Director, Client Onboarding

Job Description Summary

The Director, Client Onboarding is responsible for leading the end-to-end onboarding and implementation of HarbourVest's Separately Managed Account (SMA) clients and employee enrollments. Acting as the primary coordinator across client-facing and operational teams, this individual is responsible for complex implementations, drives governance and operational readiness, and ensures a seamless transition from mandate award through ongoing servicing. The Director serves as a strategic partner to internal and external collaborators and clients, helping to deliver an exceptional onboarding experience while mitigating risk and promoting operational excellence.

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Has deep experience handling complex client onboarding, implementation, or operational programs within private markets or asset management.
• Demonstrates exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and collaborators simultaneously.
• Possesses a client-first attitude and a passion for delivering a high-quality onboarding experience.
• Has strong leadership, influence, and relationship management capabilities across business and functional teams.
• Is highly analytical with the ability to identify risks, solve problems, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Thrives in an environment focused on continuous improvement, operational excellence, and collaboration.

What you will do:

• Lead the onboarding and implementation of new and existing employee and SMA clients from opportunity intake through operational handoff to servicing teams.
• Serve as the primary project manager for complex onboarding initiatives, coordinating activities across Legal, Solutions, Client Service, Compliance, Tax, Treasury, Reporting, Fund Accounting, Third Party Administrators and other key collaborators.
• Establish and maintain governance forums, onboarding trackers, risk registers, readiness assessments, and status reporting for active SMA implementations.
• Translate client agreements, side letters, and customized requirements into actionable operational processes and servicing models.
• Identify, raise, and lead onboarding risks, dependencies, and issues to support successful client launches and closings.
• Drive process improvement, standardization, and technology enhancement initiatives to improve efficiency, scalability, and the client experience.
• Support leadership reporting, capacity planning, and critical initiatives related to Client Onboarding and client implementation activities.
• And other responsibilities as required.

What you bring:

• Solid understanding of Separately Managed Accounts (SMAs), institutional and wealth investor onboarding.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional projects and coordinating multiple participant groups.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively at all organizational levels.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and mitigate operational, regulatory, and client service risks.
• Experience developing and maintaining governance frameworks, project plans, reporting, and operational controls.
• Strong ability to prioritize competing demands effectively while meeting critical deadlines.
• Proven track record to build collaborative relationships and influence outcomes across diverse teams and functions.
• Experience driving process improvement, operational transformation, and workflow optimization initiatives.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, CRM platforms, workflow management tools, and project management methodologies.

Education Preferred

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A) or equivalent experience

Experience

• 7+ Years finance experience in a Client Onboarding capacity preferred

Base Salary Range:

$135,000.00 - $145,000.00

This USD base salary range represents only one component of total compensation for this role and is provided in accordance with local requirements. This role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, which is determined based on individual and overall firm performance. In addition to salary and bonus eligibility, total compensation may include participation in long-term reward programs (typically for more senior-level roles). We also offer a comprehensive total rewards package that may include retirement contributions, health insurance, income protection, paid time off and leave benefits as well as well-being programs. Our total rewards offerings are influenced by several business factors, and eligibility for certain components will vary by position and geography. Please note the posted ranges do not apply outside the U.S. and should not be converted to other currencies as a proxy for compensation in other countries.

About Us

HarbourVest is an independent, global private markets firm with over 43 years of experience and more than $146 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2025. Our interwoven platform provides clients access to global primary funds, secondary transactions, direct co-investments, real assets and infrastructure, and private credit. Our strengths extend across strategies, enabled by our team of more than 1,270 employees, including more than 230 investment professionals across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Across our private markets platform, our team has committed more than $64 billion to newly-formed funds, completed over $66 billion in secondary purchases, and invested over $49 billion in direct operating companies. We partner strategically and plan our offerings innovatively to provide our clients with access, insight, and global opportunities.