Senior Vice President, Third Party Relationship Management

HarbourVest Partners•Boston, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

HarbourVest is seeking a Senior Vice President, Third Party Relationship Management to establish the global strategic direction, governance framework, and operating model for the firm’s third-party administrator (TPA) platform. This executive leader will serve as the senior sponsor for critical administrator relationships, ensuring alignment between service providers and business objectives. The role reports to the Head of Enterprise Operations & Strategy in Boston and requires close collaboration with executive leadership across Product, Technology, Legal, Finance, Risk, Client Operations, Tax Compliance, AIFM, and Credit Operations to deliver sustainable growth, innovation, and operational transformation. This is a critical executive leadership position responsible for shaping the future of HarbourVest's global operating model and ensuring the firm continues to deliver industry-leading service, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. The ideal candidate will combine deep private markets operating expertise with exceptional executive leadership capabilities, driving long-term initiatives that strengthen HarbourVest's growth and enhance client experience globally. This position will have a hybrid work arrangement, offering 18 remote workdays per quarter.

Requirements

15+ years of leadership experience within investment management, private markets, alternatives, fund administration, or asset servicing.
Significant executive-level experience being responsible for fund operations, administration, and outsourced operating models.
Demonstrated success building and driving enterprise operating strategies within sophisticated global organizations.
Deep expertise across private market fund structures, NAV governance, regulatory considerations, and investor servicing models.
Proven capability maintaining strategic relationships with fund administrators, custodians, and other key service providers.
Experience influencing senior participants while driving organizational change and business transformation.
Experience leading large-scale initiatives with enterprise-wide impact across multiple business functions and geographies.
Proven ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution and measurable business outcomes.
Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field, or equivalent experience, required.

Nice To Haves

MBA or equivalent experience preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Establish and implement the long-term vision and strategic roadmap for HarbourVest's global TPA operating model.
Serve as the executive sponsor for key administrator relationships, ensuring alignment between service providers and HarbourVest's business strategy.
Drive enterprise-wide operational transformation initiatives that enhance scalability, efficiency, control frameworks, and client outcomes.
Influence executive decision-making by providing insight into industry trends, operational risks, emerging technologies, and future-state capabilities.
Partner with senior leadership to support business growth initiatives, new product launches, market expansion, and evolving client demands.
Define and lead all aspects of enterprise governance frameworks governing administrators and service providers.
Ensure oversight of and reputational risks associated with outsourced operational activities.
Lead executive-level governance forums and performance reviews, ensuring accountability, clarity, and continuous improvement.
Negotiate strategic service agreements, operating models, performance expectations, and transformation initiatives with key partners.
Lead issue management and resolution of critical business issues impacting clients, fund operations, or corporate objectives.
Continuously evaluate service provider capabilities, market developments, and opportunities for optimization.
Drive modernization efforts through automation, digitization, data strategy, and technology-enabled operating models.
Sponsor initiatives to simplify operating processes, enhance visibility, improve data quality, and increase operational leverage.
Collaborate with Technology and Product leadership to define future-state capabilities and platform strategies.
Build, develop, and lead high-performing global teams focused on operational excellence, accountability, and innovation.
Mentor team members and champion collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
Strengthening cross-functional partnerships and alignment across business divisions and regions.