Sr Business Program Manager

Northwestern Mutual•Franklin, WI

About The Position

Provides program management expertise and consultation to the business to help meet department and cross-department goals. Develops, maintains, and revises program deliverables, and oversees business programs from initiation through rollout and ongoing management. Drives programs of medium complexity, managing multiple projects within programs or portfolios and coordinating larger initiatives and ongoing work. Independently leads moderately sized, medium-complexity programs or portfolios, managing scope, risk, business value, schedule, and budget. Helps define program objectives and plans, allocates resources, clarifies priorities and measures, and coordinates dependencies across teams. Builds business-client relationships, manages delivery expectations, and works with assigned resources and vendors to verify progress and remove obstacles. Gathers and uses program metrics and data to make progress and challenges visible, develop insights and action plans, and continually pursue program goals. Uses tools and techniques to support end-to-end value delivery and effective rollout. Maintains knowledge of industry and company initiatives, products, and business drivers, and analyzes business needs to identify the scope and nature of program deliverables. The position is classified as an Associated Person under NMIS guidelines and requires fingerprinting and completion of a required form. It is designated Non-Registered Fingerprinted - FINRA. Compensation ranges are $98,320–$147,480, with geographic-specific structures listed as $108,160–$162,240 (Structure 110) and $113,040–$169,560 (Structure 115). Final compensation depends on factors including skills, experience, market, and location.

Requirements

At least 5 years of related experience, including project analysis, design, documentation, and project/support management.
Ability to work with general direction to scope, plan, and manage cross-department or multi-department programs.
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage complex assignments.
Ability to prioritize work, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, work under pressure, and meet tight deadlines.
Ability to work as a team player and support group decisions and ideas.
Written and oral communication skills and ability to build rapport within the company, in the field, and/or with outside vendors.
High degree of personal initiative and motivation.
Experience with project methodology through project life-cycle phases.
Ability to oversee workstreams, define scope and schedules, and manage resources, risks, and dependencies.
Ability to establish program governance processes and structures that clarify decision-making, roles, responsibilities, and oversight.
Ability to identify stakeholder needs, align expectations, influence decisions, and maintain productive relationships.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly and adapt messaging for technical, nontechnical, and leadership audiences.
Ability to prioritize competing work based on importance, urgency, business impact, and strategic alignment.
Ability to identify, analyze, prioritize, monitor, and communicate risks and help stakeholders work toward resolution.
Ability to apply a customer-first mindset when designing and improving programs, processes, and services.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree emphasizing business, project management, or a related field; or significant directly related work experience beyond the minimum required.
Degree with a project management emphasis or PMI certification.

Responsibilities

Independently lead moderately sized, medium-complexity programs or portfolios.
Manage program scope, risk, business value, schedule, and budget.
Assist in defining program objectives and developing program plans.
Allocate resources according to program objectives, specifications, deliverables, and changes.
Clarify program objectives, priorities, and measures.
Identify program needs and recommend solutions.
Build relationships with business clients to manage delivery expectations and implementation.
Manage assigned resources and vendors by verifying progress and removing obstacles.
Coordinate across teams to identify and manage interdependencies.
Gather and deliver program metrics; use data to reveal successes and challenges and drive insights and action plans.
Use tools and techniques to support end-to-end value delivery and effective rollout and ongoing experience.
Maintain knowledge of industry and company initiatives, products, and business drivers to inform program objectives.
Analyze business needs to identify the scope and nature of program deliverables.