Director of Investment Operations, Personalized Indexing

Title: Director of Investment Operations, Personalized Indexing

Location: Malvern, PA

time type: Full time

job requisition id: 178644

Job Description:

TheDirectorof Investment Operationsleads 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 offering.This 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/3rdparty 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 toidentifyoperational 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 3rdparty 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 degree

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.