Head Of Operations Jobs in Illinois
Head Of Operations jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, with openings concentrated in logistics and supply chain, healthcare administration, manufacturing, and financial services, ranging from operations manager level through senior vice president of operations. Chicago, Peoria, and Rockford anchor most of the hiring activity, with established employers such as Caterpillar, United Airlines, and Advocate Health Care consistently seeking operations leadership across their Illinois footprints. Process improvement, multi-site operations oversight, and cross-functional team leadership are the specialties Illinois employers request most consistently. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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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.
Senior Vice President, Software Engineering
Head of Operations – NTAM Technology
Role Overview
The Head of Operations Technology is a strategic technology executive responsible for defining and executing the technology vision, transformation strategy, and delivery roadmap supporting Northern Trust Asset Management's Operations, Administration, Client Reporting, Regulatory, and Client Servicing capabilities.
This role operates at the intersection of business and technology, partnering with executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into scalable technology solutions, enterprise platforms, and measurable business outcomes. The position has accountability for technology strategy, portfolio execution, organizational leadership, modernization, AI adoption, operational resilience, and financial stewardship across a diverse global technology portfolio.
As a senior technology leader, this role builds and develops high-performing organizations, fosters innovation, and creates trusted partnerships across business, operations, architecture, data, risk, and technology teams to accelerate growth, improve efficiency, enhance client experience, and maintain regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Technology Leadership
Define and execute multi-year technology strategies, investment priorities, funding decisions, and capability roadmaps aligned with business growth, operational excellence, regulatory requirements, and client outcomes.
Lead the modernization and transformation of strategic business platforms supporting client onboarding, reporting, investment operations, regulatory reporting, revenue oversight, and managed account capabilities.
Drive modernization, automation, cloud adoption, SaaS platforms, AI, and modern engineering practices to improve scalability, resiliency, productivity, and client service.
Executive Leadership & Business Partnership
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business, operations, product, and technology leaders, influencing organizational strategy, technology direction, and measurable business outcomes.
Organizational & Talent Leadership
Lead global engineering, architecture, DevOps, quality, and software delivery teams.
Build high-performing leadership teams through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, diversity, and continuous learning.
Drive agile operating models that improve organizational effectiveness and business outcomes.
Portfolio & Delivery Leadership
Provide oversight for a complex portfolio of business-critical platforms, products, and transformation initiatives, ensuring governance, financial accountability, predictable delivery, and effective risk management.
Drive predictable delivery of strategic initiatives while balancing business priorities, vulnerability management, technical debt reduction, and operational stability.
Manage portfolio risk, dependencies, resource allocation, vendor relationships, and stakeholder expectations to deliver successful business outcomes.
AI, Data & Innovation Leadership
Champion AI, automation, analytics, and emerging technologies to improve productivity, decision-making, operational efficiency, client outcomes, and competitive differentiation.
Establish reusable AI capabilities, governance frameworks, engineering standards, and scalable adoption models across business functions.
Promote data as a strategic asset by advancing data quality, analytics, transparency, and self-service capabilities.
Architecture, Modernization & Engineering Excellence
Drive enterprise architecture alignment, build-versus-buy decisions, technology lifecycle management, platform simplification, vendor strategy, and reduction of technical debt.
Advance DevOps, automation, quality engineering, secure development practices, and modern delivery methodologies to improve engineering productivity and platform reliability.
Risk, Controls & Operational Excellence
Ensure compliance with audit, cybersecurity, risk, resiliency, governance, regulatory, architecture, and security standards across the technology portfolio.
Drive operational excellence and business value through platform modernization, automation, process optimization, and data-driven performance management.
Financial & Investment Management
Provide stewardship of technology investments, operating budgets, capital allocations, and outcome-based performance measures.
Evaluate investment opportunities and prioritize initiatives based on business value, risk reduction, scalability, operational efficiency, and client impact.
What Sets You Apart
Experience
15+ years of leadership in enterprise-scale technology organizations within asset management, investment banking, or related financial services.
7+ years of people leadership, including global management of managers.
Hands-on experience with the investment operations lifecycle: trade management, portfolio accounting, performance measurement, regulatory reporting, and client reporting.
Experience with two or more of the following platforms: Eagle, BlackRock Aladdin, Sylvan, State Street FundConnect, Kurtosys, Snowflake.
