VP, Campus Operations

Northwestern Mutual•Milwaukee, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The VP of CEE Operations is accountable for oversight of our facility operations, campus designs, air operations, and commitment to sustainability, including people leadership of these teams. This will include the design, space planning, maintenance, and enhancement of all corporate facilities, including campuses, office buildings, and specialized structures such as airline hangars. This role also entails leading large-scale construction projects in collaboration with internal and external partners, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic goals and upholding the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and operational excellence. Please note that this role requires the successful candidate to be located at the Milwaukee, WI corporate campus.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, architecture, facilities management, or related field.
Minimum of 10+ years of leadership experience in corporate real estate, facilities management, construction, or operations.
Strong background in managing complex, multi-site operations and capital projects.
Ability to anticipate and understand business strategies, objectives and priorities.
Proven ability to develop and implement a strategic vision.
Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to anticipate and proactive address challenges.
Superior leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate, and hold team's accountability at all levels.
Demonstrated ability to influence, build alignment and collaboration across multiple stakeholders including executives, strategic partners, external industry partners, and within the team.
Demonstrates the ability to seamlessly transition between strategic vision and detailed execution, identifying key implications with precision.
Exceptional leadership and executive communication skills, with the ability to influence and inspire senior executives, stakeholders, and team members at all levels towards a shared vision.
Ability to simplify and communicate complexity to a wide range of audiences.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in managing a non-exempt workforce.
Certification in project management or facilities-related disciplines (e.g., PMP, IFMA, LEED).
Familiarity with digital workplace technologies and smart building systems.
Experience in sustainability practices, and workplace optimization.
Experience in aviation, logistics, or specialized infrastructure environments.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements a strategic vision for the future development of corporate facilities and air operations with best-in-class sustainability practices across diverse locations.
Oversees space planning, design, and maintenance initiatives to support evolving business needs.
Directs large-scale construction and renovation projects in collaboration with internal and external partners.
Ensures all facilities meet the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
Aligns facilities strategy with corporate objectives, growth plans, and workforce requirements.
Champions innovation in workplace design and infrastructure modernization.
Delivers strategic oversight and leadership for corporate air operations, ensuring the safe, efficient, and compliant management of aviation facilities and assets, including airline hangars, ground support infrastructure, and specialized operational protocols.
Optimizes the management of vendor relationships, contracts, and budgets.
Oversees compliance with regulatory requirements and environmental standards.
Incorporates external benchmarking to ensure our operations and facilities are best-in-class.
Cultivates a positive culture and environment that motivates, engages, and empowers both professional and non-exempt employees to excel.
Acts as a talent multiplier by leading with an enterprise-first mindset and fostering a culture of continuous learning across the department and company.