Summary

We are seeking a skilled Program Manager to join a newly established, dedicated, pod-based team responsible for designing and executing pre-market experiments to evaluate new insurance products and go-to-market concepts. This role sits at the intersection of business strategy, product design, and experimentation, driving rapid testing to assess viability, desirability, and feasibility before full-scale investment.

The Program Manager is responsible for the end-to-end experimentation program—from idea intake through execution, readout, and decision support. This role partners closely with Actuarial, UX designers, and business SMEs to translate ambiguous concepts into structured experiments and actionable insights.

Success in this role requires strong insurance domain expertise, high business credibility, and the ability to operate with urgency, challenge assumptions, and drive work forward in a fast-paced, iterative environment.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Drive the experimentation pod(s): Program Manage cross-functional pods (actuarial, UX, SMEs) to intake, scope, design, and execute experiments that test new insurance product ideas and capabilities.

• Translate ideas into structured experiments: Convert early-stage, often ambiguous concepts into clear hypotheses, test designs, and measurable outcomes across: Customer desirability, Advisor/field adoption, Financial viability, Operational/technical feasibility

• Push pace and decision-making: Drive momentum across experiments—ensuring rapid design, execution, and learning cycles. Hold the team and stakeholders accountable to timelines, decisions, and outcomes.

• Act as a bridge to the business: Leverage deep insurance knowledge to build credibility with product, actuarial, distribution, and leadership stakeholders. Ensure experiments are grounded in real-world constraints and opportunities.

• Challenge thinking and shape better solutions: Bring a point of view. Ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and elevate the quality of both the problem framing and potential solutions.

• Synthesize insights and inform decisions: Translate experiment results into clear, actionable insights and recommendations for leadership—highlighting trade-offs, risks, and next steps (e.g., scale, iterate, or stop).

• Drive alignment across stakeholders: Align leaders and SMEs on experiment priorities, design, and interpretation of results. Ensure clarity on what is being tested, why it matters, and how outcomes will be used.

• Manage scope, risk, and outcomes (not just process): Focus on delivering business impact—not just project mechanics. Adjust scope and approach dynamically based on learnings and constraints.

• Establish and evolve experimentation practices: Build repeatable approaches, tools, and best practices for running effective pre-market tests within the insurance context.

Qualifications

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in program management, product development, or strategy roles

• Highly desired: Strong experience in insurance (product, actuarial, distribution, or related functions) with demonstrated credibility across business stakeholders

• Experience leading cross-functional efforts in ambiguous, early-stage environments (e.g., innovation, product incubation, or transformation work)

• Proven ability to take concepts from idea through testing and decision

Core Capabilities

• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect experimentation work to real business outcomes

• Ability to operate with speed and urgency while maintaining rigor in thinking and execution

• Comfortable with ambiguity; able to structure problems and create clarity

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, including senior leadership

• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; able to challenge constructively

• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, executive-ready insights and recommendations

Leadership & Style

• Self-starter who actively drives work forward without waiting for direction

• Willingness to challenge the status quo and push for better, faster outcomes

• Collaborative but decisive—ensures alignment without slowing progress

• High degree of ownership and accountability for results

What Success Looks Like (6–12 Months)

• Established a high-functioning experimentation capability

• Delivered multiple end-to-end experiments with clear outcomes and leadership decisions

• Built credibility with key business stakeholders (actuarial, product, distribution)

• Helped the business avoid low-value investments and accelerate high-potential ideas

• Defined a repeatable model for pre-market testing of insurance product concepts

Compensation Range:

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Geographic Specific Pay Structure:

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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.

Skills

KPIs & Metrics (NM) - Expert, Risk Management (NM) - Expert, Business Acumen (NM) - Expert, Program Management (NM) - Expert, Program Governance (NM) - Expert, Customer Centricity (NM) - Expert, Accountability (NM) - Advanced, Prioritization (NM) - Expert, Change Adaptability (NM) - Expert, Emotional Intelligence (NM) - Expert, Analytical Thinking (NM) - Expert, Process Mindset (NM) - Expert, Business Influence (NM) - Advanced, Stakeholder Relationship (NM) - Expert, Adaptive Communication (NM) - Expert, Consulting (NM) - Expert

FIND YOUR FUTURE

We’re excited about the potential people bring to Northwestern Mutual. You can grow your career here while enjoying first-class perks, benefits, and our commitment to a culture of belonging.

• Flexible work schedules
• Concierge service
• Comprehensive benefits
• Employee resource groups