Investment Services Product & Operations Legal, Managing Director

State Street•Boston, MA

7d•$170,000 - $282,500

About The Position

State Street is a leading provider of financial services to institutional investors. The Investment Services division is a core strategic business, offering a range of asset servicing solutions. This role is for a senior legal executive to support this critical global business, partnering with executive leaders across various departments. The position involves influencing product strategy, operating model evolution, regulatory implementation, commercial arrangements, and transformation initiatives. The role also includes leading and developing a team of legal professionals and driving legal strategy across a diverse portfolio. This is an opportunity for a legal executive seeking significant business influence, executive visibility, leadership responsibility, and the chance to shape a global asset servicing franchise.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited U.S. law school and active license to practice law in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
15+ years of legal experience in financial services, including experience at a law firm, financial institution, or preferably a combination of both.
Significant experience advising financial institutions, asset servicing organizations, custodian banks, asset managers, or other institutional financial services businesses.
Deep understanding of institutional asset servicing products, services, operating models, and delivery frameworks, including custody, accounting, trustee services, fund administration, transfer agency, ETF servicing, middle-office services, collateral services, securities lending, and related solutions.
Demonstrated ability to advise on legal, regulatory, operational, and commercial matters affecting products and services across multiple client segments, jurisdictions, and operating environments.
Experience supporting enterprise-wide initiatives involving product strategy, operating model evolution, technology modernization, outsourcing, global delivery models, business transformation, or organizational change.
Strong understanding of how Product, Operations, Technology, Risk, Compliance, and Client Service functions interact within a large-scale financial services organization.
Demonstrated ability to lead legal teams, manage complex matters, and provide sound judgment in high-pressure environments.
Proven experience advising senior executives and influencing decision-making across Legal, Operations, Product, Technology, Risk, Compliance, and business leadership teams.
Experience negotiating and overseeing sophisticated commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, outsourcing arrangements, and client-facing contracts.
Ability to evaluate legal, regulatory, operational, financial, and reputational risks and provide practical recommendations that support business objectives.
Experience interacting with regulators, industry organizations, outside counsel, and senior external stakeholders.
Exceptional analytical, drafting, negotiation, communication, client service, and problem-solving skills.
Strong organizational, leadership, and resource management capabilities, including talent development, succession planning, and team leadership.
Experience supporting large-scale operational transformation, technology modernization, regulatory implementation, or enterprise change programs within a highly regulated environment.
Ability to thrive in a dynamic global environment and provide practical, business-oriented legal advice across a broad and evolving portfolio of products and services.

Nice To Haves

Executive presence and the credibility to influence senior leaders across a complex global organization.
A broad enterprise perspective and the ability to understand how products, operations, technology, and client delivery models interact across multiple client segments and jurisdictions.
Exceptional judgment and the ability to make well-reasoned decisions in complex, high-pressure, or ambiguous situations.
A practical, commercially focused approach to legal advice and problem solving.
Strategic leadership skills and the ability to align legal priorities with evolving business objectives.
The ability to identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and optimize legal support models across a large-scale global platform.
Strong leadership capabilities and a demonstrated commitment to developing future legal leaders.
A collaborative approach and the ability to build trusted relationships across Legal, Product, Operations, Technology, Risk, Compliance, Audit, and client-facing organizations.
A commitment to integrity, accountability, disciplined risk management, and ethical leadership.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior legal leader supporting one of State Street's most important global businesses.
Partner directly with executive leaders across Product, Operations, Technology, Risk, Compliance, Audit, Procurement, and Client organizations.
Influence product strategy, operating model evolution, regulatory implementation, commercial arrangements, and enterprise transformation initiatives.
Lead and develop a sophisticated team of attorneys and legal professionals.
Drive legal strategy across a broad portfolio of products, services, jurisdictions, and client segments.
Operate at the intersection of business strategy, innovation, operational execution, governance, and risk management.
Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior business leaders responsible for Investment Services products, operations, and transformation initiatives.
Provide practical and actionable legal advice regarding Investment Services clients, products, and operations, including custody, accounting, trustee, transfer agency, fund administration, and related asset servicing solutions.
Counsel business leaders on legal, regulatory, operational, commercial, financial, and reputational risks associated with product strategy, operating model evolution, client service activities, and strategic initiatives.
Translate complex legal and regulatory matters into practical, commercially oriented guidance that supports business objectives.
Develop legal strategies that enable innovation while appropriately managing risk.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of Investment Services products, services, operating models, and delivery capabilities across client segments, jurisdictions, and functional areas.
Advise business leaders on legal implications associated with product strategy, operating model evolution, service delivery optimization, and cross-business initiatives.
Support efforts to simplify, standardize, and scale legal support frameworks across products and services operating in multiple geographies and client segments.
Partner with Product, Operations, Technology, and Transformation leaders to drive consistency, efficiency, governance, and strategic alignment across the Investment Services franchise.
Evaluate legal and regulatory implications of initiatives that affect multiple products, client segments, jurisdictions, or operating environments.
Provide legal guidance throughout the product lifecycle, including design, enhancement, commercialization, client implementation, and regulatory change.
Support major transformation initiatives, technology modernization programs, outsourcing arrangements, operating model redesigns, acquisitions, integrations, and organizational changes.
Advise on legal considerations associated with emerging technologies, digital initiatives, service delivery strategies, and evolving operational capabilities.
Partner with Product and Operations leadership to support business growth, innovation, and operational excellence.
Oversee the drafting, review, negotiation, and interpretation of complex asset servicing agreements, disclosures, client communications, and related documentation.
Advise on strategic commercial arrangements involving clients, vendors, third-party providers, and business partners.
Support significant client negotiations, escalations, and issue resolution efforts.
Establish consistent legal approaches and governance frameworks across products, services, and contractual arrangements.
Partner with Compliance, Risk, Audit, Technology, Procurement, Operations, and other control functions on regulatory change, governance enhancements, incident response, remediation efforts, and strategic initiatives.
Support regulatory examinations, inquiries, remediation programs, claims, disputes, and interactions with regulators and industry utilities.
Evaluate legal, regulatory, operational, commercial, and reputational risks and escalate significant matters when appropriate.
Drive consistency and continuous improvement across legal processes, risk assessment frameworks, governance models, and business support activities.
Lead, manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of attorneys and legal professionals supporting a broad portfolio of Investment Services products, operations, and enterprise initiatives.
Establish the strategic direction and priorities for the team while ensuring effective allocation of legal resources across a complex and evolving global business.
Serve as a member of the senior Legal leadership team, helping shape talent strategies, risk management approaches, governance frameworks, operating models, and organizational priorities.
Influence business and legal strategy through active participation in senior management discussions involving products, operations, technology modernization, transformation initiatives, regulatory change, and business growth.
Build succession plans and develop future legal leaders through coaching, mentorship, sponsorship, and professional development.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, sound judgment, ethical leadership, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Promote alignment and partnership across legal teams supporting different client segments, products, jurisdictions, and functional areas.
Drive operational excellence through effective delegation, prioritization, governance, resource management, and knowledge sharing.
Help ensure consistency of legal advice, risk evaluation, and business support across the broader Investment Services franchise.

Benefits

retirement savings plan (401K) with company match
insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and other optional additional coverages
paid-time off including vacation, sick leave, short term disability, and family care responsibilities
access to our Employee Assistance Program
incentive compensation including eligibility for annual performance-based awards
eligibility for certain tax advantaged savings plans
inclusive development opportunities
flexible work-life support
paid volunteer days
vibrant employee networks