About Northern Trust:

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.

Role Summary

The Director of Consultant Relations, West Coast is responsible for developing, managing, and expanding strategic relationships with institutional investment consultants across the Western United States. This role represents the firm’s full suite of investment capabilities—including traditional and alternative strategies—and partners closely with internal sales, investment, and client service teams to drive consultant engagement, ratings, and adoption.

The role must be based on the West Coast and requires significant experience in institutional distribution and consultant relations.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Own and manage senior‑level relationships with a defined group of institutional investment consultants, including Tier 1–4 consulting firms across the West Coast.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for consultant research, due diligence, and ongoing relationship management.

• Collaborate closely with national and global Consultant Relations colleagues to deliver consistent coverage and messaging across consulting organizations.

• Effectively position the firm’s investment capabilities to obtain and maintain favorable consultant ratings and expand product adoption with shared and prospective clients.

• Identify new consultant opportunities by researching consultant priorities, coverage models, and evolving client needs; develop targeted engagement strategies.

• Partner with field sales teams and senior relationship managers to advance the firm’s presence and influence with consultants and their institutional clients.

• Lead and execute consultant‑driven requests for proposal (RFPs), due diligence questionnaires (DDQs), and fee proposals in coordination with internal partners.

• Coordinate with investment teams, product specialists, portfolio managers, and client service partners to ensure consultant and client needs are met.

• Maintain a high level of investment knowledge by engaging regularly with internal investment teams and staying current on industry trends, regulations, and competitive dynamics.

• Monitor and assess competitor offerings, consultant perceptions, and market positioning to inform strategy and messaging.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Investment Acumen: Deep understanding of institutional investment strategies across both traditional and alternative asset classes, including but not limited to:

  • Active and passive equities

  • Active and passive fixed income

  • Multi‑asset and outcome‑oriented solutions

  • Private equity, private credit, hedge funds, and other alternative strategies

  • Ability to discuss portfolio construction, risk/return tradeoffs, and consultant evaluation frameworks with sophistication and credibility.

• Consultant Relations Expertise: Strong knowledge of consultant research processes, rating methodologies, and coverage models.

• Communication & Influence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex investment concepts to sophisticated institutional consultants. Proven ability to differentiate offerings in a competitive marketplace.

• Strategic Mindset: Ability to prioritize opportunities, anticipate consultant needs, and align internal resources to drive long‑term relationship value.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work cross‑functionally with sales, investments, product, and client service teams.

Necessary Experience and Education

• 8+ years of institutional distribution experience, with direct consultant relations experience required.

• Demonstrated experience distributing both traditional and alternative investment strategies to institutional consultants.

• Strong track record of managing senior consultant relationships and supporting consultant research and due diligence processes.

• Series 7 and Series 63 licenses preferred.

• CFA designation and/or MBA strongly preferred.

• Bachelor’s degree required.

Salary Range:

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 (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Working with Us:

As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.

Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.

We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater

Reasonable accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at MyHRHelp@ntrs.com.

We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.

Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.