Position Summary
A rapidly growing registered investment adviser (RIA) is seeking an experienced Head Trader to build, refine, and lead its trading and trade operations capabilities through its next phase of growth.
The firm serves a diverse client base, including affluent investors, high-net-worth families, multi-family offices, and institutional investment relationships. Its investment platform combines institutional investment management capabilities with the flexibility, entrepreneurial culture, and client focus of an independent advisory firm.
This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for an experienced institutional buy-side trader to develop a sophisticated, scalable trading platform within a growing investment management organization.
Reporting to and working closely with the Chief Investment Officer (CIO), the Head Trader will have primary responsibility for trade execution, trading workflows, and associated trade operations.
Initially, the role will focus on evaluating existing processes, identifying operational and execution inefficiencies, and implementing institutional best practices across a complex, multi-custodial environment. As the firm grows, the role will evolve to include greater direct trading responsibility, including the execution and management of larger and more complex orders.
The successful candidate will be equally comfortable evaluating trading technology, resolving complex custodial issues, and personally executing substantial institutional orders.
Key Responsibilities
Trading & Execution Management
Assume primary responsibility for the full trade lifecycle, including pre-trade checks and validation, order staging, routing, execution, allocation, confirmation, settlement coordination, and exception management.
Execute and oversee trading across multiple custodians, trading desks, and potentially prime brokerage relationships.
Manage block trading and account-level allocations, including orders transmitted through FIX connectivity and orders entered directly through custodial trading platforms.
Apply sophisticated execution methodologies, including algorithmic trading, appropriate order types, and institutional execution best practices.
Determine when to work orders directly, use electronic execution algorithms, or engage custodian or broker-dealer trading desks.
Develop and refine procedures for executing large, sensitive, or less liquid orders while managing execution costs, liquidity, and market impact.
Establish appropriate pre-trade and post-trade controls, escalation procedures, and execution-quality monitoring.
Identify, investigate, and resolve trading exceptions, custodial discrepancies, failed trades, and other operational issues.
Own the day-to-day reliability, accuracy, and effectiveness of the firm's trading workflows.
Trading Infrastructure & Technology
Conduct a comprehensive review of existing trading and trade operations infrastructure, workflows, controls, and technology.
Identify opportunities to improve execution quality, scalability, automation, operational reliability, and efficiency.
Evaluate existing and potential portfolio management systems (PMS), trading platforms, FIX connectivity, and related investment technology.
Assess the need for a dedicated order management system (OMS), execution management system (EMS), or integrated OMS/EMS solution.
Evaluate potential prime brokerage and other brokerage arrangements to support trade-away execution, clearing, settlement, and operational flexibility across custodians.
Design scalable workflows that accommodate continued growth in assets, increased trading complexity, and a geographically distributed advisor network.
Lead or materially participate in the selection, implementation, integration, and optimization of trading technology.
Develop institutional-quality trading policies, procedures, controls, and documentation appropriate for the firm's business model and regulatory environment.
Custodian, Broker & Counterparty…