PGIM Custom Harvest - Director, SMA Fixed Income Operations

Prudential Annuities Distributors (PAD); The Ironbound (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

PGIM Custom Harvest, a division of PGIM Global Wealth, seeks a Director of SMA Fixed Income Operations to lead the operational strategy, infrastructure, controls, and day-to-day support for the SMA business.

You will partner with portfolio management, SMA implementation and trading, client service, technology, and risk teams to deliver a scalable, controlled operating environment that supports growth and product expansion.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience supporting SMA and/or fixed income products.
• Strong understanding of fixed income SMA lifecycle.
• Experience leading investment operations teams and processes.
• Familiar with trade lifecycle, settlement, reconciliation, and cash management.
• Collaborates with portfolio management, trading, client service, technology, risk and compliance.
• Ability to design and scale operating models for growth.
• Experience driving automation and process improvement.
• Risk-management oriented with governance experience.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational strategy, infrastructure, controls and day-to-day support for the Fixed Income SMA business.
• Develop end-to-end operating environment supporting fixed income portfolios and growth.
• Partner with SMA Platform, PM, Trading, Client Service, Technology, Compliance and Risk teams.
• Oversee readiness for new SMA accounts and ensure accurate onboarding and setup.
• Ensure controls around trade capture, allocation, settlement, and reconciliation.
• Identify operational risks and automation opportunities to enhance scalability.
• Build and retain a high-performing Fixed Income SMA Operations team.

Skills

SMA Operations

Fixed Income

Leadership

Risk Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Automation

Archer

Tools

Archer

Job description

Job Classification: Investment Management - Investment Operations

PGIM Custom Harvest, a division of PGIM Global Wealth, is a pioneer in the development of tax-beneficial investment strategies using exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for clients seeking improved after-tax outcomes. We provide full exposure to a client-selected benchmark while generating tax alpha through customized SMA portfolios of ETFs. PGIM Custom Harvest manages $7.1 billion on behalf of a wide range of RIAs and wealth managers.

What You Will Do

The Director is responsible for leading the operational strategy, infrastructure, controls, and day-to-day support model for the firm’s Fixed Income Separately Managed Account (SMA) business. This leadership role will help develop and oversee the end-to-end operating environment supporting fixed income portfolios, ensuring that the platform is scalable, controlled, efficient, and capable of supporting continued business growth and product expansion.

The Director of SMA Fixed Income Operations will partner closely with the Head of Operations, Head of SMA Platform, Fixed Income Portfolio Management, SMA Implementation and Trading, Client Service, Technology, Product, Compliance, Risk, and other operational and business teams to align priorities, clarify ownership, and deliver a coordinated investment and client experience across the platform. The successful candidate will combine deep fixed income and SMA operational expertise with strong leadership, risk management, process design, and strategic transformation capabilities.

What You Can Expect

Lead the operational function supporting the Fixed Income SMA business, establishing the operating model, priorities, service standards, controls, and organizational structure required to support growth. Partner closely with the Head of SMA Fixed Income Implementation and the Fixed Income investment and trading teams to ensure effective execution of portfolio activity across the SMA platform. Oversee operational readiness for new SMA accounts and ensure accounts are established accurately and efficiently across internal systems, custodians, and trading platforms. Ensure appropriate controls around trade capture, allocation, confirmation, settlement, and reconciliation. Identify operational risks associated with growth, new products, new custodians, technology changes, and evolving investment processes. Identify opportunities to automate manual processes, reduce operational risk, improve scalability, and enhance the client and investment-team experience. Partner with Client Service and distribution teams to resolve complex operational matters affecting clients, advisors, and intermediaries. Build, lead, develop, and retain a high-performing Fixed Income SMA Operations organization.

