Head of Data Transformation & Portfolio Operations

Core Responsibilities

Portfolio Operations & Governance

• Lead the end‑to‑end enterprise portfolio operations function, ensuring visibility, prioritization, and alignment across programs, data initiatives, and transformation efforts.
• Establish and maintain portfolio governance frameworks, scorecards, and KPIs to support strategic decision‑making.
• Drive cadence for portfolio planning, quarterly business reviews, dependency management, and delivery health.
• Identify and escalate delivery risks, resource gaps, and critical interdependencies across teams.

Data Transformation Leadership

• Champion enterprise data transformation strategy and connect data initiatives to business value.
• Partner with Data, Technology, and Business leaders to ensure data programs are prioritized, sequenced, and executed effectively.
• Support alignment of architecture, analytics, engineering, and governance initiatives within the broader transformation portfolio.
• Drive communication and change adoption for data transformation across the organization.

Operational Excellence & Process Efficiency

• Analyze and optimize cross‑functional processes, workflows, and operating models for speed, quality, and scalability.
• Lead process reengineering efforts to reduce operational friction and increase efficiency.
• Develop standardized playbooks, operating rhythms, and frameworks to drive consistency across teams.
• Implement metrics, automation opportunities, and insights to continuously improve operational performance.

Chief of Staff & Executive Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, ensuring organizational focus, alignment, and execution discipline.
• Lead strategic planning cycles, including annual planning, KPI development, and leadership offsites.
• Prepare executive‑level materials including board updates, strategy reviews, and leadership communications.
• Coordinate cross‑functional alignment and ensure accountability across senior stakeholders.

Organizational Effectiveness

• Assess organizational structure, roles, and capabilities; recommend improvements to enhance effectiveness and efficiency.
• Drive initiatives that support culture-building, leadership alignment, workforce planning, and talent development.
• Facilitate clear communication channels, decision-making structures, and cross-functional collaboration.

Leadership Attributes

• Strategic thinker who can balance long-term vision with operational execution.
• Highly collaborative with strong relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable serving as a connector across business, data, and technology domains.
• Proactive, resourceful, and able to bring clarity to ambiguous situations.
• Passionate about operational excellence, continuous improvement, and driving measurable impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years related work experience.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.

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.