Senior Director, Market Research

At Northwestern Mutual, we are strong, innovative and growing. We invest in our people. We care and make a positive difference.

Northwestern Mutual (NM) has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for over 165+ years. Through a distinctive, whole-picture planning approach including both insurance and investments, we empower people to be financially confident. We combine the expertise of our financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and leading-edge technology to best serve our clients. To help guide the collaborative effort, we are in search of a Senior Director, Market Research to join our team. 

Leads enterprise-wide market research as part of our insights team and is responsible for advancement of the market research across a range of critical audiences. Collaborates closely with Strategy Development, Client Experience, Field Experience, Marketing, Human Resources, and many other areas of the Company. Establishes a clear vision and strategy for market research and insights to create long-term value for the company. Provides thought leadership to senior management having company-wide impact and driving performance and advancing the success of the enterprise. Leads an enterprise-wide Voice of Field (VOF) program and provides significant support to voice of client and voice of consumer programs. Influences cross-functional initiatives and work efforts based on research and insights. Generates insights to shape Company-wide decision making. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Form strong partnerships with key areas of the Company to ensure market research is deployed to facilitate data driven decision making.
• Builds significant internal and external relationships that lead to collaboration and ability drive market research that informs/influences company strategy and direction.
• Lead the advancement and ongoing improvement of an enterprise wide VOF capability to provide insights and facilitate creation of solutions to field problems.
• Maintain strong partnership with voice of client and voice of consumer teams to provide research and insight support.
• Ensures broad understanding and visibility of insights derived from market research, including driving consistent approach for storing and managing of research assets.
• Delivers inclusive and engaging leadership to coach, develop and mentor direct reports.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, marketing research, economics or related field.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of increasingly responsible market research experience and providing insights that drive business, including research methods and statistics.
• Previous experience in establishing voice of customer or voice of field programs and using data and analytics to strategically drive successful research required.
• Ability to set and implement strategic direction in the market research space in a matrixed environment.
• Strategic thinker and results focused.
• Ability to draw actionable insights and get consensus from all levels of leadership in strategic and operational functions.
• Strong short and long-term planning skills, coupled with ability to lead resources in response to business needs.
• Broad knowledge of current and emerging industry trends.
• Experience in building, leading and running a high performing team.
• Possess very strong business acumen to fully understand business issues to tackle and provide meaningful, impactful recommendations.
• Strong emphasis on the need to provide continuous learning and customer focus.
• Superb communication and analytical skills.

Benefits: 

• Tuition reimbursement, commuter plans, and paid time off
• Highly competitive compensation that include base salary plus bonus
• Medical/Dental/Vision plans, 401(k), pension program

#LI-Hybrid 

Compensation Range:

Pay Range – Start:

$121,030.00

Pay Range – End:

$224,770.00

Northwestern Mutual pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement in the salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. At Northwestern Mutual, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. Please note that the salary range listed in the posting is the standard pay structure. Positions in certain locations (such as California) may provide an increase on the standard pay structure based on the location. Please click here for additional information relating to location-based pay structures.

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We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you work or would be working in California, Colorado, New York City, Washington or outside of a Corporate location, please click here for information pertaining to compensation and benefits.

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