ITSM Change and Release Management Automation/Optimization Leader

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.

What You’ll Do 

Northern Trust is seeking an experienced ITSM Change and Release Management Automation/Optimization Leader, to transform and optimize change and release management processes across the enterprise. This role will lead the automation of ITIL Change Management, Release Management, and Patching processes globally, leveraging AI and modern deployment practices to enhance efficiency, resiliency, and quality.

Who You Are 

You are a seasoned leader in ITSM with deep expertise in change and release management automation. You have a proven track record of driving transformation in complex, mission-critical environments. You are adept at balancing stability and speed-to-market, and have experience with diverse platforms including on-premises and cloud infrastructure. You are passionate about mentoring teams, fostering innovation, and delivering measurable improvements through AI and automation. You possess excellent communication skills and can influence outcomes across global teams. 

Key Responsibilities 

- Lead global transformation of Change and Release Management functions, focusing on automation, AI adoption, and process optimization. 

- Drive automation of change execution workflows using AI, RPA, and modern deployment tools to reduce risk and improve quality. 

- Drive optimization of the global Release Management function, standardizing processes and leveraging tools for consistent, repeatable delivery using automation. 

- Implement a global Patch Management capability, coordinating across technology towers and service providers. 

- Optimize change calendar governance capabilities to enable a data driven, risk reducing view of high-risk events. 

- Deliver process and platform optimizations to address change failure root causes, driving continuous improvement through automation. 

- Collaborate with IT teams to adopt modern deployment practices and integrate AI-driven insights into change planning. 

- Develop and monitor KPIs, dashboards, and automated reporting to track performance, compliance, and business value. 

- Facilitate workshops and governance forums to promote adoption of automation and resolve conflicts. 

- Ensure compliance with ITIL, COBIT, ISO/IEC20000, and relevant regulatory frameworks. 

Qualifications 

- 10+ years of experience in IT Service Management within Banking/Financial institutions. 

- Expertise in automation, AI/ML, and digital transformation in ITSM environments. 

- Strong knowledge of ITIL, COBIT, and regulatory compliance. 

- Experience with modern infrastructure technologies and cloud-based solutions. 

- Proven ability to lead global teams and influence outcomes without direct authority. 

- Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management ski