Director of Operations

About the Opportunity

Our client, a growing alternative investment manager based in northern New Jersey, is seeking a Director, Operations to serve as a key member of its operations team, reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. The firm manages approximately $3 billion across private equity and hedge fund strategies with a lean team of just over 20 professionals, offering meaningfully broader exposure than a large institutional platform. This is a highly cross-functional role spanning technology, vendor management, fund operations, and firm-wide administrative functions, with close partnership across Finance, Compliance, Legal, Investor Relations, and the investment teams. A significant component of the mandate centers on technology and artificial intelligence — leading system implementations, managing vendor and cybersecurity relationships, and identifying opportunities to deploy AI more effectively across the firm. The successful candidate will take ownership across a wide range of areas rather than operating within a single function, with a clear path to grow into a Head of Operations or COO-type role over time. This position is based in New Jersey and requires three days per week in-office.

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Job Responsibilities

• Partner with the COO to develop and execute the firm's overall technology roadmap and infrastructure strategy  
• Lead the firm's AI program, identifying, piloting, and deploying AI-driven tools and workflows to improve efficiency across investment, operations, and back-office functions  
• Evaluate, select, and oversee implementation of core systems, including portfolio management, order management (OMS), CRM, and reporting platforms  
• Partner with outsourced IT providers and internal stakeholders to maintain cybersecurity protocols, data governance, and business systems uptime  
• Drive automation of manual processes firm-wide to improve scalability and data integrity  
• Own the end-to-end vendor management program, including onboarding, due diligence, contract negotiation, renewals, and ongoing performance evaluation  
• Serve as a primary point of contact for the firm's key service providers  
• Track vendor spend and identify opportunities for cost efficiency and consolidation; maintain a centralized vendor inventory covering contract terms, renewal dates, and service-level agreements  
• Support private equity fund operations, including capital call and distribution processing, closing mechanics, and fund-level reporting  
• Assist with operational onboarding of new funds, vehicles, and strategies, including workflow design and system setup  
• Partner with investment teams on operational due diligence for new investments and portfolio company matters as needed  
• Work alongside Compliance and outside counsel on regulatory filings (e.g., Form ADV, Form PF) and maintenance of firm policies and procedures  
• Support business continuity planning, disaster recovery testing, and the operational risk management framework  
• Coordinate internal and external audits, regulatory examinations, and investor operational due diligence reviews  
• Partner with Finance and Accounting on firm-level budgeting, expense management, and operational financial reporting  
• Support HR functions, including onboarding, benefits administration, and maintenance of firm policies  
• Manage the firm's insurance program, including E&O, D&O, and cyber coverage  
• Assist with investor onboarding, due diligence questionnaires, and responses to operational due diligence inquiries  

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Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required  
• 7–10+ years of operations experience at a private equity firm, hedge fund, or similar alternative asset manager  
• Demonstrated experience managing vendor relationships and contract negotiations  
• Strong understanding of fund operations, middle- and back-office functions, and regulatory/compliance requirements across both private equity and hedge fund structures  
• Genuine interest in technology with the ability to quarterback system and AI initiatives; an engineering background is not required  
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously  
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable working directly with the COO and senior leadership  
• High degree of discretion, integrity, and ownership across a broad and varied set of responsibilities  

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The annual total compensation range is up to $300,000. Actual compensation offered to the successful candidate may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, and/or skill level, among other things. Details about eligibility for bonus compensation (if applicable) will be finalized at the time of offer.