Vice President, Enterprise Operations & Strategy

Job Description Summary

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking.

In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences.

We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm.

HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer.

This position will be a hybrid work arrangement. You will receive 18 remote workdays per quarter to use at your discretion, subject to manager approval. For example, you may choose to work in the office 4 days per week and take one remote day weekly (typically 13 weeks per quarter), leaving 5 additional remote days to be used as needed.

The Vice President, Enterprise Operations & Strategy will lead the operational build aspects for the firms’ new investment solutions for our clients. The Vice President will be part of the Client Operations platform, which is collectively responsible for identifying, assessing and standing up key new operational builds for the firm’s new products. 

The role will include close collaboration with the different areas of Client Operations and ongoing partnership with a diverse set of colleagues across the firm, including Strategy, Innovation, and Execution, Legal, Compliance, Marketing, Investor Relations, Private Wealth, Tax, and Financial Planning & Analysis, as well as external providers and advisors.

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Brings HarbourVest legacy background around systems and processes
• Ability to provide commercially driven insights that inform strategic decision making 
• Established network of industry relationships and contacts to leverage to support business research and best practices.  
• Brings cross functional expertise with experience in one or more of the five operational functions: Accounting, Client Experience, Performance/Analytics, Transfer Agent, Treasury, Corporate Finance, Compliance (Regulatory and Tax)
• Strong attention to detail and ability to push for client operational decisions on a project while seeking input from different perspectives, without existing precedents

• Experience with separately managed mandates, complex open and closed end fund structures, alternatives, private equity, credit investments, real assets and various performance fees structures. 
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts in simple terms by building a template/model, summarizing in writing and in person. 
• Experience working in team environments, with the ability to lead or facilitate group efforts. 

What you will do:

The Vice President, Enterprise Operations & Strategy will report into the Head of Enterprise Operations & Strategy and will lead the design the operational development of specific new products that are novel to the firm and align with the firm's strategy.

The role will include:

• Strong partnership and collaboration with an experienced group of senior professionals to assess the operational builds capacity and needs that may impact the operational model involving accounting, treasury functions, taxation, client onboarding, reporting, performance and third-party service providers.
• Assist in all aspects of the client operational launch of a new product from the point of concept to full transition to the “run” team. 
• Initial assessment of key new operational processes and technology require for new product implementation.  Leverage efficiencies and opportunities from past launches. 
• Establishing key dependencies and goals to meet client operational readiness launch targets 
• Carefully reviewing legal and other product documentation from an operational commercial perspective
• Soliciting feedback and input from a large cross-section of the organization and evaluating different inputs to inform decisions around product terms and related sales and operating models
• Coordinating with operational leads to ensure that the firm will be prepared to support the operational needs
•  Sharing experience and insights to influence product strategy and planning to build efficiencies across product strategies. 
• Other responsibilities as required

What you bring:

• 10+ years of professional experience in the private markets or asset management space, focused on client operations, understanding of fund structuring, involvement in product launch and related topics. 
• Demonstrated excellence in implementing multi-dimensional projects
• Strong familiarity with SEC regulatory reporting, US GAAP, LUX GAAP and other basis of accounting 
• Strong understanding of the mechanics and inter-dependencies of alternative investment funds
• Familiarity with different legal structures used for investors to access private market strategies

Education Preferred: 

• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in private equity or alternatives asset class