About Vanguard

More than 45 years ago, John C. Bogle had a vision to start an investment company that did things differently. A company with no external shareholders. Where all the profits were invested back into the business and used to lower costs. Evidently, it was as bold as it was brilliant. To this day, Vanguard Group still has no external shareholders. That means no share prices to protect, and no profits to generate for outside owners. 

Today, Vanguard is one of the world’s largest investment management companies, serving more than 50 million investors worldwide. For more than 25 years Vanguard Australia has been supporting individual investors, financial advisers, and superannuation members to achieve their long-term financial goals.

Team & Opportunity

The Product Governance and Disclosure Team is at the forefront of Vanguard Australia’s focus in maintaining the integrity of Vanguard’s product offer and ensuring compliance with key regulatory requirements such as the Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO).

The role will be critical in maintaining and continually improving Vanguard Australia’s Product governance practises across Vanguard managed funds, ETFs, Superannuation and Investor Directed Portfolio Service. This varied role will involve working with the legal, compliance and risk teams to administer Vanguard Australia’s product governance arrangements and ensure these arrangements are operating effectively, by gathering, monitoring and reviewing product outcomes.

What you will do

• Implement, maintain and continually improve our integrated product governance frameworks for Managed Funds/ETFs, Superannuation and Investor Directed Portfolio Service, ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and internal standards.
• Proactively identify and analyse the impact of emerging regulatory requirements that may have implications for Vanguard’s product suite and assist in driving the required changes across the product range.
• Carry out regulatory compliance processes such as product reviews and critical assessments, and draft regulatory documents such as TMDs, while maintaining appropriate records to support these processes.
• Co-ordinate, analyse and continually enhance data gathering for the purposes of ensuring compliance with key regulatory requirements and improving the product governance frameworks.
• Prepare regular reporting to the Product Governance Committee and Board on the outcomes of our monitoring arrangements.
• Assist and provide support for new services or product initiatives undertaken by Vanguard, with a product governance lens.
• Work closely and develop strong relationships across the organisation particularly with key business partners, as well as the broader Australian and global product teams.
• Ensure comprehensive governance related policy and process documentation is created, maintained, and regularly reviewed.
• Undertake other product governance related activities as required.

What we are looking for

• Self-motivated governance professional with strong relationship and stakeholder management skills who is comfortable proactively navigating complex, multi-layered tasks.
• Experience in implementing and managing Design and Distribution Obligations (DDO) or similar governance requirements in an investment management or superannuation context.
• Embraces challenge, is curious and comfortable with ambiguity, and drives relentlessly towards agreed outcomes that ensures the ongoing integrity of Vanguards product suite.
• Minimum 3 years related work experience across the funds management and/or superannuation industry.
• Undergraduate degree in a related discipline.
• Proven ability to think strategically and influence stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to embrace continual improvement and new ways of working to achieve superior outcomes.

Specialisations that’ll make an impact

• Experience working in financial services, a fund management, wealth business or a superannuation fund.
• Strong knowledge of financial services regulatory requirements and experience implementing recent regulatory reforms, including RG274.
• Experience in analysing large data sets to identify trends relevant to consumer outcomes and product performance.
• Strong written communication skills, including previous experience in drafting regulatory documents.
• Strong investment product governance and investment product acumen.
• Strong knowledge of Vanguard’s range of products and distribution channels.

Inclusion Statement

Vanguard’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion is firmly rooted in our culture. Every decision we make to best serve our clients, crew (internally employees are referred to as crew), and communities is guided by one simple statement: “Do the right thing.”

We believe that a critical aspect of doing the right thing requires building diverse, inclusive, and highly effective teams of individuals who are as unique as the clients they serve. We empower our crew to contribute their distinct strengths to achieving Vanguard’s core purpose through our values.

When all crew members feel valued and included, our ability to collaborate and innovate is amplified, and we are united in delivering on Vanguard’s core purpose.

Our core purpose: To take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance for investment success.

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.