 10+ years (or equivalent) experience leading complex initiatives involving multiple disciplines and ambiguous issues.
• May lead functional teams or projects with moderate-to-high resource requirements, risk, and complexity.

Nice To Haves

• Prior management / strategy consulting or internal consulting experience within financial services.
• Business knowledge in Asset Servicing, Wealth Management, and/or Asset Management.
• Experience with technology productivity levers at scale (engineering effectiveness, quality automation, developer experience, tooling adoption).
• Hands-on change management experience (adoption planning, communications, tracking, risk management).

Responsibilities

• Leads complex problem-solving efforts across multiple disciplines; applies sophisticated analytical thought, sound judgment, and innovative approaches to deliver measurable outcomes.
• Drives execution effectiveness and productivity by evaluating operating model changes and automation opportunities across the company and recommending scalable improvements.
• Develops and refines execution productivity strategies and adoption plans, including required operating model shifts, tooling, processes, change management, and benefits/financials (e.g., ROI, investment cases).
• Shapes and delivers DMO “special projects” in partnership with senior leaders and cross-functional teams; supports or leads workstream execution based on priority and urgency.
• Conducts program and initiative health checks: identifies roadblocks, risks, dependencies; performs root-cause analysis; defines remediation actions; escalates critical issues; and follows through to ensure “course correction.”
• Facilitates working sessions and decision forums (e.g., workshops, ad hoc meetings, ideation/problem-solving sessions) to drive alignment, unblock progress, and accelerate delivery.
• Creates executive-ready communications: high-quality materials, talking points, and readouts for management group updates, internal communications, and senior stakeholder engagement.
• Acts as a cross-functional connector, liaising between technology and business teams to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity while operating within functional policies and governance.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed