Northwestern Mutual

Product Strategist - Innovation

Northwestern Mutual$136K — $205K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required
  • 5+ years of experience in Product Management or innovation consulting
  • Experience in agile teams is essential
  • Strong executive communication and storytelling abilities
  • Working knowledge of AI and enterprise applications
  • Demonstrated cross-functional collaboration experience
  • Proven problem-solving skills and ability to navigate ambiguity

Responsibilities

  • Set a clear product vision for innovation experiments and solutions
  • Lead the development of a program roadmap reflecting stakeholder priorities
  • Establish and track KPIs for innovation success
  • Drive discovery and validation phases of innovation programs
  • Gather requirements and translate ambiguous challenges into actionable plans
  • Build and manage relationships with stakeholders at various levels
  • Deliver executive-ready briefings making complex information accessible

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model allowing flexibility
  • Opportunity to influence product strategy and client solutions
  • Professional development and growth opportunities within a leading company
  • Working alongside a diverse team of experts in various fields
  • Access to cutting-edge technology and methodologies
  • Engagement with innovative projects at the intersection of strategy and execution
Full Job Description
About The Job
The Innovation Strategist is an entrepreneurial who leads work at the intersection of strategy and execution. Build the tools and experiences that empower our company, advisors, and help our clients thrive. Work with a talented team of engineers, designers, data scientists and financial experts to define product vision, strategy and deliver experiences to enable clients to achieve financial security.

What You'll Do
  • Set Product Vision: Collaboratively define and communicate a clear vision for innovation experiments and new solutions, grounded in business strategy, customer insight, and emerging technology opportunity
  • Develop Roadmap: Lead the development and socialization of a program roadmap that reflects stakeholder priorities, strategic bets, and a realistic path to value
  • Define and Track KPIs: Establish measures of success for innovation experiments and use outcome data to validate strategic direction and inform go or no-go decisions
  • Validate the Right Solution: Drive the discovery and definition phase of innovation programs, using research, stakeholder input, and experimentation to validate that proposed solutions address the right problems before committing to build
  • Gather and Synthesize Requirements: Lead cross-functional work to identify, pressure-test, and prioritize requirements, translating ambiguous opportunity spaces into well-scoped program definitions
  • Stakeholdering: Build and manage relationships with executive partners, business leaders, and technology stakeholders, proactively bringing strategic recommendations and leading conversations that shape program direction
  • Executive Communication: Develop and deliver executive-ready briefings, narratives, and decision-support materials that make complex innovation work accessible and actionable for senior audiences
  • User Insights: Anchor program decisions in qualitative and quantitative research, customer insight, and experimentation results, and synthesize findings into a clear strategic point of view and working with design partners to ensure concepts are grounded in this insight.
  • Facilitate Ceremonies: Facilitate daily scrums, sprint planning sessions, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, continuously improving how the team operates
  • Emerging Technology: Evaluate AI and other emerging technologies for strategic fit and enterprise applicability, leveraging a working knowledge of how these capabilities are evolving


What You'll Bring
  • Bachelor's degree
  • 5+ Years of prior experience with at least 4 working in a Product Management Role or innovation consulting, with agile team experience
  • Knowledge Preferred: formal business analyst, engineering or testing experience, knowledge of the financial services industry, comfortable working in ambiguity, pressure-testing assumptions, and validating the right solution before committing to build
  • Strong executive communication and storytelling skills, with experience developing materials for and presenting to senior leadership
  • Working knowledge of AI and its practical enterprise applications, with an understanding of how capabilities are evolving and where the technology is heading
  • Must have demonstrated cross functional work in previous experience along with strong communication skills, time management, project management skills, business acumen and high self-awareness/EQ
  • Demonstrated previous research experience, influence skills, initial leadership exposure, ability to translate product requirements into technical requirements, and work in ambiguity and solutioning
  • Solves complex problems; take a new perspective on existing solutions; exercise judgment based on the analysis of multiple sources of information


