Workspace Portfolio & Planning Assistant Director

About the Role

Shape on-campus experiences across 2+ million square feet spanning two campuses in two states, through strategic leadership in workspace. Develop and implement comprehensive workspace strategies aligned with the company's vision, prioritizing projects to meet the evolving needs of the enterprise. Staying current with industry trends, drive innovation to enhance the campus environment. Manage all phases of workspace projects, from concept to completion, balancing client requests, resources, funding, and internal priorities. Effective communication with clients and stakeholders, coupled with strong financial discipline, ensures projects stay on budget and on schedule. Enhance operational efficiency and ensure compliance with regulations and institutional policies.

What You'll Do in the Role

• Formulate and execute comprehensive design & space planning strategies that inform the facilities master plan and align with the company’s vision and objectives for on-campus experiences.
• Strategically prioritize design & space projects to align with the dynamic needs of an evolving enterprise ecosystem.
• Develop cost effective and efficient space planning strategies to meet the evolving occupancy requirements of the Company.
• Stay current with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in workspace & space planning, influencing internal stakeholders to adopt new innovations to enhance the campus experience.
• Ensure facilities design accommodates our diverse workforce and supports Enterprise Sustainability Governance objectives.
• Plan, prioritize, and oversee delivery of a dynamic portfolio of workspace projects, including enterprise efforts, facilities-directed projects, and internal customer requests.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, including timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Effectively manage design & space requests through a transparent and simple intake process. Provide clear and consistent communication to clients and stakeholders throughout the project.
• Provide leadership and direction to the design and planner team, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance team efficiency and effectiveness.
• Mentor and develop team members, encouraging professional growth and ensuring high performance.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including construction project managers, architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders, to ensure cohesive project delivery.
• Bring strong financial discipline to all aspects of project planning and operations, ensuring financial resources are used effectively, and projects remain within budget constraints.
• Ensure all designs and projects comply with relevant building codes, safety regulations, and institutional policies. Analyze new and changing federal and local regulations with respect to their impact on the home office campuses.
• Document all aspects of workspace projects, including plans, changes, and outcomes.
• Prepare detailed project reports for senior management and stakeholders, summarizing progress, challenges, and recommendations.

What You Bring to the Role:

• Bachelor's Degree with an emphasis in, Business, Project Management or related field preferred OR a significant amount of directly related work experience beyond the minimum required for the position.
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience, including a mix of people leader, process and project management experience to include analysis, documentation and experience leading complex, large-scale projects/programs.
• Demonstrated superior people leadership, management, human relations and interpersonal skills necessary to directly lead and develop teams.
• Project management experience required preferably in the area of workspace, construction, etc.; or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Demonstrated experience in business processes such as planning, budgeting, staff management, and executing systems and procedures.
• Ability to prioritize work and handle multiple tasks simultaneously, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Superior written and verbal communication skills with ability to build rapport, negotiate and gain acceptance at all levels.
• Strong analytical skills and commitment to customer service excellence along with sound decision making skills and the ability to function in an immediate needs' work environment when appropriate.
• High degree of personal initiative and motivation.

Skills You Have

• Accountability: Advanced
• Business Influence: Advanced
• Cross Functional Partnering & Planning: Advanced
• Customer Service Mindset: Expert

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Compensation Range:

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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.

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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.