Director, Client Implementation and Transitions

Cambridge Associates•Boston, MA

1d•$136,600 - $183,000

About The Position

The role sits within the Client Implementations & Transitions team, part of the broader Global Portfolio Services group, and reports to the Global Head of the Client Implementations & Transitions. The successful candidate will lead complex client onboarding, transition, service change, and offboarding activity for the U.S. Private Client business. As a senior individual contributor, this role is accountable for shaping and driving the end-to-end implementation approach for the most complex, high-risk, and high-visibility client events, requiring deep specialized expertise, strong judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous situations. The individual will serve as a partner to key stakeholders, including CIOs, Investment Directors, Business Development Directors, and clients, aligning parties across functions, identifying and managing risks, and driving decisions to successful outcomes. The role will contribute meaningfully to the effectiveness of the U.S. Client Implementations & Transitions function through leadership and support of governance standards, operating model enhancements, and strategic process improvements that improve scalability, consistency, and client experience. In addition to leading execution of complex events, the individual will serve as a subject matter expert and trusted partner, contributing to functional priorities and helping strengthen the broader client transition framework.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (preferably in a relevant field).
Proven experience leading complex client onboarding, transition and service change events within investment management, wealth management or a related buy-side environment is essential.
Deep understanding of investment operations, implementation workflows and service-provider co-ordination across complex client structures, with a proven track record of delivering complex operating model changes.
Excellent client relationship management skills, with the ability to build credibility and trust with both internal stakeholders and external clients.
Demonstrated ability to influence across multiple stakeholder groups, including senior business leaders, client-facing teams, operations, legal, compliance and third-party providers.
Strong judgement and experience managing complex decisions, competing priorities and implementation risk in a client-sensitive environment.
Track record of contributing to strategic priorities, process improvement and operating model enhancement, not solely day-to-day execution.
Must be a keen problem solver. The individual should be able to confidently tackle unfamiliar challenges and tasks.
Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
Able to own, manage and escalate implementation risk, with experience making risk-based decisions in complex and time-sensitive situations.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with confidence engaging senior internal stakeholders and sophisticated external clients.
Ability to multi-task and manage time is critical. The individual will be tasked with overseeing multiple change projects simultaneously.
Ability to work independently and to tight deadlines.
A proven track record of identifying and implementing process improvements, and contributing to strategic initiatives and operating model development.
Able to work collaboratively with others – both as a project lead and as a contributor (to strategic initiatives).
Proficient in using Microsoft Office (Excel, Power Point, Word, SharePoint and Visio) and project management tools.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of alternative asset classes, in particular; Private Equity, Private Credit, Hedge Funds, and Real Assets would be advantageous.
A high-level understanding of the US regulatory landscape would be advantageous.
Experience supporting Ultra High Net Worth / Private Clients would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior relationship partner to event stakeholders, including but not limited to Business Development Directors, CIOs, Investment Directors, practice leadership and external clients throughout onboarding, transition, service change and off-boarding events.
Build trusted relationships across the U.S. Private Client business to ensure implementation activity is aligned with client objectives, service expectations and broader business priorities.
Engage proactively with external clients, family offices, custodians and third-party providers to support a seamless and high-quality implementation experience.
Act as the senior point of contact for complex implementation matters, ensuring clear communication, effective expectation setting and timely resolution of issues.
Lead the end-to-end implementation strategy and execution for complex client onboarding, service change and off-boarding events across the U.S. client base, with a particular focus on Private Clients.
Establish the implementation approach, governance structure, key decision points, milestones and stakeholder accountabilities for each engagement.
Maintain oversight of implementation plans, status, actions and stakeholder communications to support disciplined delivery and informed decision-making.
Ensure key milestones, service expectations and implementation deliverables are met.
Drive alignment across internal and external stakeholders to deliver successful implementation outcomes while balancing client needs, operational feasibility, risk and timing considerations.
Lead cross-functional forums and decision-making discussions to maintain momentum, resolve dependencies and address issues in a timely manner.
Own the identification, assessment and management of implementation risks, dependencies and issues across complex client events.
Exercise sound judgement in making and recommending complex implementation decisions, balancing client experience, operational integrity, regulatory requirements and firm risk considerations.
Escalate material risks and sensitive matters appropriately, while maintaining accountability for driving resolution and protecting client outcomes.
Ensure implementation activity is executed within the required control framework and in accordance with applicable policies, procedures and regulatory expectations.
Own adherence to documentation and control requirements, including evidence needed to support SOC 1 and audit requests.
Contribute to the development of the U.S. Client Implementations & Transitions operating model, including governance, process standards and cross-functional ways of working.
Partner with key business stakeholders to support strategic priorities and initiatives within the U.S. Private Client business.
Identify themes, bottlenecks and opportunities arising from implementation activity and implement changes that improve scalability, efficiency, risk management and client experience.
Help define and embed best practices across the function, supporting consistency and quality of delivery across complex client events.
Provide leadership, guidance and subject matter expertise to colleagues involved in implementation activity, even where there is no direct line-management responsibility.
Ensure effective handover of Day 2 activities to the appropriate teams, with clear ownership and continuity of service.
Lead post-implementation reviews and capture lessons learned to strengthen future execution and the broader client implementation framework.