Assistant Director, Media & Public Relations

About the Job

2025 was another historic year here at Northwestern Mutual - one that further showcased our company's exceptional business performance, financial strength, client loyalty, employee engagement, and brand relevance. For instance:

• The company's revenue exceeded $40 billion, an all-time high.

• Our total life insurance protection in force reached nearly $2.5 trillion, a Northwestern Mutual record.

• We remained one of America's strongest companies, earning elite financial soundness designations from every major rating agency - a class that includes Apple and Microsoft.

• We announced an expected annual dividend payout of $9.2 billion - more than ever before - to our policyowners.

The future is bright at Northwestern Mutual, and to help accelerate our momentum we continue to deepen our commitment to supporting key areas of the enterprise. That includes our external communications group.

Reporting into the Senior Director of Media & Public Relations, this role will serve as the external communications lead for key business lines and company leaders, helping to advance company priorities and objectives. Chiefly, the Assistant Director will:

What You'll Do

• Lead highly effective and innovative PR initiatives that proactively spotlight Northwestern Mutual's suite of insurance offerings.

• Consistently pursue influential accolades, awards, and profile opportunities for the company's insurance business, while actively monitoring for related ratings and rankings.

• Strategically merchandise positive news coverage and third-party recognition of Northwestern Mutual's leadership within the insurance industry.

• Work closely with senior leaders, providing counsel, supporting media interviews, and crafting compelling messages that expand their thought leadership profiles and the company's relevance.

• Have the flexibility and adaptability to take on additional PR responsibilities in support of other priority workstreams and enterprise functions.

• Effectively team with existing agency partners, providing strategic guidance and budgetary oversight while ensuring that all deliverables are met and work is executed with the highest degree of quality and impact.

What You'll Bring to the Role

• Bring a team mentality, strong work ethic, positive attitude, and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

• Possess elite writing skills that can be applied to and adapted for multiple audiences and channels.

• Understand the company's products, services, structure, and unique value proposition.

• Demonstrate an ability to collaborate and build strong relationships with internal partners in order to achieve business and communications goals.

• Enjoy working across all levels of the organization, including executive leaders.

• Have experience managing budgets and associated deadlines.

• Possess a bachelor's degree in PR, Mass Communications, Journalism, or a closely related field.

• Have a minimum of 10 years of experience as a PR practitioner or communications strategist.

Skills You Have

Attention to Detail: Focuses on specific details to spot and correct errors in advance of them being found and surpass quality expectations. Performs work with thorough proofreading for presentation, content, accuracy, and overall quality.

Executive Presence: Builds and maintains an authentic personal brand, inspiring and motivating people to pursue a desired outcome by sharing a clear vision and demonstrating confidence, professionalism, self-awareness and trust with business stakeholders.

Media Writing: Crafts and edits compelling and newsworthy stories, including press releases and social media posts, to effectively disseminate messages and tell stories that engage target audiences. Communicates effectively with external audiences and media partners using persuasive language to ensure clarity and conciseness in all forms of written communication.

Public Relations: Applies knowledge of organizational practices and considerations for communicating in the public arena, from community to global public relations (PR). Cultivates and maintains professional relationships with key media contacts and effectively leverages those relationships to achieve strategic communication goals through press releases, social media, and appropriate business information sharing.

Writing & Editing: Creates and edits persuasive content so that it is appealing, understandable, or relatable to the intended audience; Has knowledge of the variety of formats, styles, and techniques for developing and reviewing materials.

#LI-Hybrid

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - Start:

Pay Range - End:

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 who welcomes and encourages diversity in the workforce. 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.

Thought Leadership (NM) - Advanced, Strategic Thinking (NM) - Advanced, Cross Functional Partnering & Planning (NM) - Advanced, Writing & Editing (NM) - Expert, Media Writing (NM) - Expert, Project Management (NM) - Expert, Strategic Vision & Planning (NM) - Advanced, Interpersonal Savvy (NM) - Expert, Talent Development & Planning (NM) - Advanced, Incident, Problem, & Knowledge Management (NM) - Advanced, Executive Presence (NM) - Advanced, Content Management (NM) - Expert, Financial Services Industry Acumen (NM) - Intermediate, Business Influence (NM) - Advanced, Decision Making (NM) - Advanced, Public Relations (NM) - Expert, Accountability (NM) - Expert, Attention to Detail (NM) - Expert, Research Communication (NM) - Expert

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