Alternative Investments Operations Manager

About The Role

As the Alternative Investments Operations Manager, you will be responsible for leading the Alternatives Investments team within Capital Markets Operations overseeing the trading, custody, and operational management of the Alternatives product, including Private Equity, REIT, Private Debt, 1031 Exchange Funds and other non-traditional products. This role serves as a critical liaison between Operations, Compliance, Legal, and Wealth Solution teams to ensure regulatory adherence, mitigate risks, and support the strategic growth of the alternative offerings.

The Impact You'll Make

• This role manages the performance, functions, and activities of associates within the team. Understanding of complex end-to-end knowledge and processes for alternative investments and all platforms required to support all internal and external clients.
• Oversee the custody of alternative investments, including coordination with valuation providers and internal systems for secure record-keeping.
• Drive operational planning to ensure that the team is positioned to meet and exceed client needs relative to department activities.
• Represent Operations in cross-functional meetings and initiatives related to alternative investments, ensuring alignment with the firm’s broader objectives.
• Ensure the execution of key Operations initiatives and activities supporting timely delivery of critical business success measurement goals as defined in Operations.
• A process subject matter expert who identifies opportunities for optimizing business productivity while demonstrating and ensuring data integrity expertise throughout the process.
• Work closely with their department Director on team development and resource planning efforts.
• Partner and actively interact with Wealth Solutions leadership and technical lead colleagues as a productive and collaborative member of the team.
• Maintain awareness of industry regulation changes and ensure regulatory guidelines and compliance standards are adhered to within Operations.
• Responsible for day-to-day oversight of the Alternatives Investments team ensuring the highest standards are upheld in all interactions.
• Provides coaching/training, as needed, fostering an environment of accountability to delivering client service best practices.
• Will interface with Private Wealth Management and Baird Capital Business as necessary and act as a primary escalation point for the team.
• Build relationships through partnership and collaboration with Operations, Wealth Solutions, and our business partners.
• Continuous learning opportunities through growing needs of our clients, technology advancements and changing regulatory guidelines.
  
  

What You'll Bring To Baird

• Bachelor’s degree with 3-5 years of relevant experience and a proven track record with demonstrated advancement in leadership roles. Experience should cover multiple functions, preferably within a diversified financial services firm or financial services regulatory body and include extensive knowledge of policies and procedures in the client services business model.
• SIE and Series 7 license required or willing to obtain within 120 days of hire.
• Strong leadership skills including excellent interpersonal, negotiation and influencing skills leading to trusting relationships with business partners and their leadership team.
• Will be driven to achieve results, thrive in a fast paced environment and be required to make decisions based on sound judgment with information at hand.
• The ability to convey issues credibly to internal and external stakeholders is a must.
• Proven Relationship/Account Management experience.
• Ability to work with a team and to motivate others.
• Client-Focused: Consistently delivering high quality service with resilience and resourcefulness.
• Change agent who is able to work effectively and collaboratively in a team environment and with associates at all levels and in all areas of the firm.
• Committed with a high level of drive, resilience and enthusiasm.