Northwestern Mutual Career Opportunities
Within the last 5 years, what role did the following play in your job:
Responsible for user community adoption of technology within the company or organization.
How many years of experience do you have in training in technology, software or IT applications?
Ability to travel (regionally and nationally) 10% of the time?
Please note that this position is no longer available.
If you would like to be considered for similar opportunities now or in the future, feel free to apply and/or set up a notifier for yourself.
Technology Productivity Consultant / IT Trainer
IL - Chicago
or
Apply with

Enjoy Corporate & Local Visibility as You Make an Impact in a Key Technology
Training & Support Role

Get in on the Ground Floor of a New Technology Program

This is your opportunity to leverage your training talent and technical aptitude to take ownership of a key technology role responsible for training internal stakeholders and supporting the technology needs at a successful, team-oriented financial planning office and district offices in the area. This is a rare, best-of-both-worlds opportunity. You'll enjoy the reputation, stability and outstanding foundation of Northwestern Mutual -- a thriving organization built over more than 150 years -- alongside the smaller atmosphere and visibility of the local Network Office in Chicago, where you will support the success of Financial Representatives and staff members via the training and technical expertise you will provide.

In this fast-paced, high energy office, you will enjoy working with a great mix of newer, mid-career and veteran employees with a range of technology adoption levels. While overall adoption levels are good, our goal is to build on that success and bring an even higher level of technology adoption to our team. You'll serve as an accelerant to that adoption. Quick question for you - click here You can feel pride knowing that your efforts will make a positive impact both internally and externally. This is a unique opportunity because the role has a corporate reporting structure and local influence, meaning your successes will be widely noticed and can open doors to future advancement with Northwestern Mutual.

At Northwestern Mutual, we’re driven by the desire to help clients achieve lifelong financial security, and we believe that a long-term approach is the best path to success. We also believe that by giving back, we can help our community move forward. Together with our clients, we’re working to enrich lives, strengthen businesses and build a brighter future.

The Requirements

To meet the basic qualification for this role you must be legally authorized to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. 

To be a strong fit for the Technology Productivity Consultant / IT Trainer role, you will have:
  • A bachelor's degree, preferably in Business or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and/or progressively responsible work experience.
  • At least 3 years of experience, including (concurrent or in addition to):
    • 3+ years of program support working with professionals in financial services or a similar industry; financial services industry experience preferred. 
    • 3+ years of experience in coaching / training individuals on how to optimize their business through the use of technology is highly desirable.  Quick question for you - click here
  • Demonstrated ability to understand software technology focused on sales practices, and the ability to articulate the benefits and uses of that technology to select audiences.
  • Skill and demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of levels and titles.
  • The ability to use a consultative model when coaching / training and developing professional relationships.
  • Proven ability to drive measurable improvements in an outcome-based model (i.e. prior demonstrated ability to drive percentage increase in technology adoption for sales and other positions).
  • Experience and demonstrated skill leading and facilitating groups of people.
  • An aptitude for learning technology at a deep level to teach and assist others.
You will be seated in the downtown Chicago Network Office and travel, on occasion, to support three District Offices, each within a 45-minute drive of the Network Office. More often, personnel from the other offices will come to the Network Office. For example, currently, we run 5 large training classes per year in the Network Office that serve all of the offices in the network. Additionally, you will travel to our Corporate Office in Milwaukee, where you'll undergo initial and then quarterly training with the technology team. We anticipate travel will be approximately 10%. Quick question for you - click here

The Role

Your Role
As Technology Productivity Consultant / IT Trainer, you'll serve as a technology expert and trainer delivering both group and one-on-one instruction that will give Financial Representatives and support staff in your assigned network the tools they need to build their businesses and deliver complete and accurate information to their clients. You will interact both with our Corporate Technology Team and the onsite leadership team, supporting the needs of leadership and their staff. You will support approximately 150 Financial Representatives (FRs) and 200 staff throughout the network. In addition, we have a robust Intern program.

The Chicago Office
Helping clients manage financial risk and achieve their goals of financial security is exciting, demanding and rewarding. Most importantly, it is a team effort. We value a strong work ethic and a desire for personal and professional growth. You'll be part of a solid team continually supporting our financial representatives by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.

