Director, Inclusive Culture- Strategic Partnerships & Programs

About the role

This leader ensures that Nationwide’s inclusive culture strategy is effectively operationalized and consistently delivered, bringing clarity, structure, and measurable impact to complex work.

Responsibilities

• Operationalize inclusive culture and partnership strategy established by the Senior AVP, ensuring consistent execution across the enterprise
• Integrate external partnerships with internal priorities across HR, Talent Acquisition, Marketing, ARGs, and Business Units
• Serve as the primary owner of execution plans, timelines, and delivery for strategic partnerships and inclusive programming
• Manage the day-to-day health, performance, and activation of assigned strategic partnerships
• Implement and maintain a structured partnership lifecycle (evaluation, activation, optimization, sunsetting)
• Ensure compliance with enterprise governance standards, contracts, and financial controls
• Escalate strategic, reputational, or investment decisions to the Senior AVP as appropriate
• Oversee planning and delivery of inclusive culture programming, events, sponsorships, awards, and experiential activations
• Ensure programming drives engagement, connection, and meaningful associate and leader participation
• Cook up executive involvement in key moments while maintaining operational ownership of delivery
• Own operational metrics, dashboards, and reporting related to partnerships, programming, and ROI
• Analyze performance data and trends to inform recommendations to senior leadership
• Support external survey submissions, recognition efforts, and benchmarking activities from an execution and data standpoint
• Lead, develop, and coach a team of consultants responsible for partnership execution and program delivery
• Set priorities, manage capacity, and ensure accountability and consistency across workstreams
• Manage budgets, forecasts, invoice approvals, and vendor relationships tied to partnerships and programs
• Represent Nationwide in external forums, events, and partner engagements aligned to execution and relationship management
• Partner with Marketing and Communications to amplify initiatives internally and externally
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners
• Identify tools, technologies, and best practices that improve scalability, efficiency, and impact
• Monitor industry and marketplace trends to continuously elevate the partnership and program model

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in human resources, multicultural or diversity studies, business, marketing, or a related field. Master’s degree strongly preferred
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience developing and delivering inclusion, culture, belonging, branding, or strategic partnership programs in a large, complex organization, preferably a Fortune 500 company
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives, managing external partnerships or sponsorships, and delivering large-scale programming and events is required
• Deep knowledge of inclusion and belonging principles, inclusive culture strategies, and enterprise programming that drive engagement, talent, and reputation outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while leading multiple, high-impact initiatives with clarity, focus, and alignment to strategy
• Strong capabilities in strategic planning, program and event design, execution, and evaluation, including the use of metrics, dashboards, and ROI analysis
• Proven ability to build and manage strategic partnerships, including governance, contract and vendor management, and resource optimization
• Excellent communication, storytelling, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with senior leaders, associates, and external partners
• Strong data analysis, insight generation, and consulting skills to translate complex information into clear recommendations and action plans
• Thorough understanding of federal and state employment laws and regulations; knowledge of the insurance and financial services industry preferred

Skills

• Interpreting and operationalizing strategy without needing fully defined direction
• Navigating competing priorities across stakeholders while maintaining forward momentum
• Bringing clarity and structure to ambiguous or evolving work
• Enabling executive-level outcomes while maintaining ownership of execution

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.