Explore Associate Director, Product Development (Global Custody) jobs and discover a pivotal leadership role at the intersection of finance, technology, and strategic innovation. This senior position is central to the evolution of securities services within the global financial ecosystem. Professionals in this career are responsible for the end-to-end lifecycle of global custody products, transforming market needs into robust, scalable, and commercially viable services for institutional clients such as asset managers, pension funds, and insurance companies. These jobs demand a unique blend of deep industry expertise and visionary product leadership. Typically, an Associate Director in this field owns the product strategy and execution. Common responsibilities include conducting comprehensive market analysis to identify opportunities for service differentiation and growth. They lead the design and documentation of the complete custody operating model, which encompasses defining detailed process flows, functional responsibilities across teams, and specifying necessary technological enhancements. A core aspect of the role involves translating complex custody requirements into actionable project plans, guiding initiatives from initial concept and functional design through user acceptance testing, documentation, and final rollout. Furthermore, these professionals often play a key role in shaping the commercial framework, assisting in the development of pricing structures, service tiering, and ensuring long-term revenue sustainability for the product line. The role is inherently cross-functional, requiring exceptional stakeholder management. Individuals regularly engage with a wide array of internal and external parties, including operations teams, IT developers, risk and compliance officers, clients, sub-custodian networks, and technology vendors. This ensures the designed services are not only innovative but also operationally sound, compliant with global regulations, and seamlessly integrated into the broader financial infrastructure. To succeed in Associate Director, Product Development (Global Custody) jobs, candidates typically need a strong academic background in finance, business, or a related field, coupled with a minimum of 8-10 years of progressive experience in global custody, securities services, or financial product management. Essential skills include a deep functional understanding of core custody processes like settlement, safekeeping, corporate actions, and income processing. Proficiency with custody technology platforms and industry messaging standards (e.g., SWIFT) is crucial. The role also demands proven project management capabilities, strategic thinking, and outstanding communication skills to navigate complex, client-facing, and compliance-heavy environments. For those seeking to drive the future of financial infrastructure, these jobs offer a challenging and rewarding career path at the forefront of the industry.
