Senior Counsel, Investment Funds

Vanguard is a leading provider of financial products and services to individual and institutional investors world-wide. In addition, Vanguard is an employer of choice that continually invests in the growth, development and success of its employees (crew members) over the course of their Vanguard careers. 

Vanguard’s Office of the General Counsel addresses a wide range of complex and compelling legal and compliance issues. To continue to support its growing business, Vanguard is seeking an attorney in its Investment Products, Disclosure & Governance Legal Team. As Senior Counsel, you will serve as a subject matter expert to provide the organization with legal advice and representation on matters related to Vanguard's business activities and investment products.

In this role you will

• Serve as a trusted advisor and provide strategic legal advice for issues impacting our mutual fund and ETF line-up, strategic initiatives, and regulatory matters.  Ensure that activities, policies, practices, and transactions comply with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Work closely with other senior leaders to achieve strong outcomes and establish and maintain collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders to develop and advance organizational strategies and activities.   
• Ensure that fund and advisor legal matters implicating areas across the company are adequately addressed, bringing those issues to the right people and, where necessary, coordinating responses to ensure consistency across the organization.
• Draft, review, and negotiate legal documents such as regulatory filings, contracts, agreements, and correspondence of legal significance.  Lead the negotiation of complex agreements and SEC comments impacting Vanguard’s investment products.
• Monitor, analyze, and direct Vanguard’s response to legislative and regulatory developments relevant to Vanguard's business activities and investment products to ensure they are adequately addressed.
• Represent the organization in complex, controversial, significant, or specialized legal proceedings so the organization's interests are protected.
• Where appropriate, engage outside counsel to represent Vanguard and manage, coordinate, oversee, and supervise the work being performed by such outside counsel.  Review and evaluate outside counsel invoices.
• Maintain a high level of expertise in regulatory law, Vanguard’s business and products, and the investment industry.  Stay abreast of industry and regulatory developments affecting Vanguard, and maintain affiliations with relevant industry, compliance, and risk associations.  Build and maintain an external network and keeps up to date on trends and best practices in the industry.
• Demonstrate judgment, technical expertise, communication skills, and leadership in a manner expected of role models and leaders of the Office of the General Counsel.  Lead the training, coaching, and development of others within the department.
• Participate in special projects and perform other duties as assigned.

What it takes

• Minimum five years related legal work experience.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience.  Law degree (JD) required.
• Expertise in securities laws, including advising on and forming registered funds and/or private funds.
• Demonstrated persuasion and influencing capabilities.
• Ability to balance business and legal needs and manage multiple projects at one time.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Consistent track record of success serving and navigating relationships with internal and external parties, including influencing, counseling, and negotiating with others.
• Strong experience presenting to executive sponsors and demonstrated ability to communicate, influence, persuade, and build agreement across senior leaders.

Candidates must share Vanguard’s core values, including unmatched ethical standards and client service, strong work ethic, and can-do attitude.  Candidates must champion a team environment by building collaborative and trusting relationships with others.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

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.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Vanguard’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is central to our ability to deliver on our mission. We aspire to create a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, and diverse—one that enables our employees, whom we call crew, to thrive and bring their best selves to work every day on behalf of our clients.

Cultivating DEI lifts our entire organization, and everyone shares accountability for our progress—from our senior leaders who lay the foundation and set the example for inclusive behaviors to crew who are growing in their personal DEI learning experiences.

Together, we’re on a mission. We are fueled by the value of diverse voices and connected through friendships and a culture of care—for our clients, our communities, and each other.    

Vanguard’s DEI journey has no finish line. Our commitment is enduring, and we remain focused on the path ahead. To learn more about Vanguard goals and progress toward DEI, download our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report.

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.