In Chicago, you'll find a highly-motivated group that works hard but also takes a collaborative, team-oriented approach. Leadership is welcoming and approachable and you'll want to keep open and clear lines of communication. It will be important to demonstrate the value of the program early on so that at every level you've gotten buy-in.

This is a big role in a very busy environment, so you'll also manage your priorities effectively and in a timely manner. If you're scheduled to train at 7:30 a.m., for example, training should be set up and ready to go by 7:25. You'll find there are already some strong systems in place that will help you succeed. Pictured right: Corey D. McQuade, Managing Partner, Chicago, IL.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities
You will be responsible for supporting the FRs and staff by training them on a variety of key software programs and modules and providing basic technology support. Your goal is to provide outstanding learning opportunities and ongoing support so that FRs and office staff can leverage all available tools to manage their business, sell products and provide support to policy owners. You will do your best to provide an outstanding experience, allowing each learner to see the advantage of leveraging the tools and helping them feel comfortable in doing so. Your specific responsibilities will include:

Training:
  • Providing in-office group training.
  • Following-up with individuals who attended group training, providing one-on-one instruction for 60 minutes.
  • Delivering Sales School training.
    • New reps attend a two-week training seminar which includes 6 to 8 hours of core technology training, which you will deliver.
  • Providing Sales School training follow up.
    • Post sales training, you will meet with individual reps once per week for the first six months to consult and refine/deepen initial training. 
Consulting
  • Providing ongoing consulting to those who need it (i.e. spending time with someone who is having difficulty with the Customer Relationship Management software or Personal Planning tool, etc.).
    • You will enjoy a good deal of leeway in the design and delivery of the consulting portion of your role.
Collaboration and Support
  • You will partner and build relationships with the onsite leadership team in order to help drive the success of the location. Projects/needs could include:
    • Planning with FRs and prospects (attending sales calls).
    • Helping to identify prospects.
    • Helping FRs prepare for sales calls.
    • Identifying ways you can help drive success.
  •  Partnering with the technology training team seated throughout the U.S.
    • Meeting monthly and quarterly.
    • Serving as a resource; talking about local activities and outcomes.
    • Sharing wins and challenges.
    • Brainstorming to discover best practices.
Your Training Program
To ensure that you're qualified to perform your role and make a strong impact, you will participate in an in-depth training program with benchmarks set over a six week period. You will: 
  • Spend your first week in Milwaukee, where you’ll participate in onboarding and begin learning the software, most of which is proprietary. You will learn:
    • Microsoft Dynamics CRM and how it is used within Northwestern Mutual
    • Our PPA (Personal Planning Analysis)
    • E-filing system
    • Document sharing tool
  • Week two will be spent in the office in downtown Chicago, building relationships and working with a group of approximately 20 to 25 people. You’ll begin providing initial training and discover what your client group needs and where there are gaps in your knowledge.
  • Week three you will return to Milwaukee and continue to learn the various technologies in relation to the needs of your office and your own knowledge base. 
  • The remainder of your training will take place in downtown Chicago. Week four you will re-engage your initial group of trainees and continue to build your skills. A member of the corporate training team will be onsite during week five, observing and continuing to help advance your knowledge. Week six will be spent testing your skills and identifying and filling any gaps.
Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Why Join Us?

Ground-Floor, High-Impact Opportunity
This is a new program for Northwestern Mutual and a ground-floor opportunity for you. Though many team members are technologically astute, this is a chance to supercharge the impact of technology across multiple areas in addition to the direct value you’ll provide to the various users. Your efforts will impact compliance, quality, customer service, service and sales goals and more.  

Influence Success Early On
You will have the opportunity to work with many team members as they first join us. You will have the ability to influence their success as well as their early impressions of Northwestern Mutual. You can feel good knowing that you are helping others reach their career goals and feel comfortable and welcome in a new setting. 

