Director Operations

Role & responsibilities

We are looking for a seasoned and strategic Delivery Director to lead the Business Operations Platform Services for a large Asset Management engagement. This role will be responsible for delivering the Global Operating Platform value proposition through strong operational leadership, governance, client alignment, transformation, and risk-managed execution. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in asset management, banking, or global custody operations, combined with the leadership maturity to drive large-scale operational teams, influence senior stakeholders, and introduce modern technology-led improvements including AI, automation, and DLT. This role requires a strong balance of strategic thinking, operational control, service quality, cost management, compliance awareness, and business transformation capability.

Preferred candidate profile

Key Responsibilities:

Delivery Leadership & Governance

• Lead the introduction, adoption, and successful delivery of the Global Operating Platform value proposition across the account.
• Own end-to-end delivery across Business Operations platforms, ensuring consistent achievement of SLAs, KPIs, and contractual obligations.
• Establish and lead governance frameworks, including executive forums, risk management, and performance reviews.
• Drive operational excellence through structured processes, continuous improvement, and data-driven decisions.

Operational Oversight & Service Excellence

• Maintain local management oversight of all functions delivered by UST with robust controls to ensure high service standards, regulatory compliance, and operational resilience.
• Ensure reliable, effective, and optimal service delivery across business operations, balancing service commitments, cost, and operational risk.
• Guarantee the implementation, continuous maintenance, and documentation of highly effective and efficient procedures, controls, and operational processes.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of records maintained across Investment, Custody, and Accounting Books of Record.
• Apply relevant and effective operating controls to support strong governance and operational discipline.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders across business and technology functions
• Communicate effectively at all levels, providing clear, concise, and impactful updates and insights
• Influence decision-making across a broad stakeholder base through strong collaboration and credibility

Platform & Transformation Leadership

• Oversee delivery across investment operations, reporting, reconciliation, and data platforms
• Lead adoption of emerging technologies (AI, automation, DLT) to enhance service efficiency and scalability
• Translate complex business challenges into practical, implementable solutions

Strategic & Commercial Ownership

• Take a strategic view of the engagement, aligning delivery with long-term client and organizational goals
• Manage financial performance, including forecasting, cost optimization, and growth opportunities
• Leverage deep understanding of USTs service portfolio to drive value creation and expansion

Risk, Quality & Decision Making

• Ensure all risks are proactively identified, monitored, escalated, and mitigated in a timely manner, with appropriate action tracking through RCA-led improvements.
• Ensure robust risk management, compliance adherence, and quality assurance practices
• Design, maintain, and periodically review a robust Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to ensure operational readiness and resilience.
• Drive swift, incisive decision-making in high-pressure and complex scenarios
• Lead root cause analysis and remediation for operational issues

Leadership & Capability Development

• Inspire and motivate large, distributed teams to achieve high performance
• Build strong leadership bench strength and foster a culture of accountability and collaboration
• Promote innovation, continuous learning, and employee engagement

Key Requisites:

• Strong experience in Asset Management, Banking, or Global Custody operations with strong domain expertise
• Proven leadership ability to inspire and manage large operational teams across geographies
• Demonstrated experience in leveraging modern technologies (e.g., AI, DLT, automation) in practical, business-driven use cases
• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal) with ability to engage effectively at executive levels
• Ability to quickly assimilate complex business problems and deliver structured, effective solutions
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills across senior stakeholder groups
• Strategic mindset with deep understanding of end-to-end business operations services
• Excellent, timely, and data-driven decision-making capability