Northwestern Mutual

Senior Director – Insurance Product Experimentation - Hybrid

Northwestern Mutual$144K — $216K *
Finance & Insurance
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in program management, product development, or strategy roles.
  • Strong insurance experience in product, actuarial, or distribution areas.
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams in early-stage innovation environments.
  • Proven ability to take concepts from ideation through to testing and decision.

Responsibilities

  • Drive cross-functional experimentation pods to design and execute insurance product tests.
  • Translate ambiguous ideas into structured experiments with measurable outcomes.
  • Ensure rapid design, execution, and learning cycles for ongoing experiments.
  • Leverage insurance knowledge to align with product and leadership stakeholders.
  • Challenge assumptions and elevate problem framing for better solutions.
  • Synthesize experimentation results into actionable insights for leadership decisions.
  • Align stakeholders on experiment priorities and results interpretation.
  • Focus on delivering business impact and adjust approach based on findings.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional growth and development.
  • Collaboration with a dedicated, innovative team.
  • Engagement with cross-functional expertise in insurance.
  • Dynamic work environment fostering rapid learning.
  • Ownership of impactful experimentation initiatives.
Full Job Description

Summary

We are seeking a skilled Program Manager to join a newly established, dedicated, pod-based team responsible for designing and executing pre-market experiments to evaluate new insurance products and go-to-market concepts. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy, product design, and experimentation, driving rapid testing to assess viability, desirability, and feasibility before full-scale investment.

The Program Manager is responsible for the end-to-end experimentation program—from idea intake through execution, readout, and decision support. This role partners closely with Actuarial, UX designers, and business SMEs to translate ambiguous concepts into structured experiments and actionable insights.

 

Success in this role requires strong insurance domain expertise, high business credibility, and the ability to operate with urgency, challenge assumptions, and drive work forward in a fast-paced, iterative environment.

 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

  • Drive the experimentation pod(s):  Program Manage cross-functional pods (actuarial, UX, SMEs) to intake, scope, design, and execute experiments that test new insurance product ideas and capabilities.
  • Translate ideas into structured experiments: Convert early-stage, often ambiguous concepts into clear hypotheses, test designs, and measurable outcomes across: Customer desirability, Advisor/field adoption, Financial viability, Operational/technical feasibility
  • Push pace and decision-making:  Drive momentum across experiments—ensuring rapid design, execution, and learning cycles. Hold the team and stakeholders accountable to timelines, decisions, and outcomes.
  • Act as a bridge to the business:  Leverage deep insurance knowledge to build credibility with product, actuarial, distribution, and leadership stakeholders. Ensure experiments are grounded in real-world constraints and opportunities.
  • Challenge thinking and shape better solutions: Bring a point of view. Ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and elevate the quality of both the problem framing and potential solutions.
  • Synthesize insights and inform decisions: Translate experiment results into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for leadership—highlighting trade-offs, risks, and next steps (e.g., scale, iterate, or stop).
  • Drive alignment across stakeholders: Align leaders and SMEs on experiment priorities, design, and interpretation of results. Ensure clarity on what is being tested, why it matters, and how outcomes will be used.
  • Manage scope, risk, and outcomes (not just process): Focus on delivering business impact—not just project mechanics. Adjust scope and approach dynamically based on learnings and constraints.
  • Establish and evolve experimentation practices: Build repeatable approaches, tools, and best practices for running effective pre-market tests within the insurance context.

 

Qualifications

 

Experience

  • 10+ years of experience in program management, product development, or strategy roles
  • Highly desired: Strong experience in insurance (product, actuarial, distribution, or related functions) with demonstrated credibility across business stakeholders
  • Experience leading cross-functional efforts in ambiguous, early-stage environments (e.g., innovation, product incubation, or transformation work)
  • Proven ability to take concepts from idea through testing and decision

 

Core Capabilities

  • Strong business acumen with the ability to connect experimentation work to real business outcomes
  • Ability to operate with speed and urgency while maintaining rigor in thinking and execution
  • Comfortable with ambiguity; able to structure problems and create clarity
  • Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, including senior leadership
  • Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; able to challenge constructively
  • Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, executive-ready insights and recommendations

 

Leadership & Style

  • Self-starter who actively drives work forward without waiting for direction
  • Willingness to challenge the status quo and push for better, faster outcomes
  • Collaborative but decisive—ensures alignment without slowing progress
  • High degree of ownership and accountability for results

 

What Success Looks Like (6–12 Months)

  • Established a high-functioning experimentation capability
  • Delivered multiple end-to-end experiments with clear outcomes and leadership decisions
  • Built credibility with key business stakeholders (actuarial, product, distribution)
  • Helped the business avoid low-value investments and accelerate high-potential ideas
  • Defined a repeatable model for pre-market testing of insurance product concepts

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - Start:

$144,000.00

Pay Range - End:

$216,000.00

Geographic Specific Pay Structure:

Structure 110:

$158,400.00 USD - $237,600.00 USD

Structure 115:

$165,600.00 USD - $248,400.00 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.


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.

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Join us and start your journey at Northwestern Mutual today, where your career is nurtured, your skills are honed, and your achievements are celebrated.
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