Director, Inclusive Culture- Strategic Partnerships & Programs

If you’re passionate about becoming a Nationwide associate and believe you have the potential to be something great, let’s talk. At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Success in this role is defined by the ability to translate strategy into disciplined execution at scale within a highly cross‑functional and visible environment. This leader ensures that Nationwide’s inclusive culture strategy is effectively operationalized and consistently delivered, bringing clarity, structure, and measurable impact to complex work.

Key Indicators of Success

• Strong execution and delivery of strategic partnerships and enterprise programming aligned to business priorities
• Effective integration across stakeholders (HR, Talent Acquisition, Marketing, ARGs, and business units) to drive alignment and reduce fragmentation
• Disciplined partnership management, with clear governance, lifecycle management, and performance focus
• Operational rigor, including planning, budgeting, and risk management
• Clear measurement of impact, using data and insights to inform decisions and strengthen outcomes
• Development of a high-performing team, with clear priorities and accountability

What Makes Someone Effective

Successful candidates bring strong execution discipline, sound judgment, and the ability to lead through complexity, including:

• 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

Inclusive Leadership Expectations: Success in this role requires a demonstrated ability to lead inclusively in practice.

This leader:

• Seeks and values diverse perspectives, especially when they challenge initial thinking
• Demonstrates intellectual humility, adjusting views based on new information and context
• Leads with curiosity, empathy, and respect, fostering productive dialogue and trust
• Builds alignment across differences while maintaining focus on outcomes

Best Fit for This Role - This role is well suited for individuals who:

• Thrive in complex, fast-paced environments
• Enjoy building structure and operational rhythm behind high-impact work
• Are energized by connecting people, priorities, and processes
• Take pride in execution excellence and accountability

Important to Know: This is a delivery-focused leadership role. It is not the primary owner of enterprise strategy, but is critical in ensuring that strategy is executed effectively, consistently, and at scale.

This is a hybrid role based in Columbus, Ohio, requiring 3 days per week in office and 40% travel. We welcome candidates who are local to the area or willing to relocate to Columbus. ​

Job Description Summary

Would you like to work for a company that puts the customer at the center of everything we do? If so, Nationwide is an outstanding workplace where you will engage with the brightest and most passionate individuals in the business.

As Director, Inclusive Culture – Strategic Partnerships & Programs, you are responsible for integrating, executing, and scaling Nationwide’s inclusive culture strategy through external partnerships and enterprise programming. This role translates enterprise direction set by the Senior AVP, Inclusive Culture into operational plans, governance, and measurable outcomes. The Director acts as a people leader, enterprise integrator, and external facing execution leader, ensuring that partnerships, programming, and recognition efforts are aligned to business priorities, deliver return on investment, and reinforce Nationwide’s reputation as an inclusive employer of choice.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Integration & Execution

• 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

Partnership Management & Governance

• 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

Inclusive Programming & Activation

• 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

• Coordinate executive involvement in key moments while maintaining operational ownership of delivery

Measurement, Insights & Reporting

• 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

Team Leadership & Resource Management

• 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

External & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• 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

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• 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

Leadership Expectations

• Operates as a connector across complex stakeholder environments

• Demonstrates strong judgment, influence, and execution discipline

• Leads with inclusion, clarity, and accountability

May perform other responsibilities as assigned. 

Reporting Relationships:  Reports to: Senior AVP, Inclusive Culture.

Manages a team of approximately 3–5 associates; may also manage external vendors and other third‑party resources that support partnership and program execution.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education: 

Undergraduate degree in human resources, multicultural or diversity studies, business, marketing, or a related field. Master’s degree strongly preferred.

Experience:

Typically, 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.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: 

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 prese