Senior Program Lead, Client Integration

G MASS Consulting are partnered with a leading global fund administration and alternative asset services provider, as they seek a Senior Program Lead to join their North American Client Integration team.
This is a senior delivery leadership role at a time of significant growth, leading the firm's most complex client integrations, conversions and strategic programs. The Program Lead will own large, multi-workstream onboardings for alternative investment managers end to end, working across Fund Accounting, Investor Services, Operations, Technology and Business Development. They will be a trusted, senior point of contact for clients' senior management throughout onboarding.
The client requires a strong, seasoned program or project manager from the fund administration or alternatives services provider space, who has repeatedly delivered complex client onboardings, conversions and transformation programs. They will understand target operating models and the impact of structural decisions, and be comfortable managing C-suite stakeholders. The successful candidate will be senior enough to engage clients and executives with credibility and steady a challenging program, while remaining hands-on, delivery-focused and able to make an immediate impact in a fast-paced environment.
The role is offered as an initial 12 month contract, with a strong opportunity to convert to a permanent position subject to performance and fit.
Responsibilities:

Lead the firm's largest and most complex client integrations, conversions and strategic programs end to end, from scoping and planning through to go-live and transition to business as usual.
Define program scope, governance, milestones and delivery plans, ensuring clear ownership and accountability across competing priorities and dependencies.
Act as the senior point of contact for clients during onboarding, managing expectations and relationships with client senior management and third parties.
Coordinate Fund Accounting, Investor Services, Operations, Technology, Legal and Business Development so that internal workflows meet each client's unique requirements.
Support new business by participating in sales pitches, RFP/RFI responses and Proofs of Concept, and contribute to Administration Agreement (AA) and SLA negotiations.
Identify and manage risks and issues on high-risk programs, escalating where required and recommending company-wide solutions.
Produce high-quality status reporting and MIS for clients and the executive management team, with a strong emphasis on operational risk, escalation and complaints management.
Direct virtual delivery teams, including AVPs and project managers, and manage pipeline, resourcing and work allocation across concurrent programs.
Drive global best practice, standardisation and continuous improvement across the Client Integration function.

Requirements

A strong, demonstrable track record of delivering large-scale client onboardings, fund launches or conversions as a program or project manager within a fund administrator, alternatives services provider or comparable investment operations environment, rather than a pure IT project management background.
7+ years in the financial services industry, including 5+ years of project or program management and 3+ years of client services within asset management.
Solid knowledge of the alternatives fund lifecycle and the fund administration operating model, including fund accounting, investor services and middle office, and of how target operating model decisions affect clients and service delivery.
Proven knowledge of Listed and OTC products, and genuine interest in the hedge fund and wider alternatives industry.
Proven business analysis experience, with the ability to translate client requirements into workflows and delivery plans.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage client and internal stakeholders up to C-suite level, and to challenge where necessary.
3+ years of people and resource management experience, including leading and coaching virtual or matrixed delivery teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of status reporting and materials for executive audiences.
Degree qualified or holding a related professional qualification; a formal project management qualification, accounting background or relationship management experience is advantageous.

Benefits

Length: Initial 12 month contract, with a strong opportunity to convert to a permanent position subject to performance
Office: Toronto, Halifax, Malvern (Pennsylvania), Miami, Dallas, Jersey City or New York (hybrid; 3-4 days on-site requirement); USA-wide candidates open to relocation considered