Autonomy to Manage Your Responsibilities
Your goals will center on outcomes such as getting the Financial Representatives and other stakeholders in your assigned offices to increasingly leverage technology to sell and get results; to build trust-based relationships and prove yourself as the go-to expert; to align technology goals with the goals of leadership, etc. While there's a lot of enthusiasm for this technology support program, you'll need to earn credibility and demonstrate the value of the program, gaining buy-in from the team members you'll support. As long as you are meeting your goals, you will enjoy a good deal of autonomy in how you manage your responsibilities. You can shape your role to suit your style and positively impact learning.

Career Growth
Though you could be happy and challenged in this role for years to come, success could open additional doors of opportunity within Northwestern Mutual, both locally and at Corporate. For example, you could step up to a field marketing role, representing the program and building relationships with stakeholders throughout a designated region, pursue a variety of corporate roles, or train for an FR or another local role. Some opportunities would require relocation.

Outstanding Training
Naturally, you'll come in with strong coaching and training skills, but we'll ensure you have the technology training and tools you need to succeed. (Please see the Role tab for detailed training information).

A Company that Cares
We create meaningful employment opportunities and invest in our people. We strengthen local businesses and economies. We give back, help out, and make a difference for families and children -- thousands of whom have benefited from our national philanthropic program to fight childhood cancer through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. And each year, our employees and local offices donate time, talent and financial support to causes they’re passionate about. Consider some of our recent corporate commitments:
  • The Northwestern Mutual Foundation has given nearly $170 million to communities across the nation during the past decade.
  • Northwestern Mutual has given more than $9 million to support urban education in Milwaukee during the past five years.
  • Our employees volunteer more than 30,000 hours each year to community organizations.
As a part of Chicago for 145 years, at Northwestern Mutual – Chicago, we are building on a legacy of service and a tradition of giving. Our mission is simple: to improve lives and make a lasting impact on our local communities. At the local level, you will have opportunities to participate in a variety of charitable events supporting Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, Cards for Hospitalized Kids and more. Pictured: local staff and interns working in support of the Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.

Service culture
We have a highly professional, service oriented culture committed to serving our clients and the community. We strive to create an environment where people like to work and do their best. Our atmosphere is fast-moving and our culture is strong.

Corporate connection
You’ll travel to our corporate offices for training initially and in the future. With 5,000 employees at our home office in Milwaukee and a second campus in Franklin, WI, Northwestern Mutual is truly a community within a community. You’ll learn in a vibrant and innovative atmosphere where employees are challenged, camaraderie and a sense of team are strong, and you can build your skills and knowledge as you stimulate your mind and make important internal connections.

The power of diversity
We believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment attracts and engages the best talent—people with unique ideas, points of view, and passions. We foster a culture of inclusion where everyone can be their best, and are committed to hiring a talented and diverse workforce. At Northwestern Mutual we take a holistic approach to both raise our brand awareness and recruit new talent for corporate and national sales opportunities at diversity events across the country. We reach tens of thousands of professionals and students through our affiliations with:
  • ALPFA
  • National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
  • National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA)
  • National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA)
  • National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)
Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive salary and bonus incentive opportunity, we offer a comprehensive slate of benefits including insurances, PTO and more.

Keys to Success

Naturally, you’ll need to dedicate yourself to knowledge gain and become expert in all of the available technology, but to be successful in the role of Technology Productivity Consultant / Trainer, you’ll also need outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships. Because you will serve in a position that is a dual resource (corporate and local), you’ll build relationships on both fronts. You will perform your daily tasks in the network and district offices, and your goals will be centered on those offices, but you’ll also build partnerships and create resources with the wider technology team and within the corporate office. To fit the local culture, in addition to your communication skills, you will bring an upbeat, helpful attitude and outstanding organization skills. 

When performing your role, setting the right tone will be important. You should be able to sit down and listen in order to understand the concerns or your trainees and what they’re up against. You’ll remember that they are professionals in their field, not computer scientists, and while you’ll project empathy and understanding of the challenges of building a financial planning business, you will also keep things upbeat and the atmosphere ripe for learning. For those who are resistant to technology, you will sometimes need a bit of a thick skin as you demonstrate the value of the program and win them over. You might also need to train on a specific technology 3 or 4 times before it sinks in. Ultimately, you will be proactive, work autonomously, have the desire to help, and serve as a business partner enabling individual success.  

