Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships Lead

The Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships Lead helps Vanguard identify, develop, and launch strategic partnerships that advance enterprise priorities and create value for clients.

This role sits at the intersection of enterprise strategy, business development, and partnership execution and is responsible for helping Vanguard connect internal priorities with external capabilities and ecosystems. This role will lead partnership opportunities from early-stage opportunity development through launch and support the transition to long-term business ownership. The ideal candidate knows how to build and foster strong external relationships, work cross-functionally with internal teams, and support partnership negotiations and due diligence to execute inorganic transactions.

Responsibilities:

• Translate enterprise aspirations, strategic priorities, and business needs into partnership opportunities delivering both quantitative and qualitative analyses, including financial models and scenario analysis, to estimate potential value.
• Lead Build / Buy / Partner assessments for strategic capability gaps and growth opportunities, including business-case development and scenario analysis.
• Conduct market, ecosystem, and competitive analysis to identify emerging opportunities and assess potential partners based on strategic fit and complementary capabilities.

• Support the design, structuring, and negotiation of strategic partnerships by developing commercial models, governance frameworks, operating structures, and key business terms.
• Support development of partnership frameworks, tools, and best practices that improve how Vanguard identifies, evaluates, and structures strategic partnerships

• Work independently with attention to detail and sensitivity to deadlines. Lead individual workstreams of a deal and contribute to larger deal team.
• Coach less experienced crew in financial methodologies, partnership frameworks and approaches, and inorganic growth best practices based on deep knowledge of emerging trends and industry standards.
• Strong conceptual thinking and time management, as well as analytical, problem solving, negotiation, and persuasion skills.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7 years related work experience. Two years’ experience in strategic partnerships, corporate development, management consulting, investment banking, private equity, or similar field required. Prior experience with strategic partnerships required.
• Excellent judgment, communication, presentation, negotiation, persuasion, and stakeholder-management skills, including experience working directly with senior executives.
• Undergraduate degree required in Business, Economics, Finance, or similar concentration. Graduate degree preferred.
• Asset management or financial services experience a plus.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.

About Us

Vanguard, one of the world's leading investment management companies, serves individual investors, institutions, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and financial professionals. We have a diverse and talented crew with a culture that promotes teamwork, along with an unwavering focus on serving our clients' best interests.

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