Investment Management & Wealth Management Model Validation, Executive Director

Model Risk Management - Investment Management & Wealth Management Model Validation Executive Director

Background of the Position

This role will reside within Firm Risk Managements Model Risk Management team and will focus on independent validation and oversight of models and tools used across the overlap of Wealth Management and Investment Management. The primary coverage areas include portfolio and fund construction models portfolio risk management models investment advisory and wealth platform tools goal-based planning models retirement and asset allocation models capital market assumption frameworks risk analytics and related vendor or third-party platforms.
The role requires a strong risk management mindset practical understanding of market environment dynamics and asset management business risks and the ability to provide credible challenge on model methodology implementation limitations data quality ongoing monitoring and governance. The candidate will lead a small team across regions guiding execution quality prioritization technical challenge peer review stakeholder engagement and development of committee and management materials.
The successful candidate should be able to engage effectively with model owners investment teams technology product controls vendors internal audit and senior management while coaching team members to translate complex quantitative issues into clear business-relevant conclusions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead a small global team executing independent reviews of Wealth Management and Investment Management models and tools with accountability for execution quality prioritization peer review stakeholder engagement and clear validation conclusions.
• Provide credible challenge on model design and business use across portfolio and fund construction portfolio risk management optimization Monte Carlo simulation factor-based analytics asset allocation retirement planning and client outcome metrics.
• Engage with model owners developers product teams investment teams technology partners control functions and third-party vendors to understand model design testing evidence limitations risk mitigants performance information and platform controls.
• Oversee review and challenge of vendor-provided methodologies and outputs including factor risk models optimization engines scenario analytics portfolio risk decomposition stress testing performance attribution tools and related platform capabilities.
• Guide identification communication and resolution of model risk issues ensuring validation reports clearly articulate key risks conclusions remediation expectations compensating controls and business implications.
• Synthesize thematic and idiosyncratic model risk observations across the validation portfolio including recurring risks related to model limitations data quality monitoring vendor dependencies platform integration scenario design and business-use alignment.
• Support new products new business initiatives model changes platform enhancements expanded model use cases and emerging model types including AI/ML models GenAI-enabled tools and agentic workflows.
  

Experienced Required

• Approximately 8-10 years of relevant experience building using or validating models in asset management investment management wealth management advisory platforms portfolio analytics or related quantitative roles; prior second-line model validation experience is preferred.
• Strong experience with portfolio and fund construction portfolio risk management asset allocation capital market assumptions goal-based or retirement planning investment risk analytics and advisory tools.
• Experience with portfolio optimization and Monte Carlo simulation frameworks including applications to constrained optimization tracking error risk budgeting wealth projections scenario analysis downside risk and probability-of-success metrics.
• Experience with factor models asset class assumptions covariance estimation expected return assumptions benchmark construction portfolio constraints model performance monitoring and key asset management business risks.
• Experience engaging with vendors or third-party model providers including obtaining methodology documentation challenging proprietary approaches assessing limitations evaluating model performance and controls and working with platforms such as BlackRock Aladdin MSCI Barra or similar tools.

Skills Required

• Masters or Doctorate degree or equivalent experience in Finance Business Administration Economics Mathematics Statistics Computer Science Engineering Operations Research Financial Engineering or a related quantitative or technical business field.
• Ability to independently assess model conceptual soundness implementation quality data lineage controls monitoring and use-case appropriateness with a risk management-oriented mindset and willingness to speak up constructively.
• Strong written verbal and interpersonal communication skills including comfort leading meetings making formal presentations producing committee materials briefing senior stakeholders and building credibility across investment quantitative technology product vendor control audit and regional teams.
• Hands-on experience with quantitative programming and data analysis tools such as Python R MATLAB SQL or comparable languages is preferred; experience with GenAI agents or AI-enabled workflow tools is desirable; CFA FRM ML or related quantitative or technology certifications are a plus.

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 thats differentiated and weve 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 - arent just beliefs they guide the decisions we make every day to do whats best for our clients communities and more than 80000 employees in 1200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley youll 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. Theres 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 into your browser.

At Morgan Stanley we raise manage and allocate capital for our clients helping them reach their goals. We do it in a way thats differentiated and weve 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 - arent just beliefs they guide the decisions we make every day to do whats best for our clients communities and more than 80000 employees in 1200 offices across 42 countries. At Morgan Stanley youll 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. Theres 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 into your browser.

Expected base pay rates for the role will be between $165000 and $275000 year at the commencement of base pay if hired will be determined on an individualized basis and is only part of the total compensation package which depending on the position may also include commission earnings incentive compensation discretionary bonuses other short and long-term incentive packages and other Morgan Stanley sponsored benefit programs.

Morgan Stanleys goal is to build and maintain a workforce that is diverse in experience and background but uniform in reflecting our standards of integrity and excellence. Consequently our recruiting efforts reflect our desire to attract and retain the best and brightest from all talent pools. We want to be the first choice for prospective employees.

It is the policy of the Firm to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race color religion creed age sex sex stereotype gender gender identity or expression transgender sexual orientation national origin citizenship disability marital and civil partnership/union status pregnancy veteran or military service status genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Morgan Stanley is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversifying its workforce(M/F/Disability/Vet).

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.

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