What You Will Bring

• 10+ years of experience supporting separately managed accounts and/or fixed income investment products
• Strong understanding of the operational lifecycle of fixed income securities and separately managed accounts.
• Experience leading investment operations teams, processes, and operating models.
• Strong understanding of trade lifecycle, settlement, reconciliation, cash management, custodial relationships, account onboarding, and operational controls.
• Experience working closely with portfolio management, trading, implementation, client service, technology, compliance, and risk teams.
• Ability to contribute to the design and scaling of operating models supporting business growth.
• Experience contributing to technology, automation, process improvement, or operational transformation initiatives.
• Hands‑on experience with, or strong familiarity with, Archer.
• Strong risk‑management orientation with experience supporting effective controls and governance.
• Excellent leadership, communication, problem‑solving, and stakeholder‑management skills.

Salary Range Disclosure

Prudential is required by state specific laws to include the salary range for this role when hiring a resident in applicable locations. The salary range for this role is from $150,000 to $190,000. Specific pricing for the role may vary within the above range based on many factors including geographic location, candidate experience, and skills. Roles may also be eligible for additional compensation and/or benefits. Eligibility to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

About PGIM Global Wealth

PGIM Global Wealth is a diversified distributor of asset management capabilities, with over 100 actively managed funds globally. We are dedicated to helping clients tackle their toughest investment challenges and base the foundation of our investment strategy around collaboration and innovation. Our leadership team welcomes new ideas and challenging the status-quo and are committed to developing talent for long-term success.

At PGIM Global Wealth, we consider it a great privilege and responsibility to help investors participate in opportunities across the global markets while meeting their toughest investment challenges.

We offer a diversified suite of actively managed funds across a broad spectrum of asset classes and investment styles, with over $95 billion in assets under management.

What we offer you

• Market competitive base salaries, with a yearly bonus potential at every level.
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), and leave of absences, such as parental and military leave.
• 401(k) plan with company match (up to 4%).
• Company-funded pension plan.
• Wellness Programs including up to $1,600 a year for reimbursement of items purchased to support personal wellbeing needs.
• Work/Life Resources to help support topics such as parenting, housing, senior care, finances, pets, legal matters, education, emotional and mental health, and career development.
• Education Benefit to help finance traditional college enrollment toward obtaining an approved degree and many accredited certificate programs.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Shares can be purchased at 85% of the lower of two prices (Beginning or End of the purchase period).

Eligibility to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

To find out more about our Total Rewards package, visit Work Life Balance | Prudential Careers. Some of the above benefits may not apply to part-time employees scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week.

Prudential Financial, Inc.

Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated with Prudential plc. which is headquartered in the United Kingdom. Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, age, veteran status, domestic partner status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please email [e-mail]. If you are experiencing a technical issue with your application or an assessment, please email [e-mail] to request assistance.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2023, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for 150 years. For more information please visit news.prudential.com.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace

Prudential Financial, Inc. serves its customers in more than 40 countries and territories, and we seek talented, creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds, worldviews, and life circumstances to work with us. We are focused on creating a fully inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it. At Prudential, employees have a unique opportunity to build their career path by owning their development, their career, and their future. We encourage employees to hone their skills and explore continued opportunities within Prudential.

PGIM, the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), is a global investment manager with US $1.3 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2023. With offices in 18 countries, PGIM’s businesses offer a range of investment solutions for retail and institutional investors around the world across a broad range of asset classes, including public fixed income, private fixed income, fundamental equity, quantitative equity, real estate, and alternatives. For more information about PGIM, visit pgim.com.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom, or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom. For more information please visit news.prudential.com.

PGIM Inc. (PGIM) is the principal asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI), a company incorporated and with its principal place of business in the United States. PFI of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace

Prudential Financial, Inc. serves its customers in more than 40 countries and territories, and we seek talented, creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds, worldviews, and life circumstances to work with us. We are focused on creating a fully inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it. At Prudential, employees have a unique opportunity to build their career path by owning their development, their career, and their future. We encourage employees to hone their skills and explore continued opportunities within Prudential.