Senior Writer, Enterprise Storytelling

Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889. Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world's most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world's most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

This role serves as the organization's chief storyteller — responsible for shaping and elevating how the firm communicates its story internally and externally. It leads the development of clear, compelling, and cohesive narratives that connect strategy, culture, leadership, and impact. Acting as a senior individual contributor within Communications & Content Strategy, this role translates complex business priorities into human-centered storytelling that resonates with diverse audiences, including partners, clients, media, investors, and industry stakeholders.

This is an individual contributor role, reporting directly to the head of corporate communications. It will partner closely with senior leaders and communications teams to define and deliver enterprise-wide messaging and editorial direction, ensuring consistency of voice, clarity of message, and differentiation of the organization's narrative across channels and platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as the lead storyteller and editorial strategist for the organization, shaping a clear, consistent enterprise narrative across internal and external communications.
• Translates complex business, industry, and organizational topics into clear, compelling, and accessible messaging for a broad range of audiences.
• Develops high-impact content supporting executive communications, enterprise initiatives, thought leadership, brand positioning, and strategic announcements.
• Establishes and evolves editorial standards, including tone, voice, and storytelling frameworks, to drive consistency and quality across the organization.
• Ensures alignment of messaging across functions, business units, and geographies to support a cohesive and differentiated organizational narrative.
• Identifies opportunities to connect stories across channels and audiences, strengthening narrative continuity and engagement.
• Partners closely with senior leaders, communications teams, and subject matter experts to shape messaging, positioning, and storytelling approach.
• Elevates the quality and impact of communications by ensuring content is clear, consistent, and audience-focused.
• Provides editorial guidance and coaching to communicators across the enterprise to strengthen storytelling capabilities.
• Maintains awareness of industry trends, business priorities, and audience expectations to inform messaging and ensure relevance.

Skills/Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in communications, journalism, content strategy, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing enterprise-level messaging and executive communications.
• Proven ability to translate complex business and industry topics into clear, engaging, and impactful content.
• Experience working closely with senior executives and cross-functional partners.
• Deep expertise in writing, editing, and narrative development.
• Strong editorial judgment, with a clear point of view on voice, tone, and brand positioning.
• Proven capability to develop engaging content across formats, including executive messaging, articles, scripts, and thought leadership.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence and advise senior leaders on messaging and positioning.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed organization, building alignment across stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, or related field preferred.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity.

Compensation

Salary Range: $114,700 - $194,900 USD. Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits, paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits, plus a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.