Global Head of Equity Service

Vanguard; Malvern (AR); Hybrid; USD 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard seeks a senior executive to define and lead the global Equity Service function—covering investment data, portfolio administration, and trade support—across equity strategies.

You will own the operating model, strategy, and execution, partnering with investment, trading, risk, and technology leaders to deliver scalable and resilient capabilities that influence portfolio results and risk-aware execution.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of leadership experience across investment operations, equity trading support, portfolio administration, or investment data.
• Demonstrated success leading global teams and enterprise-scale operating models.
• Deep understanding of equity markets, investment products, and trade lifecycle execution.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the global strategy for equity data, portfolio administration, and trade support services.
• Own the evolution of the global operating model, including standardization, automation, sourcing strategy, and scalability.
• Oversee end-to-end equity trade lifecycle support, including data dependencies, execution readiness, and operational risk.
• Serve as a senior advisor to portfolio managers, traders, and investment leadership on execution risk and readiness.
• Establish and govern enterprise-wide frameworks for operational risk management and control environments.
• Drive modernization of investment data and trade support capabilities with analytics and automation.
• Lead, develop, and scale a high-performing global organization.
• Ensure operational readiness for new equity products, portfolios, and strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Executive stakeholder influence

Transformation & automation

Global teams

Education

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

We are seeking a senior executive leader to define and lead Vanguard’s global Equity Service function, encompassing investment data, portfolio administration, and trade support capabilities across equity strategies.

This role sits at the center of the Investment Management organization and is accountable for the global operating model, long-term strategy, and execution of services supporting the end-to-end equity investment lifecycle. You will partner closely with senior investment, trading, risk, and technology leaders to deliver scalable, resilient, and high-quality operating capabilities that enable portfolio performance and risk-aware execution.

As a trusted advisor to executive leadership, you will shape investment operations strategy, drive large-scale transformation, and ensure strong alignment with evolving market, product, and regulatory demands.

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to enabling Vanguard’s equity investment platform to operate with precision, resilience, and scale. By leading the strategy and execution of Investment Data & Trade Support, you will directly influence portfolio outcomes, operational risk, and the firm’s ability to meet increasingly complex client and market demands.

Key Responsibilities:

Enterprise Strategy & Operating Model Leadership

• Define and lead the global strategy for equity data, portfolio administration, and trade support services
• Establish operating principles, target state architecture, and strategic priorities aligned to investment objectives and enterprise risk frameworks
• Own the evolution of the global operating model, including standardization, automation, sourcing strategy, and scalability

Equity Trade Lifecycle & Service Excellence

• Oversee end-to-end equity trade lifecycle support, including data dependencies, execution readiness, and operational risk
• Ensure operational alignment with complex portfolios, new products, index changes, and market-driven activity
• Drive continuous improvement in service delivery, efficiency, and risk-aware execution

Investment & Executive Partnership

• Serve as a senior advisor to portfolio managers, traders, and investment leadership on execution risk, operational readiness, and strategic initiatives
• Influence outcomes on large-scale portfolio, platform, and market events
• Build and sustain executive-level partnerships across Investment Management, Technology, Risk, and external providers

Risk, Governance & Regulatory Oversight

• Establish and govern enterprise-wide frameworks for operational risk management, escalation, and issue resolution
• Represent the function in executive, regulatory, audit, and risk forums
• Ensure strong control environments and alignment with regulatory expectations and audit standards

Transformation & Innovation

• Drive modernization of investment data and trade support capabilities, including advanced data architecture, analytics, and automation
• Sponsor enterprise initiatives to improve integration across the investment lifecycle
• Lead adoption of scalable, data-driven capabilities that enhance agility and decision-making

Organizational Leadership

• Lead, develop, and scale a high-performing global organization
• Set performance expectations, drive talent development, and make informed compensation decisions
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement

Business Enablement & Growth

• Ensure operational readiness for new equity products, portfolios, and strategies
• Direct enterprise response to market, index, and regulatory changes
• Enable growth through scalable, resilient service models

Qualifications:

• Experience:
  • 10+ years of leadership experience across investment operations, equity trading support, portfolio administration, or investment data
  • Demonstrated success leading global teams and enterprise-scale operating models
  • Deep understanding of equity markets, investment products, and trade lifecycle execution
• Leadership & Influence:
  • Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate effectively at the executive level
  • Strong track record of driving transformation, automation, and operating model redesign
• Functional Expertise:
  • Expertise in investment data, portfolio operations, and trade support services
  • Strong understanding of risk management, regulatory frameworks, and control environments
• Education:
  • Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience required
  • Advanced degree preferred

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don’t just have a mission—we’re on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients’ lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

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.