Overview of the Investment Services (Americas) Legal Team

The Investment Services (Americas) Legal team provides strategic advice and counsel to business and control colleagues in accordance with the highest standards of judgment, integrity and ethical leadership. The team partners closely with clients and internal stakeholders to deliver practical, business-oriented legal solutions that support State Street’s global alternatives, asset manager, asset owner and insurance clients in the Americas. The team advises on a broad range of asset servicing products and services, including custody, accounting, trustee, transfer agency and fund administration, and supports client relationships, product development, operational strategy, regulatory matters, risk management, transformation initiatives and complex commercial arrangements across the Americas.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a seasoned attorney and strategic leader to serve as Managing Director, Investment Services Legal (Americas). In this role, you will lead, manage and develop a team of attorneys and legal professionals responsible for providing legal support to the Investment Services Product and Operations organizations. You will serve as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders, control functions and clients on product development, operational strategy, regulatory change, client solutions, outsourcing, technology transformation, risk management and enterprise-wide strategic initiatives. You will be expected to develop a deep understanding of State Street’s business, products, operational capabilities, clients, culture, regulatory environment and strategic priorities in order to provide practical, actionable and risk-based legal advice in a fast-paced, client-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted legal advisor to senior business leaders responsible for Investment Services products, operations and business transformation initiatives.
• Provide practical and actionable legal advice and counsel with respect to Investment Services (Americas) clients, products and operations, including in respect of custody, accounting, trustee, transfer agency, fund administration and related asset servicing services.
• Provide legal guidance throughout the product lifecycle, including product design, enhancements, client offerings, commercialization, regulatory implementation and strategic changes to State Street’s business.
• Counsel business leaders on legal, regulatory, operational, commercial and reputational risks associated with product strategy, operational initiatives, client service activities and strategic projects.
• Oversee the drafting, review and negotiation of complex asset servicing agreements, disclosures, client communications and related documentation.
• Support strategic projects, acquisitions, integrations, organizational restructurings, remediation efforts and enterprise-wide transformation programs.
• Partner with Compliance, Risk, Audit, Technology, Procurement and other control functions to address regulatory change, remediation efforts, incident response and governance enhancements.
• Provide legal support during regulatory examinations, inquiries, remediation efforts, claims, errors, disputes, potential litigation, and interactions with regulators and industry utilities.
• Drive consistency, efficiency and continuous improvement in legal processes, guidance, risk assessment, knowledge management and client support models.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, mentor and develop a high-performing team of attorneys and legal professionals.
• Establish legal priorities, allocate resources effectively and drive high-quality execution across a complex portfolio of client, product, regulatory and operational matters.
• Set clear expectations, provide guidance and feedback, support professional growth and develop talent and succession plans for critical legal leadership positions.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, sound judgment, risk awareness, ethical leadership and continuous improvement.
• Promote strong engagement across global Legal, Risk, Compliance, Operations, Product, Technology, Procurement and senior leadership teams.
• Drive operational excellence within the legal organization through effective delegation, prioritization, resource management and knowledge sharing.

Education & Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience advising financial institutions, asset servicing businesses, asset managers or other institutional financial services clients.
• Strong understanding of asset servicing products and services, including custody, accounting, trustee, fund administration, transfer agency, ETF servicing and related operational and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience supporting large-scale operational transformation, digital initiatives, outsourcing and global delivery models.
• Demonstrated ability to lead legal teams, manage complex matters and provide sound judgment in high-pressure situations.
• Proven ability to advise senior executives and influence decision-making across Legal, Risk, Compliance, Operations, Product and business leadership.
• Ability to evaluate legal, financial, regulatory, operational and reputational risk and escalate to executive management as needed.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, analytical, communication, client service and problem-solving skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable business advice.
• Strong research, time management, planning and organizational skills, with the ability to work independently while thriving in a global, dynamic and team-oriented environment.
• Juris Doctor from an accredited United States law school and license to practice law in Massachusetts or another state in the United States.
• Generally expected to have 10–15 years of experience in financial services legal practice at a law firm or in the legal department of a financial services company, preferably both.

What we value

These skills will help you succeed in this role

The ideal candidate is a senior legal leader with deep financial services legal and regulatory expertise, strong knowledge of the asset servicing business, and the judgment to advise executive stakeholders on complex client, product, regulatory, operational and governance matters. The candidate will be a collaborative and practical problem-solver who can lead and develop a sophisticated legal team, build trusted relationships with business and control partners, and support the Bank’s Investment Services Product and Operations organizations with clarity, discipline and sound judgment.

Salary Range:

$170,000 - $282,500 Annual

The range quoted above applies to the role in the primary location specified. If the candidate would ultimately work outside of the primary location above, the applicable range could differ.

Employees are eligible to participate in State Street’s comprehensive benefits program, which includes: our retirement savings plan (401K) with company match; insurance coverage including basic life, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and other optional additional coverages; paid-time off including vacation, sick leave, short term disability, and family care responsibilities; access to our Employee Assistance Program; incentive compensation including eligibility for annual performance-based awards (excluding certain sales roles subject to sales incentive plans); and, eligibility for certain tax advantaged savings plans.

For a full overview, visit https://hrportal.ehr.com/statestreet/Home.

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.

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It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.