Proven track record of successfully leading digital strategy and transformation for a major organization.
Experience building green-field applications on cloud (Azure preferably) from the ground up using open architecture (React, Java microservices, workflow engines).
Experience engaging with senior executives, global regulators, audit, and risk committees.
Expertise
Deep knowledge of asset management across public and private markets.
Strong command of financial services regulatory landscapes and technology frameworks.
Experience scaling AI and advanced technologies within an investment business.
Strong understanding of the value of data, bringing it to life, and leveraging modern tools, platforms, AI, and cloud to deliver the best experience.
Leadership
Exceptional ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate at the executive level.
Proven success leading in complex, highly matrixed global organizations.
Strong people leader with a focus on talent development, culture, and organizational effectiveness.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience required.
MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Salary Range:
$205,700 - 360,100 USDSalary 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.
Work Authorization
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 (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).
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 MyHRHelp@ntrs.com, or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.
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.
Senior Vice President, Software Engineering
Head of Operations – NTAM Technology
Role Overview
The Head of Operations Technology is a strategic technology executive responsible for defining and executing the technology vision, transformation strategy, and delivery roadmap supporting Northern Trust Asset Management's Operations, Administration, Client Reporting, Regulatory, and Client Servicing capabilities.
This role operates at the intersection of business and technology, partnering with executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into scalable technology solutions, enterprise platforms, and measurable business outcomes. The position has accountability for technology strategy, portfolio execution, organizational leadership, modernization, AI adoption, operational resilience, and financial stewardship across a diverse global technology portfolio.
As a senior technology leader, this role builds and develops high-performing organizations, fosters innovation, and creates trusted partnerships across business, operations, architecture, data, risk, and technology teams to accelerate growth, improve efficiency, enhance client experience, and maintain regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Technology Leadership
Define and execute multi-year technology strategies, investment priorities, funding decisions, and capability roadmaps aligned with business growth, operational excellence, regulatory requirements, and client outcomes.
Lead the modernization and transformation of strategic business platforms supporting client onboarding, reporting, investment operations, regulatory reporting, revenue oversight, and managed account capabilities.
Drive modernization, automation, cloud adoption, SaaS platforms, AI, and modern engineering practices to improve scalability, resiliency, productivity, and client service.
Executive Leadership & Business Partnership
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business, operations, product, and technology leaders, influencing organizational strategy, technology direction, and measurable business outcomes.
Organizational & Talent Leadership
Lead global engineering, architecture, DevOps, quality, and software delivery teams.
Build high-performing leadership teams through coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and talent development.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, collaboration, diversity, and continuous learning.
Drive agile operating models that improve organizational effectiveness and business outcomes.
Portfolio & Delivery Leadership
Provide oversight for a complex portfolio of business-critical platforms, products, and transformation initiatives, ensuring governance, financial accountability, predictable delivery, and effective risk management.
Drive predictable delivery of strategic initiatives while balancing business priorities, vulnerability management, technical debt reduction, and operational stability.
Manage portfolio risk, dependencies, resource allocation, vendor relationships, and stakeholder expectations to deliver successful business outcomes.
AI, Data & Innovation Leadership
Champion AI, automation, analytics, and emerging technologies to improve productivity, decision-making, operational efficiency, client outcomes, and competitive differentiation.
Establish reusable AI capabilities, governance frameworks, engineering standards, and scalable adoption models across business functions.
Promote data as a strategic asset by advancing data quality, analytics, transparency, and self-service capabilities.
Architecture, Modernization & Engineering Excellence
Drive enterprise architecture alignment, build-versus-buy decisions, technology lifecycle management, platform simplification, vendor strategy, and reduction of technical debt.
Advance DevOps, automation, quality engineering, secure development practices, and modern delivery methodologies to improve engineering productivity and platform reliability.
Risk, Controls & Operational Excellence
Ensure compliance with audit, cybersecurity, risk, resiliency, governance, regulatory, architecture, and security standards across the technology portfolio.
Drive operational excellence and business value through platform modernization, automation, process optimization, and data-driven performance management.
Financial & Investment Management
Provide stewardship of technology investments, operating budgets, capital allocations, and outcome-based performance measures.
