Sr Dir External Sales Consulting

Summary:
The Senior Director of In-field Sales Consulting is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing the national team of Infield Sales Consultants. Reporting directly to the Vice President of National Sales, this position collaborates closely with the Senior Director of Internal Sales Consulting to ensure cohesive and strategic sales initiatives across the organization. This role utilizes a deep understanding of risk products, exceptional leadership skills, and proven track record in driving sales growth through innovative strategies and effective team management. This role requires a strategic thinker who can navigate complex sales environments and foster strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversee and lead the national team of In-Field Sales Consultants, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

• Set strategic direction and performance goals for the team, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.

• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities to team members, enhancing their consultative selling skills and product knowledge.

• Lead by example through proactive field engagement, demonstrating advanced consultative selling techniques and executing sales tactics that drive advisor growth and product placement.

• Act as a strategic partner to in-field sales consultants/external wholesalers, jointly managing complex advisor relationships to maximize impact across territories.

• Develop and implement sales strategies that align with national goals, focusing on growth in premium, new clients, and product adoption. A key conduit in the feedback loop between Sales Consultants and the Sales Growth & Operations team, this role will enable national implementation of sales strategies through their team of Sales Consultants.

• Analyze performance metrics, territory trends, and advisor engagement to identify growth opportunities and optimize sales activity.

• Oversee the onboarding and continuing training of development of Sales Consultants. Deliver high-impact training sessions and field consultations, showcasing expert-level product knowledge and proposal execution.

• Facilitate onboarding and continuous learning initiatives for new and existing Sales Consultants, sharing best practices and innovative strategies.

• Cultivate deep, influential relationships with advisors and field leadership, positioning the team as trusted business partners in planning and product conversations.

• Maintain an expert understanding of risk products, the competitive landscape, and market dynamics to anticipate advisor challenges and proactively offer solutions.

• Stay informed about industry trends, competitor activities, and market changes to ensure the team's strategies remain relevant and effective.

• Provide insights and recommendations to senior leadership based on market analysis and field feedback.

• Travel: 25-50% of time

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, marketing, or related field desired.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a consultative environment ideally with knowledge of staffing, training and development, project management and benchmarking. Experience leading in a sales environment strongly preferred. Experience in a wholesaler environment and/or strong knowledge of NM's distribution system is preferred.

• FINRA Series 6 or 7 or can be obtained within 6 months of hire.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and conduct team planning with organizational thought process.

• Ability to anticipate sales trends and provide forward looking vision for approaches to enhance sales effectiveness.

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead and drive sales team motivation.

• Demonstrated strong ability to integrate teams from various functions. Creative in solving problems through relationship building techniques and new practice definition that impacts the business process.

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead and execute complex projects with cross-departmental impact.

• Results-driven focus with ability to use data intelligence to influence decisions and refine strategies.

• Exceptional influencing and relationship skills. Capable of building and sustaining excellent relationships at multiple levels in the organization and/or field to understand business needs and strategically accomplish goals.

Compensation Range:

Pay Range - End:

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 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.

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