Lead – IAM Governance

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

The Lead, IAM Automation Governance & Strategy, is responsible for establishing and overseeing the governance framework, risk management practices, strategic direction, and operating model for automation, Digital Coworkers, and AI-enabled capabilities across the Identity & Access Management (IAM) organization. This role serves as the primary liaison between IAM Product & Strategy, Engineering, Cyber Security, Risk, Compliance, Audit, and Business stakeholders to ensure automation solutions are implemented in a controlled, compliant, secure, and business-aligned manner.

The successful candidate will drive governance standards, policies, decision frameworks, and oversight processes for IAM automation initiatives while supporting the adoption of Digital Coworker capabilities and emerging technologies. This role focuses on ensuring automation solutions deliver measurable business value, reduce operational risk, satisfy regulatory expectations, and align with the organization's broader IAM strategy and control environment.

Key Responsibilities

Automation Governance & Oversight

• Establish and maintain governance frameworks for IAM automation, Digital Coworkers, and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Define standards, control requirements, and approval processes for automation solutions operating within IAM.
• Oversee automation inventories, lifecycle management, ownership assignments, and control compliance activities.
• Review and assess automation initiatives to ensure alignment with security, risk, architecture, and regulatory requirements.
• Govern exception management, risk acceptance processes, and control remediation activities related to automation capabilities.

Strategy & Operating Model

• Define and evolve the IAM Automation and Digital Coworker governance strategy and roadmap.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Risk teams to establish priorities and investment recommendations.
• Develop decision-making frameworks that guide automation adoption across IAM services and processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve scalability, consistency, control effectiveness, and operational efficiency through governed automation.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide strategic recommendations regarding adoption, risk, and business applicability.

Risk, Compliance & Regulatory Engagement

• Ensure automation initiatives align with enterprise policies, cybersecurity standards, and regulatory obligations.
• Coordinate control assessments, audit responses, and regulatory examinations related to IAM automation capabilities.
• Establish governance reporting for automation risks, control effectiveness, and compliance adherence.
• Monitor emerging regulatory expectations involving AI, Digital Coworkers, privileged automation, and non-human identities.
• Partner with Risk and Compliance organizations to ensure appropriate oversight of automation-enabled processes.

Metrics, Reporting & Governance Analytics

• Develop governance dashboards and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) for automation and Digital Coworker initiatives.
• Establish performance measures that evaluate automation effectiveness, control coverage, operational resilience, and business value realization.
• Monitor automation adoption, exception trends, policy adherence, and operational outcomes.
• Present governance updates, strategic recommendations, and risk assessments to senior leadership and governance committees.
• Produce executive-level reporting supporting investment decisions and maturity assessments.

Policy, Standards & Documentation

• Develop and maintain automation governance policies, standards, procedures, and operating guidelines.
• Define documentation requirements, control evidence expectations, and governance review criteria.
• Ensure governance artifacts remain aligned with evolving technology capabilities and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain frameworks supporting the responsible use of Digital Coworkers, AI-enabled automation, and emerging IAM technologies.
• Promote consistent governance practices and accountability across all IAM functions.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the IAM governance lead for automation, Digital Coworker, and AI-enabled identity initiatives.
• Provide governance guidance to product managers, engineers, architects, and operational teams.
• Facilitate governance forums, steering committees, and decision review boards.
• Build strong partnerships across IAM, Cyber Security, Enterprise Architecture, Risk, Compliance, Legal, and Internal Audit.
• Advocate for governance best practices that balance innovation, operational efficiency, and risk management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Cyber Security, Information Technology, Business Administration, Risk Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in Identity & Access Management, Cyber Security Governance, Risk Management, Compliance, Technology Strategy, or related disciplines.
• Experience developing governance frameworks, policies, standards, and operating models for cybersecurity or technology programs.
• Strong understanding of IAM domains, including Identity Governance, Access Management, Privileged Access Management, and Identity Lifecycle Management.
• Familiarity with automation platforms such as Tines and AI-enabled workflow technologies.
• Experience supporting audits, regulatory examinations, risk assessments, and control compliance activities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technology and risk concepts to senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and decision-making skills.
• Experience working across multiple technology, security, risk, and business functions.
• Excellent written, presentation, and executive communication skills.

Work Authorization

Applicants must have the right to work in Ireland at the time of application and for the duration of employment.

Please note that Northern Trust is unable to provide employment permit sponsorship for this role. This includes Critical Skills Employment Permits, General Employment Permits, Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permits, Stamp 1G permissions, and other employment permits under Irish immigration frameworks.

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.