Head of Defined Contribution Investment Only (DCIO)

Vanguard; Scottsdale (AZ); Hybrid; USD 260,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard seeks an enterprise-minded leader to set the strategy for its DCIO business, the largest DCIO franchise, overseeing relationships with plan sponsors and senior stakeholders. The Head of DCIO will drive client advocacy, growth, and cross-functional execution across investments, sales, product, operations, service, and advice.

You will shape coverage, elevate engagement with sophisticated clients, and mobilize partners to deliver integrated outcomes while maintaining fiduciary standards

Qualifications

• Over 10 years in defined contribution investments or retirement assets.
• Bachelor’s degree; graduate degree and CFA preferred.
• Active FINRA Series 7, 63, and 24 registrations.
• Experience leading complex client relationships and senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Set the short- and long-term DCIO strategy aligned with enterprise priorities.
• Grow and lead a high-performing team with clear outcomes and accountability.
• Own relationship strategy and service model for complex DCIO clients.
• Build partnerships with sponsors, investment committees, consultants and recordkeepers.
• Lead reviews and strategic conversations on client objectives and market developments.
• Expand use of DCIO capabilities including funds, trusts, and target-date strategies.
• Identify and mitigate risks; resolve client issues with urgency and sound judgment.
• Collaborate across investments, sales, product, operations, service, and compliance.
• Translate insights into business priorities, product opportunities, and thought leadership.
• Contribute to annual planning, budgeting, and client economics.
• Represent Vanguard with senior clients and industry partners.

Skills

Defined contribution

Relationship mgmt

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree preferred

CFA designation preferred

Tools

FINRA Licenses 7/63/24

Job description

Vanguard is seeking an enterprise-minded, client-first leader to set the strategy for its Defined Contribution Investment Only (DCIO) business, the largest DCIO franchise in the industry with responsibility for $3T in assets. This leader will guide and build a high-performing team responsible for relationships with plan sponsors, investment committees, and other senior stakeholders across the large, mid-sized, and core markets.

The Head of DCIO will strengthen client advocacy, retention, and responsible growth by bringing together deep investment expertise, commercial judgment, disciplined execution, and an exceptional relationship experience. The role will shape the coverage model, elevate strategic engagement with Vanguard’s most sophisticated defined contribution clients, and mobilize partners across investments, sales, product, operations, service, and advice to deliver integrated outcomes.

What you’ll do

• Set and execute the short- and long-term strategy for the DCIO business, aligned with Workplace Solutions and enterprise priorities.
• Grow, lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team; establish clear outcomes, strengthen succession and capability building, and foster an inclusive culture of accountability, collaboration, and client advocacy.
• Own the relationship strategy and service model for a portfolio of complex defined contribution relationships, with accountability for executive engagement, client satisfaction, retention, risk management, and responsible growth.
• Build trusted partnerships with plan sponsors, investment consultants, investment committees, recordkeepers, trustees, and other key decision-makers across the large, mid-sized, and core markets.
• Lead investment-focused business reviews and strategic conversations centered on client objectives, market and industry developments, portfolio strategy, product performance, plan design, participant outcomes, and emerging needs.
• Expand appropriate use of Vanguard’s defined contribution investment capabilities, including mutual funds, collective investment trusts, target-date strategies, model portfolios, and other investment solutions.
• Identify and mitigate relationship, service, operational, and retention risks; ensure complex client issues are resolved with urgency, sound judgment, and effective escalation.
• Partner across investments, sales, product, operations, service, advice, legal, risk, and compliance to deliver coordinated client outcomes and improve the end-to-end relationship experience.
• Translate client, consultant, competitive, regulatory, and market insights into business priorities, service enhancements, product opportunities, and thought leadership.
• Contribute to annual business planning, resource and budget decisions, performance measurement, and financial management, including client and segment economics.
• Represent Vanguard externally with senior clients, consultants, industry partners, and forums, strengthening the firm’s reputation as a trusted investment and retirement leader.

What it takes

• Deep expertise in defined contribution asset management, investment-only retirement solutions, or a closely related financial services field.
• Demonstrated success leading complex defined contribution client relationships and influencing plan sponsors, investment committees, consultants, and executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of capital markets, portfolio construction, manager selection and oversight, and defined contribution investment vehicles, including mutual funds and collective investment trusts.
• A record of developing and executing business strategy, strengthening retention, identifying responsible growth opportunities, and leading through changing client and market conditions.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, commercial judgment, executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to lead across a highly matrixed organization, build alignment among diverse stakeholders, and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Proven people leadership, including building inclusive teams, developing talent, setting high standards, and driving measurable outcomes.
• Working knowledge of the retirement regulatory environment, including ERISA and fiduciary considerations relevant to defined contribution clients.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in defined contribution investments, retirement, asset management, or a related field, including significant people leadership experience.
• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience. Graduate degree and/or CFA designation preferred.
• Active FINRA Series 7 and Series 63 registrations required.
• Active FINRA Series 24 registration required.

Special factors

• Travel is required based on client and business needs.

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.