Vanguard

Director of Investment Operations, Personalized Indexing

Vanguard  •  Malvern, AR (Hybrid)  •  2 days ago
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Job Description

TheDirectorof Investment Operations leads theexecution and ongoing evolutionof the operationssupportingthedirect indexing platform, ensuring scalable,accurate, and tax-efficient execution of personalized separately managed accounts (SMAs). This role partners closely with portfolio management, technology,dev/engineering,client teams, and riskto deliveroperational excellence across a highly customized, tax-managed investment offeringThis role reportsintothe Head of Platform Operations.

Direct indexing platforms require precision, data integrity, and tax-aware execution at scale, combining portfolio customization, tax-loss harvesting, and high-volume account management.

This rolejoinsatan important timeas we continue to grow and invest in our operations, technology, and team.We’relooking for a leader who can set direction but also stay close tothe workand drive execution.

Experienceleadingoperationalchange—especially in outsourced middle- and back-office environments—is important. This person should be able to take high-level priorities and turn them into practical, day-to-day actions across a growing and complex platform.

Key Responsibilities

InvestmentOperations Leadership

  • Leadtheday-to-dayexecution acrossinvestmentoperationslifecyclemiddle & back-office functions(account onboarding, portfolio implementation, reconciliation, reporting,contracting, billing, proxy voting, custody/3rd party management).

  • Maintaina scalable operating model supporting high-volume, highly customized SMA portfolios

  • Managethird-party portfolio accounting system.   

  • Ensureoperationalprocessessupport ongoingtax management (tax-loss harvesting, tax transitions, and capital gains management) and portfoliocustomization (ESG screens, restrictions, factor tilts, client-specific constraints)

  • Maintain close partnership with development/engineering teams to ensure seamless integration across portfolio management systems, trading platforms, and client reporting tools

  • Oversee data flows acrossbenchmark, securitymaster, client restrictions, and tax-lot systems

Team Management & Development

  • Lead and develop a team of ~10 crew members, with a focus on execution quality and continuous improvement

  • Establish clear performance expectations aligned to accuracy, timeliness, and client outcomes

  • Promotea culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

Operational Risk& Process Improvement

  • Work with embedded 1stline risk partner to identifyoperational risks and implement effective controlsto manage

  • Driveprocess standardization andautomation to scale operations, streamline workflows, and improve efficiency

  • Support development of key performance metrics and operational reporting

Vendor & Service ProviderCoordination

  • Managerelationships with third-partyvendors

  • Establish service-level agreements andmonitorperformance against operational KPIs

  • Resolve escalations and ensure continuity of service

Client Experience & Delivery

  • Enablea seamlessonboarding and servicing experience for SMA clients

  • Support high-touch client experience throughaccuratereporting and operational transparency

  • Partner with client teams to support complex portfolios (e.g., concentrated stock, transitions, tax-sensitive mandates)

  • Represent Operations as subject matter expert in a client facing capacity, including support for conversations with prospective clients, custodian, SMA sponsor platforms, and other 3rd party partners. 

Key Qualifications

  • 10+years in investment operations

  • Deep understanding of direct indexing,equitySMAs, and tax-managed investing, including direct experience with one or multiple middle and back-office outsourcing platforms used by SMA managers (i.e., Vestmark, Advent,BNYArcher, SEI) 

  • Strong knowledge of trade lifecycle, portfolio accounting, and data management

  • Proven leadership experience managing high-performing operations teams

  • Strong partnership skills across front office, technology, and risk

  • Undergraduate degreerequired

What Makes This Different (Direct Indexing Context)

Compared to traditional asset management operations, this role requires:

  • Mass customization at scale (each portfolio is unique)

  • Continuous tax optimization execution, not periodic

  • High data complexity (tax lots, restrictions, personalization inputs)

  • Tight integration with technology platforms to enable automation

  • Client-level precision vs. fund-level processing

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.

Vanguard

About Vanguard

Join us as we celebrate 50 years of empowering our 50 million investor-owners.* Since our founding in 1975, we’ve been on a mission to help investors achieve their goals.

With no outside shareholders to answer to, we make decisions—including keeping investing costs as low as possible—with our clients’ needs in mind. Whether you’re investing for your first house, college for your kids, or a comfortable retirement, you can be confident we’re on your side.

We are a community that thinks—and feels—differently about investing. Together, we’re changing the way the world invests. Let’s celebrate 50 years together.

Community guidelines: vgi.vg/sgl1

*As of January 2025

Industry
Finance & Insurance
Company Size
10,000+ employees
Headquarters
Valley Forge, PA
Year Founded
1975
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