Director Operations

UST; Chennai District; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

UST is seeking a seasoned Delivery Director to lead the Business Operations Platform Services for a large asset management engagement in Chennai. You will drive strategic execution, governance, and risk-managed delivery across global operations, aligning client needs with transformative tech initiatives including AI, automation, and DLT.

You will manage senior stakeholders, optimize cost, and ensure service quality while building leadership bench strength and fostering a culture of

Qualifications

• Strong experience in Asset Management, Banking, or Global Custody operations.
• Proven ability to lead large distributed operational teams across geographies.
• Experience applying AI, automation, and distributed ledger technologies in business applications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with executive stakeholders.
• Ability to translate complex business problems into practical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the Global Operating Platform value proposition across the account.
• Own end-to-end delivery for business operations platforms, ensuring SLAs and KPIs.
• Establish governance frameworks and conduct performance reviews.
• Drive operational excellence through data-driven decisions and process improvements.
• Oversee risk, quality, and business continuity planning.
• Engage senior client stakeholders and align delivery with strategic goals.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Governance & risk management

AI/Automation awareness

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

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 UST’s 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