Jobs › Northwestern Mutual

Sr. Director, HR Business Partner

Northwestern Mutual · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at Northwestern Mutual

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a large organizational transformation you guided. How did you keep people engaged?

What they are checking: Whether they have led change at scale while protecting engagement and performance.

How do you manage and develop the HR Leads on your team?

What they are checking: Whether they build strong HR partners under them rather than doing all the work themselves.

Tell me about a time you led a complex program that crossed many parts of the organization.

What they are checking: Whether they can run enterprise programs and coordinate many stakeholders at once.

How do you work with HR centers of excellence so the business gets one coordinated answer?

What they are checking: Whether they collaborate across HR so all parts of HR work for the business.

What would you do

How would you build a strong partnership with the Executive Leadership Team member you support?

What they are checking: Whether they can become a trusted advisor at the ELT level quickly and credibly.

How do you decide which people issues to bring to the HR leadership team versus solving in your area?

What they are checking: Whether they can see enterprise patterns and act as a leader of the HR department.

A Vice President wants to make a reorganization decision quickly that you think is risky. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can challenge senior leaders with care and offer better paths forward.

About the work

Walk me through a change management strategy you built with an executive.

What they are checking: Whether they have a structured approach to readiness, adoption and sustaining change.

How do you know if your HR strategy is delivering business results?

What they are checking: Whether they connect HR work to business outcomes the executive cares about.

How do you keep communication clear during a period of rapid growth or change?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how communication drives trust and adoption during change.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Northwestern Mutual from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Northwestern Mutual.

About the Job Partners with Executive Leadership Team member and Vice Presidents in the development of organizational/HR strategies to deliver business results related to long term, strategic and high-priority HR topics. Serves as subject matter expert and advisor to ELT member and department Vice Presidents. Works collaboratively across the HR department to ensure all aspects of HR are delivered effectively to the business. Provides leadership and direction of the HR department as member of the HRLT. What You'll Do • Align priorities and work for the ELT member and/or function. • Oversee/coordinate the strategic work for the ELT member. • Manage the HR Leads in the function being supported. • Bring the business/department issues to the HR Department. • Member of the HRLT who will help lead the HR Department. • Lead complex programs across the organization. • Lead and guide large-scale organizational transformation efforts, helping leaders navigate complex change while minimizing disruption and maintaining employee engagement and business performance. • Partner with executive leaders to develop and execute change management strategies that build organizational readiness, drive adoption, and sustain desired business outcomes. • Serve as a trusted advisor during periods of significant growth or transformation by ensuring effective communication and change leadership throughout the organization. • Partner with Business Leadership Teams in the development of org/HR strategies to deliver business results to the departments of org designs, talent management, DI, and leadership development. • Strategic consultation to the EO/DH and their leadership teams on the people side of the business. • Ensure alignment between the corporate HR strategy and the business strategy to build their employee capabilities to meet business objectives. • Provide two-way feedback on business needs to the COE's and the rest of the HR organization. • Trusted Business Advisor to Department Leadership Team, Transition Planning, Mentoring, Team Building, Performance Management approach, Succession Planning, etc. • Partner with HR Consultants in the day-to-day HR support and effective delivery of HR programs and processes. Ensure business leaders engage HR Consultants into work for the function/department. • Engage and consult on escalated issues or issues impacting the department head (political impacts or precedent-setting). Areas of leadership will include: talent acquisition strategy, diversity and inclusion initiatives, organizational design, talent Review and talent management, workforce planning, engagement initiatives (Gallup etc.), change management. • Serve as a liaison to corporate HR and for HR initiatives and represents the business perspective on HR design or policy discussions. What You'll Bring to the Role • 10 years of human resources experience including a Bachelor's degree in HR or an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible work experience. • Masters Degree preferred. • Experience in workforce planning, change management, organizational design, talent management, performance management and strategic and operational planning. • Strong business acumen and ability to contribute to the business strategy. • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with business leaders to develop, implement and sustain HR programs that enable the achievement of business goals. • Excellent consultative, interpersonal/influencing skills, including the ability to build rapport, coach and influence at all levels of the organization. • Strong problem solving, facilitation and analytical skills. Skills: 1. Org Design Adeptly executes the skill and guides others with strong competency. Applies skills in complex situations and makes recommendations for improvement. Guides or advises others in skills and looks ahead and anticipates requirements. Recognized for having strength in this skill. 2. Change Management - Serves as a role model, coaches others on skill progression, and identifies external market skill trends. Deep expertise in tools, processes, and methods related to the skill. Recognized as a Subject Matter Expert and considered an internal/external thought leader. Models mastery, coaches, and develops others on the skill. 3. Leading through transformation Serves as a role model, coaches others on skill progression, and identifies external market skill trends. Deep expertise in tools, processes, and methods related to the skill. Recognized as a Subject Matter Expert and considered an internal/external thought leader. Models mastery, coaches, and develops others on the skill. 4. Workforce planning Serves as a role model, coaches others on skill progression, and identifies external market skill trends. Deep expertise in tools, processes, and methods related to the skill. Recognized as a Subject Matter Expert and considered an internal/external thought leader. Models mastery, coaches, and develops others on the skill. #LI-Hybrid Compensation Range: Pay Range - Start: $144,000.00 Pay Range - End: $216,000.00 Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: $158,400.00 USD - $237,600.00 USD Structure 115: $165,600.00 USD - $248,400.00 USD We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more. Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now! Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

Apply at Northwestern Mutual