Assistant Director, Events Strategy

About the Job

Northwestern Mutual is seeking a Director of Event Strategy to work alongside the Sr. Director of Meetings and Events in the development and execution of the division's growth strategy. You will be pivotal in supporting the function
-by coaching, mentoring, and empowering the team to think boldly, act decisively, and deliver exceptional events that bring the Northwestern Mutual brand to life through live event experiences.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned event professional with deep expertise in end-to-end event management, contract negotiation, industry benchmarking, project management, experiential marketing, and optimizing workflows. You thrive in cross-functional environments, understand objectives, and translate insights into action. Allowing you to support the strategic vision, operating model, budget and planning activities, and outcomes. As such, serving as a trusted, strategic advisor to the department head and leaders within the function.

• Represents and provides support to an executive, functional or department head to facilitate effective decision‑making which has a significant impact on the organization; this includes strategic planning, road map development, operational planning, establishing team best practices, SLAs, and quality benchmarks that align with the company’s overarching strategy, mission, and NM values. Co‑leads the development of business cases, risk assessments, and investable structure cost analysis.
• Directs departmental strategy development and execution, ensuring alignment with key business priorities and outcomes. Guides the team on how to utilize data‑driven strategies grounded in purpose, using insights to shape decisions, measure impact, and inform future event portfolio changes.
• Collaborates, plans and organizes with and through people to bridge strategies across teams.
• Identifies gaps between ideal and current state of operating model and recommends solutions to close the gaps.
• Exhibits high level of local (departmental) business acumen to identify and solve complex operational or organizational problems and identify innovative solutions.
• Partners with department leadership team to identify and track priority work, including identifying business outcomes and key metrics, portfolio management of key department priorities, developing strategy for project execution, and creating transparency on priority work in the department and throughout the enterprise.
• Leads teams or projects with moderate resource requirements, risk, and/or complexity.
• Develop and lead training programs utilizing tech and interactive methods to maximize engagement and knowledge retention. Track adoption of new skills and formulate strategies to address skill development needs.
• Ensures spend optimisation is aligned with best‑in‑class industry standards while maintaining compliance and governance standards.
• Manages multiple and complex funding mechanisms and provides guidance to leadership on securing resources to achieve business outcomes.
• Aligns department planning and budget to functional and company priorities, working cross‑functionally with peers.
• Leads departmental staff or leadership meetings and planning sessions. Evaluates barriers to success and develop courses of action to overcome issues at the departmental level.
• Facilitates cross‑functional initiatives and the flow of information between stakeholders and other teams, including but not limited to coordinating requests for information from stakeholders and preparing reports and presentations in response.
• Plays an integral role in the development and execution of key event initiatives for our largest live events. Will go on‑site as needed to evaluate portfolio events, ensure we are maintaining industry standards, occasionally manage specific components of an event, and train new event managers.

• Minimum of 7 years' event management, marketing, and or business leadership experience.
• Superior interpersonal skills with 5+ years of leadership experience, including but not limited to managing direct reports, teams, and large‑scale event project management.
• Experience in strategic and…