The posting
Firm Overview:
Cambridge Associates (“CA”) is a leading global investment firm. CA’s goal is to help endowments & foundations, pension plans, and ultra-high net worth private clients implement and manage custom investment portfolios that generate outperformance so that they can maximize their impact on the world. Cambridge Associates delivers a range of services, including outsourced CIO, non-discretionary portfolio management, and investment consulting.
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, CA has offices in key markets in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Our worldwide teams ensure our clients benefit from decades of global presence, local expertise, and relationships with the top global investment managers across the world. For more information, please visit www.cambridgeassociates.com.
Job Description Summary:
The US Private Client Functional Lead is a senior member of the Global Portfolio Services team. This critical role is a member of both the practice and Portfolio Implementation Management leadership teams, bringing subject matter expertise, strategic oversight, and people leadership to the US Private Client PIM team. The Functional Lead is accountable for defining and advancing standard operating principles, identifying opportunities to enhance the trade implementation platform, service models, and processes, and ensuring the team is positioned to support the evolving needs of the practice and its clients.
The Functional Lead oversees all facets of the US Private Client PIM team, partnering with department, practice, and Human Capital leadership on talent development, staffing, succession planning, and team management. They are expected to operate as the senior subject matter expert on the most complex portfolio implementation and operational matters, independently drive solutions with broad organizational impact, and invest meaningfully in the development of others through coaching, mentorship, and formal management responsibilities. The role requires strong judgment, deep functional expertise, people leadership, and the ability to drive change across a complex stakeholder environment.
Job Description:
Functional Leadership
- Lead the US Private Client PIM function, setting direction for team priorities, operating practices, execution standards, and service consistency.
- Serve as the senior subject matter expert and main point of escalation for the most complex, non-standard, and high-risk private client portfolio implementation issuesDemonstrate mastery of core middle-office functions and CA applications, with deep understanding of trade management, implementation workflows, and related processes Anticipate issues and advise on complex client nuances, operational requirements, and trade-related complexities
- Lead process and policy enhancements and identify opportunities to improve the trade implementation platform, service models, and operating procedures
- Advocate for controls and best practices, challenge the status quo, and independently drive solutions that improve processes and procedures across the platform
- Lead formal initiatives with Operations and business teams that strengthen processes and deliver broad organizational impact
Leadership and Culture
- Lead with sound judgement and accountability in complex, high-visibility situations.
- Create and cultivate a collaborative PIM culture focused on knowledge sharing, consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Provide management and oversight of practice-level PIM colleagues and lead by example across regions, groups, and functionsDemonstrate strong decision-making ability and take ownership for staffing plans, succession planning, and day-to-day management of senior team members Support the development of managers and team members through coaching, mentorship, and formal development support, including newer PIM Directors and adjacent partners
- Embody and promote CA values while leading change that improves the organization and makes CA a better place to work
Platform Strategy
- Serve as the primary stakeholder contact on implementation, service offering, and business development needs.
- Build effective partnerships across regions, groups, and functions to advance team, practice and platform priorities.
- Communicate portfolio implementation strategies and considerations effectively to clients, prospects, managers, and vendors.
QUALIFICATIONS
- BA/BS required. An MBA or CFA is strongly preferred
- 10+ years of related work experience; investment and portfolio operations background required, with alternative asset servicing and experience working with regulated fund vehicles preferred
- Experience working with institutional and private clients, with the ability to differentiate among service models and align offerings with evolving client needs
- Demonstrated analytical, organizational, project management, and process improvement skills
- Exceptional leadership skills, including strong judgment, decision-making, and the ability to influence desired outcomes across stakeholder groups
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the interpersonal ability to independently manage challenging client and stakeholder situations
- Self-reliant, strategic, and results-oriented, with a track record of driving meaningful change and broad impact
- Ability to balance immediate practice needs with broader functional and platform priorities.
Base salary range for this role:
Pay Range Minimum:
166000
Pay Range Maximum:
222400
In addition to the listed salary range, this position is eligible for an annual performance-based bonus and a comprehensive, competitive benefits package. Actual placement within the stated salary range will be determined based on factors such as skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as internal equity.
The firm is committed to the concept and practice of equal employment opportunity and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. It is expected that all employees will follow a similar policy toward their co-workers.
