Director, Family Services

Ilitch Holdings•Detroit, MI

21d

About The Position

The Director, Family Services plays a strategic leadership role within the Family Services team of the family office, overseeing the delivery of personalized, high-touch service to several ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) family households. This individual is accountable for cultivating and maintaining deep, trusted relationships with family members and key advisors, while also providing executive oversight of service delivery across a range of areas, including financial and estate planning, real estate, insurance, philanthropic initiatives, and lifestyle management. The Director will lead family relationships, manage junior Family Services colleagues, drive process improvement, and serve as a strategic advisor to ensure the evolving needs and goals of family clients are proactively met with discretion, excellence, and care.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, law, or related field required.
Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive experience in client relationship management, wealth management, or family office services, including direct experience serving UHNW families.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, lead cross-functional teams, and provide strategic counsel to sophisticated clients.
Deep knowledge of wealth management, estate and tax planning, financial planning, philanthropy, and insurance.
Executive presence with exceptional interpersonal, communication, and diplomatic skills.
Proven track record of navigating complex family dynamics with empathy, discretion, and tact.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills; ability to manage multiple priorities with a high level of attention to detail.
Technologically proficient.
High emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity.
Thoughtful and strategic, yet action-oriented and pragmatic.
Committed to service excellence with a proactive, anticipatory mindset.
Confident decision-maker with a collaborative and humble leadership style.
Unwavering discretion and integrity in handling sensitive family matters.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degrees (e.g., MBA, JD) or professional certifications (e.g., CFP, CPA, CTFA, PMP).
Familiarity with financial, CRM, and project management platforms (e.g., iManage, Bill.com, Monday.com).

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior relationship lead and trusted advisor for designated family households, guiding strategic discussions and service delivery aligned with their long-term personal and financial goals.
Provide tailored advice, identify evolving needs, and proactively develop solutions that enhance the family’s overall experience and well-being.
Build enduring, multi-generational relationships rooted in trust, responsiveness, discretion, and deep understanding of individual family dynamics.
Represent the family office with the highest degree of professionalism and confidentiality in all communications and engagements.
Lead and coordinate the end-to-end delivery of integrated family office services, including financial and estate planning, insurance, philanthropic strategy, real estate transactions, and personal concierge services.
Oversee execution of complex projects, coordinating with external advisors as appropriate, ensuring timely, seamless outcomes that reflect client priorities.
Supervise and approve bill payment processes, analyze financial data and spending trends, and contribute to strategic financial planning and reporting discussions.
Direct management of sensitive personal matters, including household staff oversight, vendor relationships, and bespoke client requests.
Partner with investment, legal, tax, philanthropic, and compliance professionals to align services with family objectives and mitigate risk.
Develop, implement, and refine internal systems and workflows that optimize service quality, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation.
Deliver high-impact reporting and updates to family clients and leadership, ensuring transparency on performance, milestones, and emerging concerns.
Manage strategic relationships with third-party advisors, including legal counsel, tax consultants, contractors, and wealth managers.
Evaluate, onboard, and cultivate relationships with best-in-class service providers that align with family expectations and values.
Ensure all external engagements reflect the professionalism and discretion of the family office, while maintaining oversight of compliance and service performance.
Coach and develop junior Family Services colleagues, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
Set clear expectations, provide performance feedback, and support professional growth of team members.
Ensure coordination and alignment across team activities to deliver consistent, high-quality experience for family clients.