Additionally, to be successful, you will:
  • Tailor your approach so that the Financial Representatives and office staff understand and can demonstrate the specific benefits technology offers to each unique user audience.
  • Partner with, and independently develop and deliver sound recommendations to the local leadership team in order to assist them in establishing goals.
  • Lead planning to ensure goals are attained and benefits realized (e.g. increased field and recruitment productivity, capitalization on expense/revenue benefits based on efficiencies gained, etc.).
  • Maintain an informed engagement plan to drive improved use of technology and better enable goal attainment. You will be responsible for 4 to 5 performance goals. Note: performance against plan will be measured with the aid of technology adoption metrics. Metrics are a key indicator of your success and can guide you in modifying your approach.  
  • Take quarterly satisfaction survey (required at every level) with the goal of receiving a 4 out of 5 by the end of your first year.

About Us

As achieving financial security becomes more complex for more people, a few simple truths are becoming even more powerful: Relationships are built on trust. Our lives and businesses matter. And we're much stronger together than we are apart. These beliefs launched our company nearly 160 years ago. Today they're hardwired into our DNA and are just some of the reasons why people turn to Northwestern Mutual to help secure their futures.

At Northwestern Mutual, financial security is built on the lasting relationships our financial advisors establish with their clients. Our advisors get to know their clients' hopes and dreams so they can help them make life's financial decisions with confidence. Working with some of the best-trained financial professionals in the business*, clients benefit from a distinctive planning approach that includes protecting what they already have and high-quality products that perform for the long term.

Doing what's right, taking a long-term view and sharing our success with clients sets up apart. In the past 10 years -- including the Great Recession -- we've paid clients more than $47 billion in dividends. In 2016, we expect to pay a record $5.6 billion in total dividends, including industry-leading dividends on life and disability insurance.**

Pictured: the Chicago skyline.

*Training Magazine's annual "Training Top 125" list, January/February 2015 issue.
**Northwestern Mutual analysis of dividends based on historical data. The dividend scale and the underlying interest rates are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Future dividends are not guaranteed, although Northwestern Mutual has paid a dividend every year since 1872.

Enjoy Corporate & Local Visibility as You Make an Impact in a Key Technology
Training & Support Role

Get in on the Ground Floor of a New Technology Program

This is your opportunity to leverage your training talent and technical aptitude to take ownership of a key technology role responsible for training internal stakeholders and supporting the technology needs at a successful, team-oriented financial planning office and district offices in the area. This is a rare, best-of-both-worlds opportunity. You'll enjoy the reputation, stability and outstanding foundation of Northwestern Mutual -- a thriving organization built over more than 150 years -- alongside the smaller atmosphere and visibility of the local Network Office in Chicago, where you will support the success of Financial Representatives and staff members via the training and technical expertise you will provide.

In this fast-paced, high energy office, you will enjoy working with a great mix of newer, mid-career and veteran employees with a range of technology adoption levels. While overall adoption levels are good, our goal is to build on that success and bring an even higher level of technology adoption to our team. You'll serve as an accelerant to that adoption. Quick question for you - click here You can feel pride knowing that your efforts will make a positive impact both internally and externally. This is a unique opportunity because the role has a corporate reporting structure and local influence, meaning your successes will be widely noticed and can open doors to future advancement with Northwestern Mutual.

At Northwestern Mutual, we’re driven by the desire to help clients achieve lifelong financial security, and we believe that a long-term approach is the best path to success. We also believe that by giving back, we can help our community move forward. Together with our clients, we’re working to enrich lives, strengthen businesses and build a brighter future.

The Requirements

To meet the basic qualification for this role you must be legally authorized to work permanently in the United States for any employer without requiring a visa transfer or visa sponsorship. 

