Executive Director, Crypto Product Platform

711 MS Smith Barney, LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Stanley is seeking a Crypto Product Manager - Executive Director in Chicago to lead end-to-end delivery of a strategic digital asset initiative. This leader translates business strategy into an executable roadmap, coordinating Product, Engineering, Operations, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and external partners.

The role requires building scalable governance, managing dependencies, and ensuring regulatory and controls alignment for launch and ongoing operations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading enterprise-scale products or programs in financial services or regulated industries.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into business requirements, delivery plans, governance, and measurable outcomes.
• Strong working knowledge of digital assets, cryptocurrency products, custody and execution models, market structure, or related fintech.
• Experience partnering with technology, operations, risk, legal, compliance, audit, and third-party providers.
• Proven skill in executive communication, stakeholder management, issue resolution, and decision facilitation.
• Sound judgment, high ownership, and ability to operate amid ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; advanced degree or relevant professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the integrated program plan from strategy and design through build, launch, stabilization, and ongoing enhancement.
• Define business requirements, customer journeys, operating assumptions, and prioritized capabilities with product leaders.
• Coordinate with Product, Engineering, Operations, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Finance, Audit, and other stakeholders on milestones and ownership.
• Establish governance forums, clear status reporting, escalation paths, and updates on progress, risks, and tradeoffs.
• Embed regulatory, compliance, operational, technology, fraud, and third-party requirements into the program design.
• Coordinate with vendors and market partners, oversee dependencies and service readiness, and resolve performance issues.
• Ensure operational readiness: staffing, support models, monitoring, incident management, and management reporting.
• Lead rapid, fact-based resolution of blockers and production incidents; drive corrective actions.
• Manage scope, budget, timelines, resources, dependencies, and change control while focusing on outcomes.
• Use data from customers, operations, risk, and performance to identify enhancements and strengthen the platform post-launch.

Skills

Executive leadership

Product management

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Strategic planning

Decision facilitation

Ambiguity navigation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree or professional certification preferred

Job description

Morgan Stanley is seeking a Crypto Product Manager - Executive Director in Chicago to lead end-to-end delivery of a strategic digital asset initiative. This leader translates business strategy into an executable roadmap, coordinating Product, Engineering, Operations, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Finance, and external partners.

The role requires building scalable governance, managing dependencies, and ensuring regulatory and controls alignment for launch and ongoing operations.