Senior Vice President, Third Party Relationship Management

Job Description Summary

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking.
 

In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences.
 

We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm.
 

HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer.
 

This position will be a hybrid work arrangement. You will receive 18 remote workdays per quarter to use at your discretion, subject to manager approval. For example, you may choose to work in the office 4 days per week and take one remote day weekly (typically 13 weeks per quarter), leaving 5 additional remote days to be used as needed.
 

The Senior Vice President, Third Party Relationship Management is responsible for establishing the global strategic direction, governance framework, and operating model for HarbourVest’s third party administrator (TPA) platform. This executive leader serves as the senior sponsor for critical administrator relationships, ensuring alignment between service providers and the business objectives.
 

This leader will serve as the firm's executive for partnerships with fund administrators and service providers!
 

This role will report to the Head of Enterprise Operations & Strategy in Boston.

The role requires close collaboration with executive leadership across Product, Technology, Legal, Finance, Risk, Client Operations, Tax Compliance, AIFM and Credit Operations to deliver sustainable growth, innovation, and operational transformation.
 

This role represents a critical executive leadership position responsible for shaping the future of HarbourVest's global operating model and ensuring the firm continues to deliver industry-leading service, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.
 

The ideal candidate is someone who is:

The successful candidate will combine deep private markets operating expertise with exceptional executive leadership capabilities, driving long-term initiatives that strengthen HarbourVest's growth and enhance client experience globally.
 

Enterprise Strategy & Leadership

• Establish and implement the long-term vision and strategic roadmap for HarbourVest's global TPA operating model.

• Serve as the executive sponsor for key administrator relationships, ensuring alignment between service providers and HarbourVest's business strategy.

• Drive enterprise-wide operational transformation initiatives that enhance scalability, efficiency, control frameworks, and client outcomes.

• Influence executive decision-making by providing insight into industry trends, operational risks, emerging technologies, and future-state capabilities.

• Partner with senior leadership to support business growth initiatives, new product launches, market expansion, and evolving client demands.
   

Governance & Risk Management

• Define and lead all aspects of enterprise governance frameworks governing administrators and service providers.

• Ensure oversight of and reputational risks associated with outsourced operational activities.

• Lead executive-level governance forums and performance reviews, ensuring accountability, clarity, and continuous improvement.
   

Strategic Vendor & Relationship Management

• Negotiate strategic service agreements, operating models, performance expectations, and transformation initiatives with key partners.

• Lead issue management and resolution of critical business issues impacting clients, fund operations, or corporate objectives.

• Continuously evaluate service provider capabilities, market developments, and opportunities for optimization.
   

TPA Transformation & Innovation

• Drive modernization efforts through automation, digitization, data strategy, and technology-enabled operating models.

• Sponsor initiatives to simplify operating processes, enhance visibility, improve data quality, and increase operational leverage.

• Collaborate with Technology and Product leadership to define future-state capabilities and platform strategies.
   

Leadership & Talent Development