To be a strong fit for the Technology Productivity Consultant / IT Trainer role, you will have:
  • A bachelor's degree, preferably in Business or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and/or progressively responsible work experience.
  • At least 3 years of experience, including (concurrent or in addition to):
    • 3+ years of program support working with professionals in financial services or a similar industry; financial services industry experience preferred. 
    • 3+ years of experience in coaching / training individuals on how to optimize their business through the use of technology is highly desirable.  Quick question for you - click here
  • Demonstrated ability to understand software technology focused on sales practices, and the ability to articulate the benefits and uses of that technology to select audiences.
  • Skill and demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a variety of levels and titles.
  • The ability to use a consultative model when coaching / training and developing professional relationships.
  • Proven ability to drive measurable improvements in an outcome-based model (i.e. prior demonstrated ability to drive percentage increase in technology adoption for sales and other positions).
  • Experience and demonstrated skill leading and facilitating groups of people.
  • An aptitude for learning technology at a deep level to teach and assist others.
You will be seated in the downtown Chicago Network Office and travel, on occasion, to support three District Offices, each within a 45-minute drive of the Network Office. More often, personnel from the other offices will come to the Network Office. For example, currently, we run 5 large training classes per year in the Network Office that serve all of the offices in the network. Additionally, you will travel to our Corporate Office in Milwaukee, where you'll undergo initial and then quarterly training with the technology team. We anticipate travel will be approximately 10%. Quick question for you - click here

The Role

Your Role
As Technology Productivity Consultant / IT Trainer, you'll serve as a technology expert and trainer delivering both group and one-on-one instruction that will give Financial Representatives and support staff in your assigned network the tools they need to build their businesses and deliver complete and accurate information to their clients. You will interact both with our Corporate Technology Team and the onsite leadership team, supporting the needs of leadership and their staff. You will support approximately 150 Financial Representatives (FRs) and 200 staff throughout the network. In addition, we have a robust Intern program.

The Chicago Office
Helping clients manage financial risk and achieve their goals of financial security is exciting, demanding and rewarding. Most importantly, it is a team effort. We value a strong work ethic and a desire for personal and professional growth. You'll be part of a solid team continually supporting our financial representatives by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.

In Chicago, you'll find a highly-motivated group that works hard but also takes a collaborative, team-oriented approach. Leadership is welcoming and approachable and you'll want to keep open and clear lines of communication. It will be important to demonstrate the value of the program early on so that at every level you've gotten buy-in.

This is a big role in a very busy environment, so you'll also manage your priorities effectively and in a timely manner. If you're scheduled to train at 7:30 a.m., for example, training should be set up and ready to go by 7:25. You'll find there are already some strong systems in place that will help you succeed. Pictured right: Corey D. McQuade, Managing Partner, Chicago, IL.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities
You will be responsible for supporting the FRs and staff by training them on a variety of key software programs and modules and providing basic technology support. Your goal is to provide outstanding learning opportunities and ongoing support so that FRs and office staff can leverage all available tools to manage their business, sell products and provide support to policy owners. You will do your best to provide an outstanding experience, allowing each learner to see the advantage of leveraging the tools and helping them feel comfortable in doing so. Your specific responsibilities will include:

Training:
  • Providing in-office group training.
  • Following-up with individuals who attended group training, providing one-on-one instruction for 60 minutes.
  • Delivering Sales School training.
    • New reps attend a two-week training seminar which includes 6 to 8 hours of core technology training, which you will deliver.
  • Providing Sales School training follow up.
    • Post sales training, you will meet with individual reps once per week for the first six months to consult and refine/deepen initial training. 
Consulting
  • Providing ongoing consulting to those who need it (i.e. spending time with someone who is having difficulty with the Customer Relationship Management software or Personal Planning tool, etc.).
    • You will enjoy a good deal of leeway in the design and delivery of the consulting portion of your role.
Collaboration and Support
  • You will partner and build relationships with the onsite leadership team in order to help drive the success of the location. Projects/needs could include:
    • Planning with FRs and prospects (attending sales calls).
    • Helping to identify prospects.
    • Helping FRs prepare for sales calls.
    • Identifying ways you can help drive success.
  •  Partnering with the technology training team seated throughout the U.S.
    • Meeting monthly and quarterly.
    • Serving as a resource; talking about local activities and outcomes.
    • Sharing wins and challenges.
    • Brainstorming to discover best practices.
Your Training Program
To ensure that you're qualified to perform your role and make a strong impact, you will participate in an in-depth training program with benchmarks set over a six week period. You will: 
  • Spend your first week in Milwaukee, where you’ll participate in onboarding and begin learning the software, most of which is proprietary. You will learn:
    • Microsoft Dynamics CRM and how it is used within Northwestern Mutual
    • Our PPA (Personal Planning Analysis)
    • E-filing system
    • Document sharing tool
  • Week two will be spent in the office in downtown Chicago, building relationships and working with a group of approximately 20 to 25 people. You’ll begin providing initial training and discover what your client group needs and where there are gaps in your knowledge.
  • Week three you will return to Milwaukee and continue to learn the various technologies in relation to the needs of your office and your own knowledge base. 
  • The remainder of your training will take place in downtown Chicago. Week four you will re-engage your initial group of trainees and continue to build your skills. A member of the corporate training team will be onsite during week five, observing and continuing to help advance your knowledge. Week six will be spent testing your skills and identifying and filling any gaps.
Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities.

