Director, ETF Capital Markets

Russell Investments; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Russell Investments is seeking an experienced ETF capital markets leader to oversee market quality and liquidity for the U.S. ETF lineup, with coordinated support for Canada and Australia.

The role guides trading, liquidity, and creation/redemption activities while collaborating across product, sales, compliance, and investments. The ideal candidate brings 8+ years in ETF capital markets, a strong network with market makers and exchanges, and proven ability to drive strategic initiatives through

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA/CFA or similar credentials are a plus.
• 8+ years ETF capital markets experience with U.S. focus.

Responsibilities

• Own market quality and liquidity oversight for Russell’s U.S. ETF lineup, coordinating with Canada and Australia.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with authorized participants, market makers, exchanges, custodians, and data providers.
• Serve as senior escalation point for ETF trading, liquidity, and creation/redemption matters, including during market stress.
• Lead the ETF capital markets workstream for new product launches, conversions, listings, and liquidations.
• Partner with portfolio management, trading, product, and operations on basket construction, liquidity, and parameters.
• Support distribution by providing ETF trading guidance and translating liquidity into practical advisor recommendations.
• Develop and deliver ETF education on market structure, liquidity, and trading practices.
• Collaborate with product, sales, and marketing on market-facing collateral and liquidity messaging.
• Build surveillance, analytics, policies, and controls for ETF capital markets.

Skills

Strategic mindset

Stakeholder management

ETF market knowledge

Communication skills

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA

CFA

Tools

Bloomberg

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Salary Range: $200,000 USD - $250,000 USD

Specific compensation will be based on candidate’s experience, skills, qualifications, commercial considerations, and other job‑related factors permitted by law. At Russell Investments, salary is just one part of our compensation package. Our total rewards approach includes an annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility criteria) in addition to participation in our competitive benefits programs including healthcare, retirement, vacation, and wellbeing programs.

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced ETF capital markets professional to lead capital markets oversight for Russell Investments’ ETF platform. The role will have primary responsibility for the current U.S. ETF lineup and for supporting growth of the U.S. platform, while also providing capital markets expertise and coordination for Russell’s ETF lineups in Canada and Australia. The successful candidate will serve as the firm’s senior subject matter expert on ETF product and market structure, primary and secondary market activity, trading, and liquidity. This is a hands‑on role that combines day‑to‑day market quality oversight, strategic relationship management across the ETF ecosystem, support for product launches and platform development, and close partnership with product, sales, marketing, investments, trading, operations, legal, and compliance. The Director will help deliver strong trading outcomes for shareholders, strengthen the resilience and reach of Russell’s ETF platform, and support the commercial success of the ETF lineup.

Your Core Responsibilities

• Own market quality and liquidity oversight for Russell’s U.S. ETF lineup, with coordinated support for the Canadian and Australian lineups. Monitor bid‑ask spreads, premiums and discounts, trading volume and depth, creations and redemptions, price discovery, and other relevant indicators; identify trends, diagnose issues, and drive corrective actions.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships across the ETF ecosystem, including authorized participants, lead and supplemental market makers, exchanges, custodians, distributors, and data and technology providers. Expand participation, improve liquidity provision and market coverage, and maintain regular performance dialogue with key partners.
• Serve as the senior point of escalation for ETF trading, liquidity, and creation/redemption matters, including during periods of market stress or operational disruption. Coordinate timely resolution across portfolio management, trading, operations, fund administration, service providers, legal, compliance, risk, and external market participants.
• Lead the ETF capital markets workstream for new product launches, conversions, listings, material product changes, and liquidations. Shape liquidity and seed‑capital strategies, authorized participant and market‑maker onboarding, exchange coordination, basket and creation/redemption readiness, and launch‑day and post‑launch monitoring.
• Partner with portfolio management, trading, product, operations, and service providers on ETF design and implementation considerations, including basket construction and flexiblity, cash and in‑kind parameters, custom baskets, underlying‑market liquidity, and other factors that affect tradability and shareholder outcomes.
• Support distribution and client engagement by providing ETF trading and execution guidance, participating in prospect and client meetings, assisting with large trades, and translating ETF liquidity and market structure into practical recommendations for financial advisors, wealth platforms, and other investors.
• Develop and deliver ETF education on market structure, liquidity, trading practices, and how Russell’s products trade. Serve as a visible spokesperson through training, client events, and thought leadership.
• Partner with product, sales, and marketing to shape market‑facing collateral, website content, trading resources, FAQs, and thought leadership. Ensure ETF trading data and liquidity messaging are accurate, current, and useful to sales teams and investors.
• Build surveillance, analytics, reporting, policies, procedures, and controls for the ETF capital markets function. Use market and peer data to inform product design, commercialization, sales targeting, lifecycle decisions, senior management and Board reporting, and strategic enhancements to Russell’s global ETF platform.

Your Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree; an MBA, master’s degree, CFA designation, or other relevant credential is a plus.
• 8+ years of relevant ETF capital markets experience, with deep knowledge of the U.S. ETF ecosystem. Experience supporting Canadian and/or Australian ETFs, or other global ETF markets, is a strong plus.
• Established relationships with authorized participants, market makers, exchanges, and other ETF ecosystem partners, with a demonstrated ability to influence outcomes and build durable commercial partnerships.
• Deep understanding of ETF primary and secondary market mechanics, creation/redemption activity, basket construction, custom baskets, liquidity and price discovery, bid‑ask spreads, premiums and discounts, and the interaction between ETFs and their underlying markets across multiple asset classes.
• Demonstrated experience monitoring ETF market quality, analyzing trading and flow data, resolving complex trading or operational issues, and exercising sound judgment during volatile or time‑sensitive market events.
• Strong commercial orientation and the ability to partner effectively with sales, product, and marketing teams. Experience providing client trading guidance, supporting new business opportunities, and developing educational or market‑facing content is highly valued.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship‑management skills, with the ability to explain technical ETF concepts clearly to investment professionals, financial advisors, clients, senior executives, Boards, and external market participants.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across investments, trading, product, operations, fund administration, technology, legal, compliance, risk, marketing, and sales, while independently driving priorities.
• Strong analytical and technical skills, including advanced Excel and PowerPoint and proficiency with Bloomberg and relevant ETF market data tools. FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses, or the ability to obtain them if required, are a plus.

Locations: New York or Seattle

This role is not eligible for employment‑based immigration sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship, now or in the future.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Russell Investments is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all associates and employment applicants regardless of race, religion, ancestry, creed, color, gender (including gender identity which refers to a person's actual or perceived sex, and includes self‑image, appearance, behavior or expression, whether or not different from that traditionally associated with a person's biological sex), age, national origin, citizenship status, disability, medical condition, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, past or present unemployment status , or any other characteristic protected by law.