Institutional Platform Strategy – Strategic Initiatives, AVP/Associate

Institutional Platform Strategy – Strategic Initiatives | AVP/Associate

Wealth Management Platforms
New York Plaza, NY

We are seeking an AVP/Associate to join the Institutional Platform Strategy team who will focus on and help drive various strategic initiatives. In this role, you will partner with several different teams across the firm (Business Development, Risk, Financial Advisors, Operations, etc.) to help optimize existing and new processes, platforms, and team structures. The focus of these strategic initiatives will include, but is not limited to, broader strategy related to Pipeline Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Performance Reporting. Within each initiative, several different roles could be played (Product Ownership, End User Training, General Strategy, Project Management/Execution, etc.).

You will partner closely with key business stakeholders to understand various mandates, assess potential solutions, and execute/manage the project to completion. This role supports larger strategic initiatives designed to improve end-to-end business development outcomes, increase AI adoption across the Institutional business, and help create operational efficiencies in different areas on the business. The position will have a unique opportunity to engage with stakeholders and leadership across multiple lines of business (including Wealth Management, OCIO, MS Family Office, Global Investment Office, and Technology) to enhance our business offering and operating model.

We are seeking a candidate with strategic mindset and entrepreneurial spirit, with proven experience in strategy/product management and a solid understanding of the wealth management business.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management and wealth management services. The Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments and individuals from more than 1,200 offices in 43 countries.

Morgan Stanley is committed to helping its employees build meaningful careers and we strive to be a place for people to learn, achieve and grow.

Department Overview

In the Wealth Management division, we help people, businesses and institutions build, preserve, and manage wealth so they can pursue their financial goals

 Wealth Management (WM) Platforms manages industry-leading platforms, across all WM channels and client segments, to provide a unified digital experience, unlock growth, and deliver efficiencies for Advisors, Clients, and Institutions. WM Platforms consists of ten sub-teams including: Field Experience & Platforms, Digital Client Experience & Platforms, Workplace Platforms, Automation & Workflow, Digital Trading & Investing, Generative AI, UX Design & Research, Strategy & Execution, WM Platforms Risk, and the Chief Operating Office.

The Institutional Platform Strategy drives strategic initiatives aimed at scaling our institutional wealth management businesses, including Outsourced Chief Investment Office (OCIO), Graystone Consulting, Corporate Retirement, Institutional RIA, and the MS Family Office. The team is responsible for creating scalable solutions across all elements of the client and advisor experience – Pipeline and Prospect Management, Client Onboarding, Portfolio Setup and Management, Performance Reporting and Analytics, Money Movement, 401K Plan Management, and Institutional Billing / Financials.

What you’ll do in the role:

Project Ownership and Execution

• Serve as a Project Lead on various strategic initiatives that range across the Institutional Consulting business

• Work with leadership to understand different mandates, collaborate with stakeholders to assess potential solutions, and partner with technology, risk, and other teams to execute the project from start to finish

• Help oversee the end-to-end project, ensuring all workstreams own and execute on their particular roles/responsibilities

Long-Term Delivery & Day-to-Day Execution

• Manage and deliver strategic solutions

  • Ideate solutions to complex business problems, track progress toward project execution, and analyze impact of delivered enhancements

• Contribute to day-to-day business activities

  • Assist end users and stakeholders with near-term, high-priority requests including reporting, end user training, and other various ad-hoc requests

Strategy & Process Improvement

• Support strategic business development and operational efforts to enhance the institutional pipeline and client operations experience, including improvements that increase:

  • Reporting accuracy and efficiency

  • AI solutions and adoption across the Institutional business

  • Operational efficiency and scalability

  • Integrations across systems in the institutional ecosystem

• Contribute to broader institutional roadmaps and cross-platform initiatives aligned to growth objectives and operating model improvements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

•           Collaborate with stakeholders across Wealth Management, institutional businesses, Product, Operations, and Technology to align on priorities and outcomes.

•           Communicate delivery status, upcoming releases, and key decisions to stakeholders and leadership; help prepare materials for governance forums as needed.

•           Support change management, adoption, and feedback loops (training, communications, and post-release review).

Skills Required:

• 2-5+ years of experience in financial services, wealth management, product management and/or business strategy/management related fields

• Undergraduate degree required

• Strong analytical, strategic thinking and problem solving skills with the ability to define complex business problems, synthesize data, and provide and execute on tactical and strategic solutions

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both business and technical contexts

• Be solutions- and detail-oriented and quickly turnaround high-quality work without sacrificing speed or accuracy

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, both independently and as part of a team, and under strict and changing deadlines with demonstrated leadership abilities

• Proactive self-starter with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and work ethic

• A track record of success and a demonstrated ability to exercise good judgement and discretion

• Familiarity with wealth management platforms and vehicles, including managed account platforms, mutual funds, ETFs, separate accounts, and alternative investments

• Experience working in an Agile delivery model; strong working knowledge of Jira and sprint ceremonies strongly preferred

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office particularly in Excel and PowerPoint

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MORGAN STANLEY:

At Morgan Stanley, we raise, manage and allocate capital for our clients – helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way that’s differentiated – and we’ve done that for 90 years.  Our values - putting clients first, doing the right thing, leading with exceptional ideas, committing to diversity and inclusion, and giving back - aren’t just beliefs, they guide the decisions we make every day to do what's best for our clients, communities and more than 80,000 employees in 1,200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find an opportunity to work alongside the best and the brightest, in an environment where you are supported and empowered. Our teams are relentless collaborators and creative thinkers, fueled by their diverse backgrounds and experiences. We are proud to support our employees and their families at every point along their work-life journey, offering some of the most attractive and comprehensive employee benefits and perks in the industry. There’s also ample opportunity to move about the business for those who show passion and grit in their work.

To learn more about our offices across the globe, please copy and paste https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/global-offices​ into your browser.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workforce that is diverse in experience and background.  Our recruiting efforts reflect our strong commitment to a culture of inclusion, where individuals are hired, developed, and advanced based on their skills and talents.

Our workforce reflects a broad cross-section of the global communities in which we operate, bringing a variety of backgrounds, talents, perspectives, and experiences.

For more information, please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/people-opportunities/eeo.