Director, Business Excellence (PL)_Schwab Asset Management

Reporting to the Managing Director, Head of Business Excellence, the Director and his/her team will act as a strategic through leader, proxy, and project manager1 translating the executive's vision into actionable execution, while removing roadblocks. This role serves as a strategic advisor and execution partner to the Head of Business Excellence, providing leverage across a broad portfolio of chief-of-staff, operational, and strategic initiatives. The successful candidate will help free executive capacity by independently leading critical business priorities, driving cross-functional execution, and ensuring continuity across key business operations. This role is envisioned for well-rounded candidates who possess a diverse skillset, including the ability to lead/manage, collaborate, problem solve, and apply analytics.

The role will be based in Westlake, TX (preferred); San Francisco, CA

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify opportunities within the areas of financial innovation, disruptive technology and an evolving regulatory environment
• Support evaluation of new opportunities, partnerships, and expansion areas aligned with the firms strategic direction
• Provide decision support by acting as a thought partner to the executive, analyzing data, and stress-testing potential business scenarios
• Develop and execute strategic and tactical business plans
• Lead key initiatives to maintain and build investment management functions
• Manage team members responsible for operational business success and compensation
• Engage with the SAM Senior Leadership Team
• Serve as liaison with key business partners including Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Affairs, Technology, Compliance, Corporate Real Estate, and Corporate Strategy

Leadership & Team Oversight

• Provide leadership and oversight for senior team members responsible for budget oversight, business and performance reporting, headcount management, coordination with vendor management team, and compensation programs
• Develop organizational resiliency and succession readiness across critical business functions by increasing operational knowledge and cross-functional continuity

Cross-Enterprise Influence

• Partner extensively with leaders across Schwab, including Asset Management, Workplace, Distribution, Finance, Human Resources, Technology, Legal, Corporate Real Estate, Compliance, Communications, and Strategy functions to advance business objectives
• Influence outcomes across large, matrixed organizations without direct authority

Required Experience:

• An undergraduate degree is required; an MBA is preferred
• 5+ years of related experience in leading teams, conducting data-driven analysis, and developing and implementing strategy
• 10+ years of financial services industry experience 6 ideally within asset management
• Strategic advisor/execution partner to Head of Business Excellence
• Chief-of-staff style responsibilities
• Influence across large matrixed organizations
• Consulting/strategy/transformation background preferred
• Creative and strategic thinker who inspires action by identifying and connecting opportunities, gaps and providing solutions
• Strong collaboration, influence and decision-making skills

Preferred Experience

• Experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, business transformation, chief of staff, enterprise PMO, or similar broad leadership roles
• Demonstrated ability to quickly assess unfamiliar business challenges, develop structured approaches, and drive solutions from concept through execution
• Comfortable operating across a wide range of business disciplines rather than a single area of specialization
• Proven success handling ambiguous assignments, competing priorities, and executive-level requests with minimal direction
• Ability to leverage strategic and analytical capabilities to make sound, timely decisions
• Leadership and relationship-building skills, including ability to influence and build consensus
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization
• Strong emotional intelligence/maturity and senior level executive presence
• Ability to contribute to the goals and objectives of the company by collaboration and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment
• Ability to make significant progress with minimal direction and to make decisions, pivot, and structure pathways forward in the face of ambiguity