Why Join Us?

Ground-Floor, High-Impact Opportunity
This is a new program for Northwestern Mutual and a ground-floor opportunity for you. Though many team members are technologically astute, this is a chance to supercharge the impact of technology across multiple areas in addition to the direct value you’ll provide to the various users. Your efforts will impact compliance, quality, customer service, service and sales goals and more.  

Influence Success Early On
You will have the opportunity to work with many team members as they first join us. You will have the ability to influence their success as well as their early impressions of Northwestern Mutual. You can feel good knowing that you are helping others reach their career goals and feel comfortable and welcome in a new setting. 

Autonomy to Manage Your Responsibilities
Your goals will center on outcomes such as getting the Financial Representatives and other stakeholders in your assigned offices to increasingly leverage technology to sell and get results; to build trust-based relationships and prove yourself as the go-to expert; to align technology goals with the goals of leadership, etc. While there's a lot of enthusiasm for this technology support program, you'll need to earn credibility and demonstrate the value of the program, gaining buy-in from the team members you'll support. As long as you are meeting your goals, you will enjoy a good deal of autonomy in how you manage your responsibilities. You can shape your role to suit your style and positively impact learning.

Career Growth
Though you could be happy and challenged in this role for years to come, success could open additional doors of opportunity within Northwestern Mutual, both locally and at Corporate. For example, you could step up to a field marketing role, representing the program and building relationships with stakeholders throughout a designated region, pursue a variety of corporate roles, or train for an FR or another local role. Some opportunities would require relocation.

Outstanding Training
Naturally, you'll come in with strong coaching and training skills, but we'll ensure you have the technology training and tools you need to succeed. (Please see the Role tab for detailed training information).

A Company that Cares
We create meaningful employment opportunities and invest in our people. We strengthen local businesses and economies. We give back, help out, and make a difference for families and children -- thousands of whom have benefited from our national philanthropic program to fight childhood cancer through Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. And each year, our employees and local offices donate time, talent and financial support to causes they’re passionate about. Consider some of our recent corporate commitments:
  • The Northwestern Mutual Foundation has given nearly $170 million to communities across the nation during the past decade.
  • Northwestern Mutual has given more than $9 million to support urban education in Milwaukee during the past five years.
  • Our employees volunteer more than 30,000 hours each year to community organizations.
As a part of Chicago for 145 years, at Northwestern Mutual – Chicago, we are building on a legacy of service and a tradition of giving. Our mission is simple: to improve lives and make a lasting impact on our local communities. At the local level, you will have opportunities to participate in a variety of charitable events supporting Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House, Cards for Hospitalized Kids and more. Pictured: local staff and interns working in support of the Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana.

Service culture
We have a highly professional, service oriented culture committed to serving our clients and the community. We strive to create an environment where people like to work and do their best. Our atmosphere is fast-moving and our culture is strong.

Corporate connection
You’ll travel to our corporate offices for training initially and in the future. With 5,000 employees at our home office in Milwaukee and a second campus in Franklin, WI, Northwestern Mutual is truly a community within a community. You’ll learn in a vibrant and innovative atmosphere where employees are challenged, camaraderie and a sense of team are strong, and you can build your skills and knowledge as you stimulate your mind and make important internal connections.

