Director, Strategy & Execution - ETF & Index Investments

About the role

The Director, Strategy & Execution is the senior executive responsible for turning global ETF strategy into disciplined, scalable execution across regions, platforms, and functions. This role serves as the integrator and operator-in-chief for the ETF & Index business, aligning a long-term vision to commercial priorities, operating models, technology, governance, KPIs, benefits realization, and continuous improvement with the right talent to support growth, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.

Responsibilities

• Translate global ETF strategy into executable operating plans across regions and functions.
• Connect and lead a high-performing global ETF operating organization with clear role clarity, accountability, project and resource planning.
• Enable commercial execution by ensuring operational and primary market readiness for: Product launches, conversions, strategy and index transitions, Market and regional expansion, Internal and external partnership alignment to drive results.
• Represent the ETF business in commercial and enterprise forums focused on strategy, risk, and scalability.
• Own and continuously evolve the global ETF operating model, including: Clear decision rights and accountability, Scalable, standardized processes, End-to-end ownership from ideation through lifecycle management.
• Drive alignment between ETF business priorities and enterprise architecture to ensure platform support, growth, scale, and regulatory requirements.
• Create governance framework and cadence to establish co-actioning on issues, decisions and project logs and translate constraints into actions across product and distribution partnerships.
• Own the ETF execution risk & control framework through engagement with investment support, risk, compliance, audit, ETF operations, and fund administration touchpoints.
• Lead incident response and playbooks for material operational events.

Requirements

• College graduate in related field, or related work experience
• 10+ years relevant work experience in technical and leadership roles
• MBA and/or CFA/CIMA preferred
• Senior leadership experience in ETFs, asset management, or complex regulated financial services
• Track record of leading global strategy execution in both commercial and operational growth
• Experience partnering closely with Technology and Enterprise Architecture teams
• Strong understanding of ETF operating lifecycles, from product development through ongoing management and end client
• Experience operating in global, multi-region environments
• Highly execution-oriented leader with strong strategic judgment
• Prowled change leader and communicator who aligns complex, matrixed organizations
• Commercially aware and operationally rigorous
• Proven influencer without reliance on direct authority
• Deep understanding of how technology, operating models, and people enable commercial outcomes
• Adept at incident triage, cross-functional coordination and risk management
• Calm under complexity; decisive under pressure
• Trusted partner to senior leadership, Boards, and regulators
• Builder of clarity, accountability, and momentum
• Direct experience with investment ETF platforms, capital markets, or quantitative/index-based investing preferred
• Leadership of large-scale technology, data, or infrastructure programs preferred
• Comfort working across Investments, Distribution, and Technology organizations preferred
• Familiarity with global ETF regulatory and market structures preferred

Benefits

Flexible paid time off
Hybrid work schedule
401(K) matching of 100% up to the first 6% with a discretionary supplemental contribution
Health & wellbeing benefits
Parental Leave benefits
Employee stock purchase plan

Pay

The total compensation offered for this position, which includes salary and incentive pay, will vary based on skills, experience and location. The salary range for this position in Downers Grove is $180,000 to $250,000 annually.

Schedule

Full Time