AD, Distribution Performance
Northwestern Mutual
- Location
- Milwaukee, WI Corporate
- Work model
- On-Site
- Level
- Mid
- Posted
- Aug 24, 2026
About this role
Assistant Director – Field Performance About the Job Assistant Directors (ADs) will serve as subject matter experts on the “Core 4” New Rep Growth & Development (NRGD) systems and processes in Recruiting, Internship, Leadership Development, and Early Productivity. They assist Principals in driving execution of business plans and aligning these plans with the broader company strategy. They will influence local strategy, operational and financial management, talent optimization, culture refinement, and leadership development by building and maintaining relationships with key network office partners. The Assistant Director will tackle complex business challenges by leveraging strong problem-solving skills and experience-based judgment, deploying the 5 Team Tools or equivalent methodologies. ADs will also help shape department and company strategy related to these focus areas by partnering with stakeholders from across the business on an ad hoc basis. What you’ll do Provide tailored consulting to network offices by analyzing data to craft sustainable, actionable recommendations that leverage the capabilities of office leaders and key team members across their portfolio. Build relationships and serve as a trusted business partner to the Principal, network office executive leaders, second line leaders, and key team members. Work with network office leaders and staff to stage, sequence and deliver strategic initiatives within each assigned office with a focus on driving results in the Core 4. If called upon, serve as an execution resource for implementing strategic initiatives in assigned network offices on a temporary basis while consulting on how and when to best transition these initiatives to local ownership. Advise network offices on leadership & culture initiatives by working with key network office leaders to build a tailored action plan leveraging belonging and impact resources and survey results following biennial Culture Survey. Assist in the building and refinement of leader development programs in network offices, alignment of local offices to home office programs and resources, and providing development resources and insights to promote readiness for future leadership roles in collaboration with Managing Partners. Provide proactive counsel to the Principal on tactical needs of the network office across NRGD and Leadership & Culture performance dimensions. Collaborate with home office business partners to support the implementation of key growth and alignment resources connected to the home office 2030 vision. Provide change management consulting and expertise to enable local offices to plan for and execute and change initiatives, both locally driven and those driven from the home office.
Skills
You Have: Storytelling through Data: Communicates insights and opportunities from a dataset, using narratives, visualizations, and analysis. Field Advocacy: Ability to serve as a trusted advocate and liaison for the field by gathering insights, representing field needs, and influencing the design, prioritization, and delivery of products, services, and processes that improve field adoption, satisfaction, and business outcomes. Client Engagement & Influence: Possesses the ability to engage, negotiate, and influence clients effectively, synthesizing complex information and executing challenges and opportunities. Emotional Intelligence: Includes self-awareness and self-management, empathy towards stakeholders (internal and external) via active listening. Builds trusting relationships and establishes credibility with peers, mangers and stakeholders to influence optimal outcomes for employees and clients. Consulting: Connects with stakeholders to understand and gain specific information to help resolve customer problems in a given domain. Communicates effectively intent to customers, solicits customer requirements, utilizes domain knowledge and collaborates with the right