Chief Operations Officer

We believe deeply in what we do at Northwestern Mutual – Minneapolis. Our mission is Securing Futures, Enhancing Lives and Creating Legacies for businesses and individuals throughout Minnesota, and the country. We do this through helping our clients plan for their financial future so they can realize their dreams. We are looking for individuals to join our company that live by our core values:

Integrity - Strict adherence to moral and ethical principles
Growth - Commitment to improving and challenging ourselves personally and professionally
Commitment - Fulfilling our promises
Professionalism - Displaying the highest degree of appearance, communication, relentless preparation and expertise
Personal Responsibility - Taking accountability for our own actions and results

The responsibility of the Chief Operations Officer is to oversee the network operations to achieve the highest levels of productivity and profitability. As part of the Minneapolis office's Network Office Leadership Team, the Chief Operations Officer anticipates the needs of the office, strategically plans for its development, recommends necessary changes, and takes independent action within areas of authority. The Chief Operations Officer subscribes to the philosophy, principles and practices of the local Minneapolis based Network Office and aligns our office with the broader Northwestern Mutual system/Home Office.

Specific responsibilities include but, are not limited to:

Leadership

• Inspire and motivate exceptional performance, communicate expectations, evaluates team member’s effectiveness, supports professional development and performance management.
• Work with Managing Partner and key stake holders to take the high-level vision/goals and work tactically to build out the future of the organization.
• Participate in the development of short and long-range goals and objectives to ensure achievement of our mission and vision and long-term strategic objectives while always doing so within our values and aligned to our diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
• Identify and implement operational alignment strategies and efficiencies across all offices in the organization.
• Perform due diligence associated with agency’s strategic and tactical activities.
• Lead special projects and high-priority initiatives covering a broad spectrum of authority, with visibility to members of state government.

Operations

• Participate in the strategic planning and infrastructure and operations management of the Network Office to include understanding the financial health and growth of the network office. Make the strategic connection between the Managing Partner’s vision and what needs to be done to support and achieve the vision.
• Lead change management strategy with a continual focus on creating efficiencies and reducing expenses. Find efficiencies within vendors and contracts to increase leverage and buying power between local offices.
• Lead in the definition, development, drafting and approval of organization policies, procedures, and programs, in close coordination with the Supervision, Facilities, Finance, Growth, Human Resources, and IT departments.
• Identify opportunities and implement internal policies and procedures to increase organizational efficiencies.
• Lead and manage operational teams within the organization, consult to district office teams.
• Project manage office facilities projects, construction buildouts, remodels.

• Act as the communication and change management liaison with the home office. Reviews all home office communication and ensures that managing directors, detached and housed financial representatives and staff is informed on a timely basis of any procedure change.
• Establish and regularly review all administrative procedures to ensure that the business needs of the network office and the requirements of the home office are being met and if applicable, initiates change management.

Legal (preferred with qualifications)

• Oversee the legal aspects of a corporate structure, legal filings, developing, updating, and maintaining systems for meeting corporate documentation, corporate compliance requirements, state statutes, etc.
• Consult with Advisors on contracts, partnerships and acquisitions.
• Oversee all aspects of contracts and transaction, privacy matters, intellectual property, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic partnerships and investments for the firm.
• Provide advice to business units on a wide range of subject matter areas related to contracts, real estate, human resources, and technology, among others.
• Manage outside counsel resources effectively and efficiently

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in business. MBA desired
• Juris Doctorate preferred
• Five or more years of experience in a management position, including hiring, training, planning, and people and program development, preferably in a financial services industry
• Proven ability to lead and manage people while building effective teams
• Demonstrated leadership to motivate and hold others accountable
• Ability to take independent action to make sound decisions
• Solid interpersonal and command skills
• Ability to influence others without authority
• Experience in strategic agility and managing vision & purpose
• Ability to manage change and purpose
• Ability to deal with ambiguity
• Demonstrated ability to lead change
• Proven ability to plan strategically for the long and short term