Director of Talent

In partnership with and under the guidance of leadership, this role supports the Network Office talent growth and recruitment efforts. He or she has a primary responsibility to build high-level quality relationships in the office, community, and to promote the Northwestern Mutual career, generate internal referrals, and develop brand advocates. He or she plays a key role in creating and leading the recruiting strategies to reach activity and contract goals.

Critical competencies in this position include Innovation, priority setting, exceptional communication skills, decision quality, and drive to achieve.

• Develop and maintain strong referral networks within the office and community to generate qualified candidate leads.
• Actively participate in community organizations, professional associations, and networking events to promote the Northwestern Mutual brand and attract prospective candidates.
• Build and manage internal and external relationships that support candidate pipeline growth.
• Provide sourcing and recruiting support to advisors for role-specific talent needs.
• Coordinate and collaborate on recruitment marketing strategies with Talent Team.

• Manage the full-cycle recruiting process, including but not limited to candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, administering screening tools, and guiding candidates through the process.
• Maintain integrity and consistency of the process; communicate with candidates at each step.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the Financial Representative career path and value proposition.
• Facilitate candidate evaluation discussions and provide hiring recommendations to internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate the transition from recruitment to onboarding, including contract execution, licensing and registration requirements, and preparation for training and development programs.

• Coordinate onboarding schedule with candidate.
• Monitor and support completion of required pre-contract training activities.
• Partner with the Executive Director of Talent and Onboarding Leader to successfully onboard candidate to Financial Planning Academy.

• Partner with the Executive Director of Talent to identify, recommend, and implement enhancements to recruiting and selection processes.
• Collaborate with the Talent Team to develop innovative recruiting strategies, initiatives, and events.
• Advise leaders on best approach to attracting the right talent.
• Research, evaluate, and share industry trends and best practices in talent acquisition.
• Participate in company and industry training programs to continuously strengthen recruiting and selection expertise.
• Maintain accurate candidate records and reporting within the NM Talent System(ATS).
• Prepare reports and results for leadership team meetings; coordinate regular meetings to review, assess, and establish actions based on the data.

• Bachelor's degree; or 5+ years of equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in recruiting, talent acquisition, sales, business development, or a related field.
• Experience with in the financial services or related industry is desired.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence stakeholders.
• Proven experience prospecting and generating leads through phone outreach, networking, referrals, and face-to-face interactions.
• Demonstrated proficiency with sourcing platforms and recruiting tools, including Linked In, Indeed, and similar resources.
• Strong network of personal/professional advocates or community involvement.
• Self-motivated with a strong sense of initiative, accountability, and achievement orientation.
• Excellent time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.