Skills You Have
  • Cross FunctionalPartnering & Planning - Facilitates collaboration, communication, coordination, and planning with individuals and teams from different functions within the organization, and who have different areas of expertise, to achieve common goals
  • Strategic Thinking - Uses critical thinking and knowledge of business demand to plan, design, prioritize and execute high impact initiatives and programs
  • Attention to Detail - Focuses on specific details to spot and correct errors in advance of them being found and surpass quality expectations. Performs work with thorough proofreading for presentation, content, accuracy, and overall quality
  • Adaptive Communication - Formulates strategies to be used to convey complex information about services, products, systems, or processes to targeted audiences; communicates and liaises between technical and non-technical audiences
  • Analytical Thinking - Organizes and compares various aspects of a situation to comprehend and identify key or underlying complex issues through the use of quantitative data and analysis; leverages strong business acumen, problem solving, and interpersonal skills to think critically about situations from multiple perspectives and consistently seeks ways to improve processes
  • Customer Centricity - Applies a customer first mindset to design and continuously improve solutions, systems, processes, and services that support enterprise strategy, impact critical business outcomes, and drive organizational success

#LI-Hybrid

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - Start:
$136,800.00

Pay Range - End:
$205,200.00

Geographic Specific Pay Structure:

Structure 110:
$130,880.00 USD - $196,320.00 USD

Structure 115:

$136,800.00 USD - $205,200.00 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, click here to learn more.

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

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 160 years. Through a holistic planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to millions with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. The company manages billion of dollars of investments owned by its clients and held or managed through its wealth management and investment services businesses. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (securities), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance).

Northwestern Mutual Careers

Joining Northwestern Mutual presents a unique opportunity to be part of a team that is dedicated to empowering personal and professional growth, innovation, and leadership in the financial services industry. As a company renowned for its commitment to excellence and a culture that values diversity and inclusion, Northwestern Mutual offers unparalleled job opportunities for both seasoned professionals and those at the start of their careers.

Work You’ll Do

At Northwestern Mutual, we believe in building strong relationships not only with our clients but also among our team members. By joining our team, you will collaborate with some of the most talented professionals in the industry, all united in their commitment to leadership and innovation. Our employees are equipped with top-tier benefits and diversity training that ensure their career journey is both rewarding and inclusive.

Explore Professional Growth and Development

Northwestern Mutual is committed to fostering an environment where career growth is not just a possibility but a priority. With a variety of positions available, from financial representatives to internships for budding professionals, our company is a place where your skills and passion can thrive. We provide extensive training programs and leadership development opportunities that prepare you for success in your current role and beyond.

Innovative Work Environment

Our team at Northwestern Mutual is at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative financial strategies to provide exceptional service to our clients. This focus on innovation is not just about staying current; it's about leading the way in the financial sector. Employees at all levels are encouraged to contribute ideas and take initiative, driving the company forward as a leader in the financial industry.

Be Part of Our Diverse and Inclusive Team

Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzzwords at Northwestern Mutual; they are integral to our company culture and business strategy. We are committed to creating a workplace where all employees can flourish. Our diversity training programs are designed to enhance understanding and foster an inclusive environment for all team members.

Networking and Career Advancement

Networking within Northwestern Mutual opens doors to expansive career advancement opportunities. We encourage our employees to engage in internal networking events, which often lead to mentorship and further career development. Whether you are looking to enhance your resume, prepare for an interview, or step into a leadership role, Northwestern Mutual provides the resources and support to help you achieve your professional goals.

Join Our Team

Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and solution-driven team players who are ready to take their career to the next level. Explore the job opportunities and internships available at Northwestern Mutual and find out how you can contribute to our legacy of innovation and leadership.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Northwestern Mutual.

SEARCH NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL JOBS

Join us and start your journey at Northwestern Mutual today, where your career is nurtured, your skills are honed, and your achievements are celebrated.
Learn more about Northwestern Mutual
Size
7,000 employees
Industry

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