Evaluate investment opportunities and prioritize initiatives based on business value, risk reduction, scalability, operational efficiency, and client impact.
What Sets You Apart
Experience
15+ years of leadership in enterprise-scale technology organizations within asset management, investment banking, or related financial services.
7+ years of people leadership, including global management of managers.
Hands-on experience with the investment operations lifecycle: trade management, portfolio accounting, performance measurement, regulatory reporting, and client reporting.
Experience with two or more of the following platforms: Eagle, BlackRock Aladdin, Sylvan, State Street FundConnect, Kurtosys, Snowflake.
Proven track record of successfully leading digital strategy and transformation for a major organization.
Experience building green-field applications on cloud (Azure preferably) from the ground up using open architecture (React, Java microservices, workflow engines).
Experience engaging with senior executives, global regulators, audit, and risk committees.
Expertise
Deep knowledge of asset management across public and private markets.
Strong command of financial services regulatory landscapes and technology frameworks.
Experience scaling AI and advanced technologies within an investment business.
Strong understanding of the value of data, bringing it to life, and leveraging modern tools, platforms, AI, and cloud to deliver the best experience.
Leadership
Exceptional ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate at the executive level.
Proven success leading in complex, highly matrixed global organizations.
Strong people leader with a focus on talent development, culture, and organizational effectiveness.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience required.
MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Salary Range:
$205,700 - 360,100 USDSalary 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.
Work Authorization
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 (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).
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 MyHRHelp@ntrs.com, or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.
See All 12 Head Of Operations Jobs in Illinois
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Find Head Of Operations JobsHead Of Operations Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Of Operations Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Investment & Asset Management
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of operations jobs across Illinois.
- Bachelor's degree in business administration, operations management, or a related field required
- Five or more years of progressive operations leadership experience in an Illinois industry
- Demonstrated experience managing large teams across multiple Illinois facilities or departments
- Proficiency with ERP platforms such as SAP or Oracle used widely by Illinois manufacturers
- Strong background in process improvement methodologies including Lean or Six Sigma
- Experience with Illinois regulatory compliance requirements relevant to the employer's industry
Head Of Operations Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head of operations in Illinois?
Most Illinois employers expect a bachelor's degree in business, operations management, supply chain, or a related field, with an MBA providing a meaningful competitive edge at senior levels. The role carries no state-issued license in Illinois, so the path is built through progressive experience: starting in operations coordinator or analyst roles at Illinois companies, taking on supervisory responsibility, and earning certifications such as APICS CSCP or a Lean Six Sigma credential that Illinois manufacturers and logistics firms consistently value.
How much do head of operationses make in Illinois?
Head of operationses in Illinois earn a median of about $103,570 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $53,240 for the lowest 10% to over $269,320 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire head of operationss in Illinois?
Employers hiring head of operationss in Illinois right now include Advyzon, Northern Trust, and DRW, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, large healthcare networks, and major logistics hubs means demand for operations leadership stays active across both corporate and multi-site environments.
Which Illinois cities have the most head of operations jobs?
The cities with the most head of operations openings in Illinois are Chicago, Waukegan, and Des Plaines. Chicago dominates because it is home to a large share of Illinois's corporate headquarters, major hospital systems, and logistics infrastructure, while Peoria and Rockford draw openings from heavy manufacturing and industrial employers, particularly in the equipment and aerospace supply chain sectors, that maintain significant operations workforces outside the metro.
Are there remote head of operations jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely desk-based fields, since the role typically requires on-site presence to oversee facilities, teams, and workflows. About 50% of head of operations openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those arrangements tend to apply most to corporate or multi-site roles where strategic planning and reporting are the primary duties rather than direct floor or facility management.
How can I get hired as a head of operations in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an operations coordinator or operations analyst role at a mid-size Illinois employer, where you gain direct exposure to scheduling, vendor management, and process documentation. Large Illinois employers such as Advocate Health Care, Caterpillar, and United Airlines run rotational or associate operations programs that accept candidates with limited experience. Earning an APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional credential or completing a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt course strengthens an application meaningfully and signals readiness for the operational rigor Illinois hiring managers expect.
Where can I find and apply to head of operations jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to head of operations jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across industries and experience levels. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 12 Head Of Operations Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Of Operations Jobs