Senior Director of Operating Model & Change

Ninety One; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Ninety One is seeking a senior Operations Change professional to design and implement operating models for new product initiatives, including ETFs and digital-asset structures. You will translate regulatory needs into actionable designs for Technology and third-party providers.

The role oversees multi-location teams (Cape Town, London) and vendors, focusing on disciplined delivery, governance and collaboration. Strong business analysis and vendor-management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Senior experience in operational change, business design or a business analyst-type function within asset management or broader financial services.
• Direct experience designing or standing up operating models for new product types (ETFs, digital-asset or new fund structures).

Responsibilities

• Design and own the target operating model for new product initiatives — ETFs, digital-asset structures and new fund structures — from concept to live service.
• Act as first line of defence on new product and structural change, identifying constraints early and shaping solutions before implementation.
• Translate business, product and regulatory requirements into operational designs for Technology, Investment Operations and third-party providers (State Street and Charles River).
• Coordinate delivery across Investments, Client Group, Operations, Legal and Technology, and with external administrators, custodians and platform vendors.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with strategic vendors on change, holding them to commitments.
• Lead and motivate teams across Cape Town, London and other locations, driving accountability without direct line authority.
• Develop subject matter depth across new product types to challenge design choices and vendor positions.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools to support operational design, data analysis and evidence-based decision-making.
• Contribute to a culture of disciplined delivery, collaboration and continuous improvement across the Operational Change team.

Skills

Operational change experience

Business design

Target operating model design

Process mapping

Vendor management

Regulatory awareness

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Tools

AI-enabled tools

Data analysis tools

Job description

Ninety One is seeking a senior Operations Change professional to design and implement operating models for new product initiatives, including ETFs and digital-asset structures. You will translate regulatory needs into actionable designs for Technology and third-party providers.

The role oversees multi-location teams (Cape Town, London) and vendors, focusing on disciplined delivery, governance and collaboration. Strong business analysis and vendor-management skills are essential.