Senior Director, Business Management

Northern Trust•Chicago, IL

About The Position

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 Technology (AST). This role leads the business management function across these technology organizations, driving strategic execution, financial management, workforce planning, governance, risk and regulatory activities, executive communications, operational effectiveness, and organizational performance. The role leads existing business management teams, creates a unified operating model, and enables consistent execution across a global technology organization. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior technology executives and a key member of CIO leadership teams, the Senior Director aligns technology investments with business strategy, regulatory requirements, talent priorities, and operational objectives. The position operates across North America, EMEA, and APAC and works closely with Technology CIOs, business executives, Finance, HR, Risk, Compliance, Legal, Procurement, and Enterprise Operations leaders. The role oversees consolidated BU CIO technology operating budgets; expense planning and management; headcount and workforce investment planning; capital investment and technology portfolio funding coordination; and vendor and third-party spend. It leads business planning, financial and resource management, first-line risk coordination, regulatory and governance activities, executive reporting, and operational improvement across the supported organizations.

Requirements

15 or more 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 organizations.
Experience developing executive-level communications and board-ready materials.
Exceptional influencing, stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting Asset Management, Wealth Management, Asset Servicing, or enterprise technology organizations.
Prior Business Management, COO, Strategy, Chief of Staff, or Technology Operating Office leadership experience.
Proven track record leading organization-wide transformation and operating model initiatives.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic advisor to NTAM, WM, and AST leadership 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, including strategic goals, investment priorities, transformation initiatives, and workforce strategies.
Facilitate executive staff meetings, business reviews, operating committees, governance forums, and strategic planning sessions.
Drive cross-functional execution of transformational and organizational initiatives.
Own consolidated business management processes for the supported technology organizations.
Partner with Finance on 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 resources are allocated effectively to strategic priorities and business outcomes.
Develop executive reporting and performance dashboards to provide financial and operational transparency.
Facilitate position management, requisition governance, and strategic resource allocation.
Champion employee engagement priorities, culture initiatives, communication strategies, and leadership effectiveness.
Oversee and coordinate first-line risk management activities across the technology organizations.
Coordinate regulatory examinations, internal audits, risk assessments, remediation programs, and governance reviews.
Lead business management support for RCSA, compliance training, operational risk assessments, and issue management.
Monitor and report risk metrics, control effectiveness, and governance outcomes to senior leadership.
Lead development of executive presentations, board materials, management committee updates, regulatory reporting, and strategic communications.
Build and maintain performance scorecards and KPI frameworks covering financial, operational, workforce, risk, and delivery dimensions.
Develop concise narratives and insights to enable executive decision-making.
Coordinate communications and change management across global technology organizations.
Provide governance oversight across strategic initiatives, programs, and technology portfolios.
Monitor execution against strategic commitments, budgets, objectives, and delivery milestones.
Drive continuous improvement in productivity, efficiency, scalability, and organizational effectiveness.
Establish standardized management processes, metrics, and reporting practices across the organization.
Lead resolution of complex organizational and operational challenges requiring cross-functional coordination.

Benefits

Retirement benefits, including 401(k) and pension.
Health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, spending accounts, and disability coverage.
Paid time off.
Parental and caregiver leave.
Life and accident insurance.
Other voluntary and well-being benefits.
Discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.
Flexible and collaborative work culture.
Movement within the organization is encouraged, and senior leaders are accessible.
Inclusive workplace and community support, including employee philanthropy.