Director, Head of Family Governance and Philanthropy

BNY Mellon•New York, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re seeking a future team member for the role of Director, Head of Family Governance and Philanthropy to join our Wealth Management team. This role is located in NYC, Philadelphia, Boston, DC, Atlanta, Florida or Pittsburgh. In this role, you’ll make an impact in the following ways: Lead the continued development and delivery of BNY’s family governance and philanthropy offering for ultra-high-net-worth clients and families. Evolve an existing capability into a differentiated, scalable advisory practice with clear engagement models, intellectual capital, operating processes, referral pathways, and success metrics. Serve as a trusted advisor and skilled facilitator in client and family meetings, helping families navigate sensitive and complex conversations related to wealth, purpose, values, legacy, philanthropy, governance, communication, and multigenerational continuity. Advise families on governance structures and practices, including family meetings, decision-making frameworks, generational engagement, family communication, and stewardship development. Help families build the structural and interpersonal capacity needed to sustain wealth and family continuity over time, including preparing family members across generations to participate thoughtfully in governance, philanthropy, and shared decision-making. Guide clients in shaping philanthropic strategy, including charitable intent, family participation, legacy goals, and values-aligned giving, in partnership with internal and external specialists as appropriate. Design and lead educational programs, family experiences, workshops, and summits for ultra-high-net-worth families and rising-generation family members focused on stewardship, leadership, philanthropy, financial fluency, and responsible wealth ownership. Develop practical frameworks, discussion tools, educational materials, and client-facing content that support consistent and scalable delivery across the wealth management organization. Partner closely with wealth advisors, wealth strategists, trust managers, and other client-facing teams to integrate family governance and philanthropy into broader client strategy and ongoing relationship management. Enable internal teams to identify opportunities, position the offering effectively, and deliver a high-quality, coordinated client experience that deepens relationships and supports prospect development. Partner with Marketing and business leadership to shape BNY’s internal and external narrative around family governance, next-generation engagement, philanthropy, and multigenerational advisory work. Serve as an internal and external thought leader through strategic content, speaking engagements, events, and insights that enhance market visibility and advisor credibility. Establish operating standards, reporting, and business metrics to measure adoption, engagement, commercial influence, client impact, and overall success of the offering. Travel as needed to support client engagement, program delivery, advisor enablement, and strategic business priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
15+ years of experience in wealth management
A minimum of 5 years dedicated to family governance and philanthropic advisory
Deep experience advising high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families on multigenerational wealth, legacy, governance, family communication, philanthropy, and stewardship-related issues.
Proven ability to build, scale, and commercialize an advisory offering, specialized practice, or strategic client capability.
Strong executive presence and exceptional facilitation skills, with the ability to lead nuanced, personal, and sometimes emotionally complex family conversations with discretion, empathy, and credibility.
Demonstrated ability to help families navigate differing perspectives, communication styles, readiness levels, and generational dynamics in productive and constructive ways.
Strong knowledge of philanthropic strategy and the charitable landscape
Experience designing and delivering client education, family meetings, workshops, summits, or rising-generation development programs.
Demonstrated success creating frameworks, intellectual capital, and client-facing content that can be used consistently across a broad advisory organization.
Strong partnership skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders across relationship management, planning, fiduciary, investment, marketing, and business leadership teams.
Strong strategic, analytical, and business management capabilities, including the ability to define objectives, assess opportunity, measure outcomes, and communicate value in business terms.
Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to create structure, momentum, and credibility in an evolving area of the business.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree preferred
Familiarity with common charitable structures, vehicles, and governance considerations preferred
Thought leadership, speaking, publishing, or market-facing experience preferred

Responsibilities

Lead the continued development and delivery of BNY’s family governance and philanthropy offering for ultra-high-net-worth clients and families.
Evolve an existing capability into a differentiated, scalable advisory practice with clear engagement models, intellectual capital, operating processes, referral pathways, and success metrics.
Serve as a trusted advisor and skilled facilitator in client and family meetings, helping families navigate sensitive and complex conversations related to wealth, purpose, values, legacy, philanthropy, governance, communication, and multigenerational continuity.
Advise families on governance structures and practices, including family meetings, decision-making frameworks, generational engagement, family communication, and stewardship development.
Help families build the structural and interpersonal capacity needed to sustain wealth and family continuity over time, including preparing family members across generations to participate thoughtfully in governance, philanthropy, and shared decision-making.
Guide clients in shaping philanthropic strategy, including charitable intent, family participation, legacy goals, and values-aligned giving, in partnership with internal and external specialists as appropriate.
Design and lead educational programs, family experiences, workshops, and summits for ultra-high-net-worth families and rising-generation family members focused on stewardship, leadership, philanthropy, financial fluency, and responsible wealth ownership.
Develop practical frameworks, discussion tools, educational materials, and client-facing content that support consistent and scalable delivery across the wealth management organization.
Partner closely with wealth advisors, wealth strategists, trust managers, and other client-facing teams to integrate family governance and philanthropy into broader client strategy and ongoing relationship management.
Enable internal teams to identify opportunities, position the offering effectively, and deliver a high-quality, coordinated client experience that deepens relationships and supports prospect development.
Partner with Marketing and business leadership to shape BNY’s internal and external narrative around family governance, next-generation engagement, philanthropy, and multigenerational advisory work.
Serve as an internal and external thought leader through strategic content, speaking engagements, events, and insights that enhance market visibility and advisor credibility.
Establish operating standards, reporting, and business metrics to measure adoption, engagement, commercial influence, client impact, and overall success of the offering.
Travel as needed to support client engagement, program delivery, advisor enablement, and strategic business priorities.