Compliance Director, Recordkeeping Services & Institutional Distribution

Vanguard • Malvern, PA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Vanguard has an exciting opportunity for a Compliance Director for Recordkeeping Services and Institutional Distribution Compliance. In this role you will be responsible for owning Vanguard’s compliance advisory coverage model for retirement plan recordkeeping services and other institutional distribution-related business activities. The ideal candidate should demonstrate a strong track record of delivering a risk management framework at scale in a dynamic business environment, providing leadership to a team of professionals, and serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders. This role is a thought leader within the Compliance Department with significant visibility to senior compliance leadership and governance bodies.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in financial services with at least 5 years in compliance, risk, legal or a control function.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Experience leading and developing high‑performing teams.
• Ability to build or evolve a risk coverage model (or comparable controls/operating model) that includes intake, triage, escalation, and transparency.
• Proven ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical, business‑ready guidance.
• Executive presence: ability to translate complex compliance issues into plain-English options and decision-ready recommendations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting retirement plan recordkeeping or similar complex financial services preferred.
• Experience with U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and ERISA regulatory frameworks preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously evolve the compliance coverage of Vanguard’s retirement plan recordkeeping services and other institutional distribution-related business activities.
• Establish efficient and effective processes to identify, assess, remediate, and report on material compliance risks.
• Educate business partners on how to engage compliance, when escalation is required, and what good controls look like.
• Lead preparation for, and coordination of, regulatory examinations, audits, inquiries, and supervisory interactions.
• Ensure compliance coverage adapts as business models, products, services, and regulatory expectations change.
• Lead and develop a team of compliance professionals, setting clear expectations and measurable outcomes.
• Drive consistent execution through effective leadership, oversight, and accountability.
• Coach and develop talent through feedback, prioritization discipline, and consistent standards for written/oral communication.
• Serve as a trusted compliance advisor and partner.
• Develop deep knowledge and act as the expert for complex recordkeeping, retirement services and other institutional distribution matters.
• Build and strengthen strong partnerships with senior business leaders, compliance colleagues, advisory partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Provide practical, risk-based guidance across topics applicable to the recordkeeping business and institutional distribution activities, including ERISA/DOL and SEC considerations.
• Create and mature clear, concise, and decision‑oriented upward reporting to senior compliance department leadership and relevant governance bodies.
• Surface material compliance risks with appropriate context, impact analysis, and recommended paths forward.
• Support enterprise‑level risk discussions by connecting recordkeeping‑specific issues to broader compliance and reputational considerations.

Benefits

• Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of its crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior