Risk Director, Workplace Solutions

Overview 

The Workplace Solutions mission is simple and bold: deliver investment success to millions of workers participating in employer‑sponsored retirement plans. We do this by designing smart, tailored plans for sponsors and delivering high‑quality participant experiences. 
 
Vanguard’s Workplace Solutions team supports defined contribution plan sponsors and participants through recordkeeping, administration, and trust/custody services. Operating at the heart of a complex fiduciary environment—anchored in ERISA and aligned with IRS and DOL requirements—we’re seeking a Risk Director to shape and elevate our risk strategy. 

In this role, you’ll bring ERISA retirement expertise to guide business decisions, build trusted partnerships with senior leaders, and strengthen a risk and control environment that spans operations, technology, and client service. 

 
The impact you’ll make

As the Risk Director, you will be a trusted advisor to the Workplace Solutions risk program– leading and maturing a risk management program, providing credible and effective challenge, and fostering a risk-smart, forward-looking culture. Leveraging Vanguard’s operational and strategic risk frameworks, you will align divisional controls and enterprise standards, embed deep division-specific business acumen into risk practices, and helps team anticipate and navigate emerging risks across complex operations and strategic initiatives.

• Hires, evaluates, and supervises crew. Provides guidance, training, and coaching as necessary to develop crew. Sets performance standards, reviews performance, and makes informed compensation decisions in accordance with all applicable Human Resources policies and procedures.
• Partners with key stakeholders to establish and implement risk and control management standards within the division's processes, based on the divisional risk profile and enterprise and divisional policies and standards. Provides vision and leadership regarding existing and emerging risks, in alignment with strategic priorities.
• Provides independent oversight of Line 1 risk activities, with a primary responsibility to challenge completeness, consistency, quality, and judgment in how risks are identified, assessed, and managed. Ensures that the division has an appropriate level of review of key controls, and that key controls are designed in accordance with established standards.
• Partners in risk identification and challenges completeness and consistency of identified risks. Provides industry and enterprise-wide insights to inform the business on current and emerging risks. Performs independent risk assessments for selected high‑impact, critical, or thematic risks.
• Monitor and enable adherence to the enterprise risk governance policies, standards, and procedures. Develops, maintains, and evolves a comprehensive program for monitoring and challenging the risk and control effectiveness in the business.
• Produces independent risk reporting and enterprise‑wide insights for divisional leadership and governance forums to enable the business to make risk informed decisions.
• Leads and oversees a team of risk practitioners in analyzing risks, applying risk methodologies, and considering business context in advising the business on key risks. Accountable for the timely completion of risk projects and initiatives.
• Develops and maintains in-depth knowledge and awareness of industry, risk management practices, and regulatory and/or policy changes. Takes an active role in industry forums and remains current on issues and regulatory events affecting the division, firm, and industry.
• Embeds deep, division-specific acumen into risk management. Provide relevant, tailored guidance and advice to strengthen decision-making across the division’s complex business operations and strategic initiatives.
• Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned, partnering with enterprise risk, legal, compliance, audit, and internal and external stakeholders as appropriate.

Qualifications: What you’ll bring

• Minimum 12 years related work experience with 8 years of experience in risk management within retirement services, trust/custody, or related fiduciary operations, with command of ERISA (fiduciary duties, plan operations, fee disclosures), IRS rules, and DOL oversight.
• Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree preferred (e.g., JD, MBA, MS in Risk/Finance).
• Hands‑on masterly of operational risk frameworks and control assurance (control design, testing, monitoring, reporting). You know what “good” looks like – and how to build it.
• Demonstrated people leadership capabilities, including building scalable teams, developing leaders, and driving a strong risk culture.
• Exceptional communicator and strategic thinker who shapes outcomes through strong judgement, clarity of message, and an ability to bring stakeholders along. You build buy‑in across senior leaders while navigating complexity with confidence.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

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.