Head of Operational Enablement

The Vanguard Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Vanguard Group in Manchester is seeking a Head of Operational Enablement to lead the identification and optimisation of practical implementation approaches for strategic initiatives. This hybrid role requires coordinating across Operations, Technology, Product and Vendor partners to ensure efficient execution and strong governance.

You will drive operational readiness, scalability and regulatory alignment, delivering impact across Vanguard Personal Investor and related programs.

Qualifications

• Significant relevant experience required.
• Experience within wealth platform operations, investment operations, or asset servicing environments preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working within vendor-led or outsourced operating models, including governance of third-party providers.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience required.
• Graduate degree preferred.
• Proven ability to operate across multiple domains, including operations, technology, product, and vendor ecosystems, with a track record of influencing implementation outcomes.
• Strong understanding of regulated financial services environments, including operational risk, controls, and compliance requirements.
• This role may require regulatory training or certification as determined by Compliance based on role-specific responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Leads identification and optimisation of efficient implementation approaches for strategic initiatives across Vanguard Personal Investor.
• Ensures initiatives are sequenced effectively with clear understanding of dependencies, risks, and constraints.
• Applies deep expertise in wealth platform operations to ensure changes are viable, scalable, and aligned to long-term business objectives.
• Identifies opportunities to simplify processes, improve efficiency, and reduce operational friction.
• Acts as the integration point across Operations, Technology, Product, and Vendor partners, bringing together cross-functional perspectives to improve decision-making and execution outcomes.
• Partners with internal teams and third-party providers to ensure vendor capabilities, constraints, and roadmaps are fully understood and incorporated into implementation planning and delivery approaches.
• Evaluates proposed initiatives and provides clear recommendations and trade-offs to senior stakeholders, improving decision quality and reducing rework later in the delivery lifecycle.
• Identifies and addresses knowledge gaps across business areas, ensuring alignment and shared understanding of end-to-end operational impacts.
• Supports the successful delivery of growth initiatives, ensuring operational readiness, scalability, and alignment with Vanguard Personal Investor's strategy.
• Collaborates with Risk and Compliance partners to ensure changes are aligned with regulatory expectations, control frameworks, and operational resilience requirements.
• Provides insight into operational performance, implementation efficiency, and emerging risks, supporting continuous improvement of processes and operating models.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Wealth platform ops

Vendor governance

Cross-domain influence

Regulatory awareness

Education

Undergraduate degree

Graduate degree preferred

Job description

Leads the identification and optimisation of the most efficient implementation approach for strategic initiatives across Vanguard Personal Investor and FAS. Ensures initiatives are sequenced effectively with clear understanding of operational dependencies, risks, and constraints.

Head of Operational Enablement Manchester Hybrid working (In office Tue-Thursday, at home Monday and Friday)

Job Description

Core Responsibilities

• Leads the identification and optimisation of the most efficient implementation approach for strategic initiatives across Vanguard Personal Investor.
• Ensures initiatives are sequenced effectively with clear understanding of operational dependencies, risks, and constraints.
• Applies deep expertise in wealth platform operations to ensure all changes are operationally viable, scalable, and aligned to long-term business objectives.
• Identifies opportunities to simplify processes, improve efficiency, and reduce operational friction.
• Acts as the integration point across Operations, Technology, Product, and Vendor partners, bringing together cross-functional perspectives to improve decision-making and execution outcomes.
• Partners with internal teams and third-party providers to ensure vendor capabilities, constraints, and roadmaps are fully understood and incorporated into implementation planning and delivery approaches.
• Evaluates proposed initiatives and provides clear recommendations and trade-offs to senior stakeholders, improving decision quality and reducing rework later in the delivery lifecycle.
• Identifies and addresses knowledge gaps across business areas, ensuring alignment and shared understanding of end-to-end operational impacts.
• Supports the successful delivery of growth initiatives, ensuring operational readiness, scalability, and alignment with Vanguard Personal Investor's strategy.
• Collaborates with Risk and Compliance partners to ensure changes are aligned with regulatory expectations, control frameworks, and operational resilience requirements.
• Provides insight into operational performance, implementation efficiency, and emerging risks, supporting continuous improvement of processes and operating models.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Significant relevant experience required.
• Experience within wealth platform operations, investment operations, or asset servicing environments preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working within vendor-led or outsourced operating models, including governance of third-party providers.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience required.
• Graduate degree preferred.
• Proven ability to operate across multiple domains, including operations, technology, product, and vendor ecosystems, with a track record of influencing implementation approach and outcomes.
• Strong understanding of regulated financial services environments, including operational risk, controls, and compliance requirements.
• This role may require regulatory training or certification as determined by Compliance based on role-specific responsibilities.

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.

About Us

Vanguard, one of the world's largest investment management companies, serves individual investors, institutions, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and financial professionals. We have a diverse and talented crew with a culture that promotes teamwork, along with an unwavering focus on serving our clients' best interests.

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