Executive Director, Office of the COO - Private Markets

Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM), together with its investment advisory affiliates, has more than $1.6 Trillion in assets under management or supervision as of March 31, 2025. Morgan Stanley Investment Management strives to provide outstanding long-term investment performance, service, and a comprehensive suite of investment management solutions to a diverse client base, which includes governments, institutions, corporations, and individuals worldwide.MSIM is seeking a seasoned Executive Director to join the Office of the COO Private Markets division. This strategic leadership role is pivotal in scaling operational capabilities, enhancing efficiency, and driving innovation across our private equity, private credit and real assets platforms increasing in size and complexity. This role will also ensure efficient stakeholder access to high quality data. The ideal candidate will possess a robust understanding of private markets operations, a strong technology acumen, and proven track record leading cross-functional initiatives.What you'll do in the role * Operational Strategy and Execution * Lead the development and implementation of target operating models across private market strategies, ensuring alignment with business strategy, scalability, and regulatory requirements. * Identify, evaluate, and execute operational improvement initiatives across fund operations, investment support, investor services, and corporate operations. * Establish and continuously refine standardized workflows, controls, and procedures across multiple fund vehicles and investment strategies to support growth and complexity. * Oversee operational support including fund administration onboarding for new strategies, products, and fund structures. * Governance and Strategic Initiatives * Collaborate with the head of operations and other executive leaders to formulate business plans, develop operating budgets, allocate resources efficiently, and design organizational structures. * Establish and monitor operational metrics to track performance and identify opportunities for improvement. * Manage frameworks for operational risk and vendor management. * Lead the implementation of strategic programs and ensure operational readiness for regulatory, compliance, or market-driven changes. * Represent Operations in internal committees, governance forums, and strategic initiatives, securing buy-in from various functions. * Work closely with key stakeholders, including Investment Teams, Technology, Legal & Compliance, and Finance, to align operational capabilities with strategic objectives. * Technology-Driven Transformation * Facilitate the automation of manual processes across diverse workflows, data collection, client reporting, and valuation cycles using digital and workflow tools. * Oversee requirements gathering, vendor evaluation, and end-to-end implementation of technology solutions to achieve scalability in collaboration with Technology and Data Governance teams. * Promote a technology focused approach within the operations function and the broader business. * Data and Reporting Enablement * Design and support buildout of a centralized data platform to facilitate investment, fund and investor data cross business units. * Partner with Data Governance to implement data governance protocols and promote adoption of data quality standards across the organization * Oversee implementation of operational dashboards for data workflow, data quality monitoring and performance tracking. * Ensure stakeholders have efficient access to accurate and timely data for reporting, decision making, and client and regulatory delivery.What you'll bring to the role * 12+ years of experience in private markets operations, ideally across multiple asset classes or fund strategies. * Proven track record in designing and scaling operational infrastructure in a growing asset manager. * Experience in data strategy or operations, with exposure to data governance, architecture and system integration. * Deep understanding of private markets operations, including fund structures, investor servicing and workflows. * Familiarity with private markets core platforms such as eFront, Snowflake, Salesforce, Power BI or comparable tools. * Strategic thinker with a pragmatic and solution-focused approach, strong project management and change management capabilities. * Exceptional communication and stakeholder management capabilities.Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries.As a market leader, the talent and passion of our people is critical to our success. Together, we share a common set of values rooted in integrity, excellence, and strong team ethic. Morgan Stanley can provide a superior foundation for building a professional career - a place for people to learn, to achieve and grow. A philosophy that balances personal lifestyles, perspectives and needs is an important part of our culture.WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:We are committed to maintaining the first-class service and high standard of excellence that have defined Morgan Stanley for over 89 years. Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren't just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you'll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There's also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $250,000 and $300,000 per year at the commencement of employment. However, base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, incentive compensation, discretionary bonuses, other short and long-term incentive packages, and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.Morgan Stanley's goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently, our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees.It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, sex stereotype, gender, gender identity or expression, transgender, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, marital and civil partnership/union status, pregnancy, veteran or military service status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce (M/F/Disability/Vet).