Job Description

Are you ready to lead the evolution of core banking systems in a dynamic and innovative environment?

At Vontobel, we are looking for a visionary leader to join our team as Head Core System Management. Based in Zurich, you will guide a highly skilled team in managing and evolving our Avaloq-based core banking landscape. Your mission is to ensure our systems remain robust, scalable, and future-ready, all while navigating a complex regulatory environment with confidence and precision.
If you’re passionate about combining technical expertise with leadership to drive impactful change, we’d love to hear from you!

What would your role be?

Technical Delivery & Project Leadership

• Develop and manage work plans, timelines, resource plans and risk assessments

• Monitor progress against milestones with transparent, management-ready reporting

• Provide technical and analytical guidance to project teams and stakeholders

• Ensure delivery quality through structured reviews and adherence to standards

Platform & Release Accountability

• End-to-end responsibility for Avaloq platform operations and release management

• Drive automation of Avaloq, Oracle and ACPR upgrades using modern CI/CD pipelines

• Ensure availability and stability across all environments from development to production

People & Vendor Leadership

• Lead, develop and inspire a team of internal specialists, supported by external partners

• Set clear goals, priorities and expectations, fostering ownership and accountability

• Manage vendor integrations, coordinate external deliveries and review outcomes

Stakeholder & Requirements Management

• Act as a trusted partner for business, architecture and infrastructure units

• Analyze, structure and document requirements in close collaboration with internal users

• Balance regulatory, operational and innovation demands pragmatically

What are we looking for?

Leadership & Experience

• Proven experience in a leadership role within complex IT or core banking environments

• Confident people leader with a clear, structured and empowering leadership style

• Experience operating at Director level or equivalent seniority

Technical Expertise

• Mandatory: strong hands-on knowledge of Avaloq in an operational and delivery context

• Solid background in core banking platforms, release management and technical project delivery

• Strong understanding of automation, CI/CD pipelines and container platforms (Kubernetes / OpenShift)

• Experience working with external vendors and delivery partners

Ways of Working

• Structured, analytical and delivery-focused

• Clear communicator across technical and non-technical audiences

• Quality-driven, risk-aware and pragmatic under pressure

What do we offer?
At Vontobel, we’re committed to fostering an environment that celebrates diverse talents and perspectives. We offer:

• Top Zurich location with collaboration spaces (including rooftop terraces) and free lunch.

• Friendly, diverse team in an open-office space.

• All the latest technology to help you excel and advance.

• Agile environment in how we think, the way we work and our trust for each other.

• Flat hierarchy with collaboration at all levels.

• Campus feeling and a collaborative spirit.

We are looking for talented people, not just a CV that ticks all the boxes. Even if you do not have absolutely everything we have asked for, if this role sounds like a good fit for you, we encourage you to apply.

Why Vontobel?

At Vontobel, you are building better futures for our clients and society, as well as for yourself. By 2030, we want to be known as one of the leading and most trusted global investment firms. We have 2,300+ engaged professionals, based in over 25 locations globally and headquartered in Zurich.

We are both majority family-owned and publicly listed. Our capacity for long-term focus, on topics such as sustainability, is underpinned by the security of the family’s 100-year commitment. Driven by an ownership mindset, you can unlock your potential and translate insights into opportunities. We are hiring talented individuals who are determined to deliver in a changing world and who come from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Do you want to be Vontobel?

Thank you for applying to Vontobel. We will carefully review your application and will respond to you in a timely manner.

At Vontobel, we are an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity.

We value the many voices within our teams and are committed to creating an environment where everyone who wants to be part of our performance culture can be themselves. It is based on mutual respect and zero tolerance for any form of discrimination.

If you have any questions you can contact us through our contact form