Description

Company Overview

Our client is a global investment platform that partners with and builds exceptional teams. They provide capital, expertise, and infrastructure across the manager life cycle. Managing over €15 billion in assets across multiple strategies, the firm combines long-term partnership, institutional discipline, and purpose-driven stewardship to create sustainable value for its partners, investors, and communities.

Role Overview

The Director of Special Projects & Business Operations will support the CFO and senior leadership by leading a portfolio of high-priority, cross-functional initiatives that sit outside day-to-day BAU ownership.

The role is intentionally execution-focused, acting as a central problem solver and delivery lead for projects that require coordination across Investment, Finance, Legal, Tax, Technology, Data, and third-party providers. These initiatives may evolve over time, but will typically relate to operating model changes, outsourcing initiatives, systems improvements, and platform scalability.

This role is designed to be pragmatic, delivery-oriented, and adaptable, providing the business with additional capacity to progress important initiatives without creating unnecessary organisational friction.

Core Responsibilities

Special Projects & Cross-Functional Delivery

• Lead and deliver a defined set of priority projects on behalf of the CFO and senior leadership.
• Own initiatives and operating model changes from problem definition through execution and stabilisation.
• Establish practical project governance, including timelines, dependencies, risks, and decision points.
• Drive alignment across stakeholders while respecting existing functional ownership.
• Identify and resolve delivery risks early, escalating thoughtfully where required.

Business Operations & Operating Model Support

• Support targeted improvements to the business and operating models as the platform scales.
• Contribute to initiatives involving:
  • Outsourcing or re-scoping of operational activities
  • Clarification of roles, responsibilities, and hand-offs between teams and providers
  • Process standardisation and simplification
• Work collaboratively with functional owners rather than replacing or duplicating line responsibility.

Outsourcing & Third-Party Projects

• Support specific initiatives involving third-party administrators, banks, or other service providers.
• Lead discrete workstreams such as:
  • Transition planning and execution
  • Data migration and process handover
  • Definition of service levels, KPIs, and governance arrangements
• Act as a central coordinator to ensure accountability across internal and external stakeholders.

Systems, Process & Data Initiatives

• Lead or support projects related to systems implementations, enhancements, or process automation.
• Partner with Finance, Technology, and Data teams to improve:
  • Data quality and consistency
  • Integration between systems
  • Efficiency and scalability of key processes
• Focus on practical improvements rather than large-scale re-engineering unless explicitly mandated.

New Initiatives & Platform Readiness

• Support new fund launches, strategies, or structural changes by coordinating operational readiness.
• Identify execution risks early and ensure appropriate mitigation plans are in place.
• Act as a bridge between strategic intent and operational reality.

Stakeholder Management & Governance

• Work closely with senior stakeholders across Investment, Finance, Legal, Tax, Technology, IR, and ESG.
• Communicate progress, risks, and decisions clearly and concisely.
• Escalate issues appropriately while maintaining trust and momentum.
• Operate with discretion, judgement, and a strong sense of organisational context.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• 8-12+ years' experience in business operations, special projects, transformation, or platform roles within private markets, asset management, or adjacent environments.
• Strong track record of delivering complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and taking ownership where accountability is diffuse.
• Solid understanding of private markets operating environments and investment lifecycle mechanics.

Preferred

• Experience supporting outsourcing initiatives or working with third-party administrators.
• Exposure to systems or data-related projects in investment or finance contexts.
• Background combining advisory/project work with in-house delivery.

Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong execution and follow-through.
• Structured thinker with a pragmatic, solution-oriented mindset.
• Credible and calm operator with senior stakeholders.
• Low-ego, collaborative approach with high personal accountability.
• Ability to adapt role scope as business priorities evolve.