Operations Specialist- Aladdin Platform Management- AVP

Employer:             DWS Group

Title:                      Operations Specialist- Aladdin Platform Management- AVP

Location:               Madrid

Job Code:              placeholder for LinkedIn job wrapping

About DWS:

Today, markets face a whole new set of pressures – but also a whole lot of opportunity too. Opportunity to innovate differently. Opportunity to invest responsibly. And opportunity to make change.

Join us at DWS, and you can be part of an industry-leading firm with a global presence. You can lead ambitious opportunities and shape the future of investing. You can support our clients, local communities, and the environment.

We’re looking for creative thinkers and innovators to join us as the world continues to transform. As whole markets change, one thing remains clear; our people always work together to capture the opportunities of tomorrow.

As investors on behalf of our clients, it is our role to find investment solutions. Ensuring the best possible foundation for our clients’ financial future. And in return, we’ll give you the support and platform to develop new skills, make an impact and work alongside some of the industry’s greatest thought leaders. This is your chance to achieve your goals and lead an extraordinary career.

This is your chance to invest in your future.

Read more about DWS and who we are here.

Team / division overview

The COO Division is a key enabler for DWS and is integral to the future success of the company by delivering world-class services across a set of key functions. It covers essential Technology and Operations capabilities to deliver a platform which is efficient, scalable, resilient and agile.

The Aladdin Platform Management function sits at the core of DWS’s investment operations and technology enablement framework, ensuring that the Aladdin platform is governed, controlled and maintained in a way that supports robust day-to-day business operations and scalable change delivery. The role forms part of the Smart Middle Office, which brings together deep operational expertise, technology enablement and practical AI capability to make processes more transparent, efficient, controlled and insight-driven. The team partners closely with global stakeholders including Operations, Portfolio Management, Trading, Compliance, Audit, IGM, Technology and BlackRock/BRS to support both day-to-day business operations (Run the Bank) and strategic initiatives (Change the Bank).

As part of this agenda, the successful candidate will be expected to actively contribute to automation, AI-enabled process improvement, data-driven controls and smart workflow design, while ensuring that operational risk, auditability and sound governance remain embedded in everything the team delivers.

Your responsibilities –

As our Operations Specialist- Aladdin Platform Management- AVP you will:

• Own and execute Aladdin user access and entitlement management, ensuring access is appropriate, controlled, timely, and aligned with internal governance and segregation-of-duty requirements.
• Manage port group administration across the Aladdin platform, ensuring accurate setup, maintenance, and control of portfolio groupings in line with business, operational, and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and coordinate UACB-related activities, including required documentation, evidence gathering, stakeholder input, and follow-up actions to support robust access governance.
• Oversee technical and application accounts, including associated access controls, periodic reviews, recertifications, and remediation of control gaps.
• Act as a key coordination point between Operations, BlackRock/BRS, Technology, Compliance, Audit, and other relevant stakeholders to resolve platform-related issues and support controlled change delivery.
• Strengthen governance, audit readiness, and control monitoring across Aladdin Platform Management by maintaining clear ownership, documentation, evidence standards, and issue tracking.
• Identify, assess, and remediate operational risks, control weaknesses, and process inconsistencies, ensuring sustainable solutions are implemented and embedded.
• Support the broader Aladdin Operations agenda, including global Aladdin portfolio setup activities and BRS relationship management where required.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, automation, and simplification of platform management processes, helping to create scalable, transparent, and well-controlled operating models.

We are looking for:   

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in financial services, asset management, operations, technology, platform management, or a related control function.
• Strong working knowledge of BlackRock Aladdin, ideally including user access, entitlement management, port groups, portfolio setup, and platform governance.
• Experience with access management processes, application controls, technical accounts, recertifications, segregation of duties, and audit evidence requirements.
• Good understanding of operational risk, control frameworks, issue management, remediation tracking, and governance standards within a regulated financial services environment.
• Proven ability to coordinate effectively with BlackRock/BRS, Technology, Operations, Compliance, Audit, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and deliver controlled change.
• Ability to analyse complex platform, access, or control issues, identify root causes, and drive sustainable resolutions with clear ownership and minimal oversight.
• Comfortable operating in a global, matrix environment, with strong communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders across regions and functions.
• Experience contributing to process improvement, workflow design, documentation standards, automation, or digital tooling within an Operations or platform management environment.
• Practical knowledge of Excel, data analysis, reporting, workflow tools, Power Automate, SQL, Python, or similar technologies would be beneficial.
• Strong ownership mindset with the ability to operate independently as a subject matter expert.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet tight deadlines, and maintain high accuracy.
• Continuous improvement mindset with focus on operational efficiency and scalability.
• Proven ability to leverage AI tools to enhance productivity, optimise workflows to solve business problems, while applying critical judgment to ensure responsible and ethical use of data and AI outputs.
• Ability to bridge operational subject matter expertise with technology and AI teams, translating business requirements into pragmatic, controlled and measurable solutions.

What we’ll offer you:

At DWS we’re serious about diversity, equity and creating an inclusive culture where colleagues can be themselves sand it’s important to us that you enjoy coming to work - feeling healthy, happy and rewarded. At DWS, you’ll have access to a range of benefits which you can choose from to create a personalised plan unique to your lifestyle. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, company perks, or are thinking about your retirement plan, there’s something for everyone.

DWS’ Hybrid Working model is designed to find the right balance between in-person collaboration and engagement in the office, which is core to our working culture, and working from home. Each business group varies on the split between time spent in the office and at home, but this will be discussed and made clear as part of your application and interview process. We will continue to review and evolve our working environments and methods to ensure that we are working in the best way possible for our people.

If you require any adjustments or changes to be made to the interview process for any reason including, or related to a disability or long-term health condition, then please contact your recruiter and let them know what assistance you may need. Examples of adjustments include providing a change to the format of the interview, or providing assistance when at the DWS office. This will not affect your application and your recruitment team will discuss options with you

We at DWS are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, one that embraces dialogue and diverse views, and treats everyone fairly to drive a high-performance culture. The value we create for our clients and investors is based on our ability to bring together various perspectives from all over the world and from different backgrounds. It is our experience that teams perform better and deliver improved outcomes when they are able to incorporate a wide range of perspectives. We call this #ConnectingTheDots.