Head of Advice Portfolio Construction Technology

Vanguard; Dallas (TX); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a senior technology leader to head Advice Portfolio Construction Technology, building in-house platforms for risk profiling, asset allocation, and portfolio construction at scale. You will lead a diverse, global engineering organization and partner with investment leaders to translate complex concepts into scalable tech solutions.

The role emphasizes transforming from rules-based to risk-based optimization, with a multi-year plan and a budget around $25M.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading large engineering organizations and managing senior leaders.
• Deep investment domain knowledge in portfolio construction and risk-based optimization.
• Track record of delivering multi-year platform transformations.
• Ability to influence without direct authority.
• CFA or comparable certification is a strong plus (not required).

Responsibilities

• Lead ~12 full-stack engineering teams across multiple locations; develop leadership bench.
• Drive adoption of modern engineering practices (CI/CD, observability, AI-assisted development).
• Build platforms for risk profiling, asset allocation, and portfolio construction.
• Translate investment concepts into scalable technology solutions.
• Shape technology strategy across advice, portfolio management, and client experience.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio construction

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Distributed systems

Platform transformation

Education

CFA certification

Tools

Aladdin

Charles River

MSCI

InvestCloud

Orion

Envestnet

Job description

We are seeking a senior technology leader to serve as Head of Advice Portfolio Construction Technology—building and scaling the platforms that translate client needs into investment outcomes for millions of investors. This role sits squarely at the intersection of investment domain expertise and modern technology leadership, spanning risk profiling, asset allocation, portfolio construction, and ongoing portfolio management. This is a rare seat for a leader who pairs deep investment acumen with proven engineering leadership. As Vanguard evolves rules-based toward next-generation, risk-optimization-driven portfolio construction, this leader will build in-house capability—not simply integrate vendors—and shape a multi-year transformation at scale. The current scope includes a budget of approximately $25M.

• A high-visibility platform leadership role driving the technology behind personalized advice and wealth management.
• Direct influence over the transition from rules-based to risk-based, optimization-driven portfolio construction.
• A true leader-of-leaders mandate: management of managers, with strong organizational leadership, stakeholder influence, and program delivery at the core.

• The chance to build proprietary, in-house capability rather than depend solely on third-party vendors.

What You Will Do

Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing organization of technologists across approximately 12 full-stack engineering teams; manage a leadership bench that currently includes 4 direct reports and spans PA, NC, TX, and sourcing, with expected expansion into India next year.

• Build a strong leadership bench and cultivate a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Drive adoption of modern engineering practices (AI-assisted development, CI/CD, observability, resiliency).
• Deliver and evolve platforms that assess client risk tolerance, generate asset allocation and portfolio recommendations, and construct portfolios using both rules-based and risk-based methodologies.
• Advance capabilities in risk-based optimization, tracking-error reduction, securities-selection rationale, and portfolio transition/optimization functions.
• Ensure platforms support a broad range of investment strategies, products, and client segments across equities and fixed income.
• Act as a senior partner to investment, product, and advice leaders, translating investment concepts (risk, allocation, diversification, optimization) into scalable technology solutions.
• Shape technology strategy across advice, portfolio management, and client experience, influencing decisions without direct authority.

• Advance capabilities in risk-based optimization, tracking-error reduction, securities-selection rationale, and portfolio transition /

• Ensure platforms support a broad range of investment strategies, products, and client segments across equities and fixed income.
• Act as a senior partner to investment, product, and advice leaders, translating investment concepts (risk, allocation, diversification,

• Shape technology strategy across advice, portfolio management, and client experience, influencing decisions without direct authority.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of portfolio construction, asset allocation, and client risk profiling, including the nuances of equities vs. fixed income and risk-based optimization.
• Familiarity with tracking-error reduction, securities-selection rationale, and portfolio transition / optimization functions.
• Experience in the advice sector, portfolio construction, portfolio management, or rebalancing tooling is strongly preferred.
• A CFA or comparable industry certification is a strong plus and a valued signal of deep investment capability (not required).
• Proven experience leading large application engineering organizations, including managing managers and developing senior leaders.
• Track record of building high-performing teams in complex, matrixed environments with significant cross-functional dependency.
• Deep experience leading large-scale technology programs and platform transformations, with strong grounding in modern engineering practices, distributed systems, and platform architecture.
• Ability to balance operational reliability with long-term transformation.
• Experience integrating or building alongside industry platforms (e.g., Aladdin, Charles River, MSCI, InvestCloud, Advisor Engine, Orion, Envestnet) is a plus and shortens ramp time.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in ambiguity, set clear direction, and balance innovation, cost, risk, and speed while ensuring disciplined execution.
• Exceptional stakeholder management; comfortable partnering with senior business and investment leaders and influencing without direct authority.

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.