Operations & Tools Specialist

About the Job At Northwestern Mutual, we want to be at the center of our clients’ financial lives. The Sophisticated Planning Strategies (SPS) Team partners with top firms to deliver best-in-class wealth planning services to high-net-worth clients. This role sits at the intersection of operations and systems, supporting how our services are delivered today while helping improve the tools, processes, and reporting that enable us to scale. You’ll work on both core operational processes, projects, and supporting systems, making this role ideal for someone who enjoys structured, detail‑oriented work and is also motivated to solve problems and improve how things work. What You’ll Do Support Tools, Reporting, and Systems Partner with senior team members to build and enhance tools, dashboards, and reporting used to manage SPS operations Apply hands-on development experience in Power BI and Power Query to design, build, and optimize data models, dashboards, and automated reporting solutions that drive business decisions Lead system configuration efforts, ensuring tools are aligned with evolving business needs and operational priorities Perform data validation, reporting updates, and system support activities Contribute to automation and system enhancements that improve efficiency and user experience Support third-party integrations and SharePoint-based solutions as part of broader tools and systems ecosystem Own and Improve Operations Execute and own complex operational processes that enable SPS services, including new offerings such as tax preparation and family office services Help develop and refine processes as services evolve, ensuring consistency, quality, and scalability Identify issues or inefficiencies and take initiative to recommend and implement improvements Lead and Contribute to Projects Lead or support projects and initiatives that improve how work gets done across SPS Coordinate with stakeholders to gather input, track progress, and ensure timely execution Support changes impacting the field, including communication and implementation activities Collaborate and Build Capability Work closely with cross‑functional partners across operations, technology, and the field Share knowledge, document processes, and help build team understanding and backup coverage Grow into increased ownership of processes, tools, or workstreams over time What You’ll Bring to the Role Experience 2–5 years of experience in operations, information systems, or a related field Experience developing in Power BI or Power Query, including building scalable dashboards and automated reporting solutions Experience executing and owning repeatable operational processes with strong attention to accuracy and detail Exposure to tools, workflows, reporting, or data‑supported operations Experience managing multiple priorities in a deadline‑driven environment Exposure to system integrations or data flows Education Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience Skills You Have Analytical Thinking: Organizes and compares various aspects of a situation to comprehend and identify key or underlying complex issues through the use of quantitative data and analysis; leverages strong business acumen, problem solving, and interpersonal skills to think critically about situations from multiple perspectives and consistently seeks ways to improve processes. Continuous Improvement: Utilizes available methods to identify opportunities, executes solutions and measures impact to improve existing practices and processes. Implements feedback and lessons learned. Leverages the ability to identify and experiment assumptions and hypothesis for products to be able to refine and improve them at any stage of the life cycle. Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people inside and outside of the organization. Builds appropriate rapport, constructive and effective relationships. Uses diplomacy and tact and diffuses high-tension situations comfortably. Learning Agility & Critical Thinking: Pursues learning and obtains knowledge continuously in relevant fields, methods, or technologies in current and future practices; continuously utilizes critical thinking to identify opportunities, execute solutions, and measure impact to constantly improve existing practices and processes based on feedback, lessons learned, and market trends. Project Management: Delivers projects in alignment to business requirements, specific success criteria, and stakeholder expectations. Plans, manages, and completes projects keeping cost and time considerations in mind. #LI-Hybrid Compensation Range: Pay Range - Start: $70,320.00 Pay Range - End: $105,480.00 Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: Structure 115: 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. At Northwestern Mutual, we believe relationships are built on trust. That our lives and our work matter. These beliefs launched our company over 160 years ago. Today, they're just a few of the reasons why people choose to build careers at Northwestern Mutual. What started in Milwaukee, WI has grown into 7,000+ home office professionals split across 3 campuses: New York City, Franklin and downtown Milwaukee (HQ) - each one bringing with it its own unique talent and culture. In a company with such a long and storied history, this may be the most exciting and important time to be a part of Northwestern Mutual as we are growing our digital and tech capabilities and are always on the lookout for bright, tech-savvy candidates. 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.