The power of diversity
We believe that a diverse and inclusive work environment attracts and engages the best talent—people with unique ideas, points of view, and passions. We foster a culture of inclusion where everyone can be their best, and are committed to hiring a talented and diverse workforce. At Northwestern Mutual we take a holistic approach to both raise our brand awareness and recruit new talent for corporate and national sales opportunities at diversity events across the country. We reach tens of thousands of professionals and students through our affiliations with:
  • ALPFA
  • National Association of Black Accountants (NABA)
  • National Association of Women MBAs (NAWMBA)
  • National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA)
  • National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA)
Excellent compensation
In addition to a competitive salary and bonus incentive opportunity, we offer a comprehensive slate of benefits including insurances, PTO and more.

Keys to Success

Naturally, you’ll need to dedicate yourself to knowledge gain and become expert in all of the available technology, but to be successful in the role of Technology Productivity Consultant / Trainer, you’ll also need outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships. Because you will serve in a position that is a dual resource (corporate and local), you’ll build relationships on both fronts. You will perform your daily tasks in the network and district offices, and your goals will be centered on those offices, but you’ll also build partnerships and create resources with the wider technology team and within the corporate office. To fit the local culture, in addition to your communication skills, you will bring an upbeat, helpful attitude and outstanding organization skills. 

When performing your role, setting the right tone will be important. You should be able to sit down and listen in order to understand the concerns or your trainees and what they’re up against. You’ll remember that they are professionals in their field, not computer scientists, and while you’ll project empathy and understanding of the challenges of building a financial planning business, you will also keep things upbeat and the atmosphere ripe for learning. For those who are resistant to technology, you will sometimes need a bit of a thick skin as you demonstrate the value of the program and win them over. You might also need to train on a specific technology 3 or 4 times before it sinks in. Ultimately, you will be proactive, work autonomously, have the desire to help, and serve as a business partner enabling individual success.  

Additionally, to be successful, you will:
  • Tailor your approach so that the Financial Representatives and office staff understand and can demonstrate the specific benefits technology offers to each unique user audience.
  • Partner with, and independently develop and deliver sound recommendations to the local leadership team in order to assist them in establishing goals.
  • Lead planning to ensure goals are attained and benefits realized (e.g. increased field and recruitment productivity, capitalization on expense/revenue benefits based on efficiencies gained, etc.).
  • Maintain an informed engagement plan to drive improved use of technology and better enable goal attainment. You will be responsible for 4 to 5 performance goals. Note: performance against plan will be measured with the aid of technology adoption metrics. Metrics are a key indicator of your success and can guide you in modifying your approach.  
  • Take quarterly satisfaction survey (required at every level) with the goal of receiving a 4 out of 5 by the end of your first year.

About Us

As achieving financial security becomes more complex for more people, a few simple truths are becoming even more powerful: Relationships are built on trust. Our lives and businesses matter. And we're much stronger together than we are apart. These beliefs launched our company nearly 160 years ago. Today they're hardwired into our DNA and are just some of the reasons why people turn to Northwestern Mutual to help secure their futures.

At Northwestern Mutual, financial security is built on the lasting relationships our financial advisors establish with their clients. Our advisors get to know their clients' hopes and dreams so they can help them make life's financial decisions with confidence. Working with some of the best-trained financial professionals in the business*, clients benefit from a distinctive planning approach that includes protecting what they already have and high-quality products that perform for the long term.

Doing what's right, taking a long-term view and sharing our success with clients sets up apart. In the past 10 years -- including the Great Recession -- we've paid clients more than $47 billion in dividends. In 2016, we expect to pay a record $5.6 billion in total dividends, including industry-leading dividends on life and disability insurance.**

Pictured: the Chicago skyline.

*Training Magazine's annual "Training Top 125" list, January/February 2015 issue.
**Northwestern Mutual analysis of dividends based on historical data. The dividend scale and the underlying interest rates are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Future dividends are not guaranteed, although Northwestern Mutual has paid a dividend every year since 1872.
Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact the Human Resources Department at wlinden@engage2excel.com.
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