Director, Investment Operations

ABOUT SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) is a regional catalyst, connector, and collaborator. We bring together the resources and skills of donors, business, government, and community to solve some of our region’s toughest challenges. We promote philanthropy in our region and support philanthropists to invest with impact. Through advocacy, research, policy and grantmaking, we seek systemic solutions to drive enduring community change. Learn more at svcf.org.  

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a full-time, exempt level position in Mountain View, California.

HYBRID WORK SCHEDULE

SVCF operates on a hybrid work model. Some teams work onsite in the Mountain View office twice per week, while others work in the office twice per month. This position is currently part of a team that is scheduled to work onsite twice per month.

Please note that there may be occasions when additional in-office days are required to support critical meetings, assignments, or events. SVCF also reserves the right to modify its hybrid work schedule as needed.

All SVCF team members must be based and hold residency in California.

JOB SUMMARY

The Director, Investment Operations is a member of a small, highly collaborative team responsible for supporting a wide range of investment operations and complex gifted assets. responsible for end-to-end ownership of investment data integrity, reporting accuracy, systems management, and core monthly investment account reconciliation across SVCF’s investment platform.

The Director, Investment Operations is a senior individual contributor role within SVCF’s Investment Operations function. The role supports the design, oversight, and execution of operational policies, controls, and workflows that ensure accurate reporting, clean audits, operational integrity, and high-quality donor and stakeholder communications across SVCF’s investment programs.

Investment Operations operates with two Directors in complementary roles, each holding primary responsibility for a defined portfolio of operational domains while sharing accountability for execution quality, risk management, and team-wide resilience. Together, the Directors provide senior execution leadership within a flat, collaborative team structure.

This role exercises significant judgment and accountability across complex investment operations, donor-facing activity, and cross-functional coordination.

Role Design and Division of Focus

While both Directors are expected to contribute broadly across Investment Operations, each Director holds a primary area of focus based on experience, capability, and business need.

• One Director is primarily focused on:
  • Operational policy design, control frameworks, and governance
  • Audit readiness and execution
  • Accurate reporting and documentation
  • Responsive, high-quality donor-facing communications
• The other Director is primarily focused on:
  • Development partnership and donor-facing investment activity
  • Complex gift and investment onboarding
  • Cross-functional coordination and execution sequencing
  • Operational feasibility and technical close

Primary focus areas do not limit responsibility; both Directors share accountability for overall operational outcomes and provide mutual coverage as needed.

Shared Team Responsibility

Investment Operations functions as a collaborative team. All team members, regardless of role, are expected to contribute to hands-on operational support during periods of high volume or time-sensitive activity to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and continuity.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Investment Operations Oversight and Controls

• Support the design, implementation, and maintenance of operational policies, standards, and controls across investment operations
• Ensure operational workflows support accurate reporting, clean audits, and regulatory and governance requirements
• Resolve complex, non-routine operational issues requiring judgment and escalation

Audit and Reporting

• Oversee investment-related audit readiness, including documentation, confirmations, and audit deliverables
• Coordinate valuation support, Level 3 documentation, and audit responses in partnership with Accounting and external providers
• Ensure disciplined documentation, archival, and record-retention practices
• Maintain institutional standards for accuracy, consistency, and audit defensibility

Donor and Development Partnership

• Partner with Development and Investments to support donor-facing investment activity and communications
• Ensure donor-facing materials, analyses, and summaries are accurate, current, and operationally feasible
• Participate in donor pool development meetings and complex gift discussions as needed
• Respond to donor and internal inquiries related to investment operations, structures, and reporting

Complex Investments and Operational Execution

• Oversee operational onboarding of complex gifts and investment structures
• Coordinate subscriptions, capital calls, distributions, valuations, and tax-related reporting
• Support short-term pool operations, alternatives operations, and other assigned investment programs
• Identify operational risks, constraints, or execution challenges and escalate appropriately

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Partner closely with Investments, Accounting, Legal, Development, Philanthropic Services, and external service providers
• Coordinate sequencing, timelines, and dependencies across teams to ensure smooth execution
• Support the VP, Investment Operations in prioritization during periods of high volume or complexity

Risk Management and Process Improvement

• Identify control gaps, operational risks, or inefficiencies and recommend improvements
• Support workflow enhancements, system improvements, and documentation updates
• Contribute to continuous improvement of execution discipline and operational resilience

Other

• Other related duties as assigned.

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are not meant to be all-inclusive and are subject to change. Employees are expected to be flexible and adaptable, performing other related duties as needed to meet the organization’s evolving goals and priorities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED SKILLS

Experience and Education

• Minimum of six years of experience in investment operations, client reporting, investor relations support, or related functions; experience in private wealth management preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Marketing, Communications, or equivalent experience
• CFA, CAIA, or MBA preferred
• Strong experience with alternative investments and valuation processes
• Client-facing business development experience in wealth management preferred

Technical and Systems Expertise

• Advanced Excel skills and strong data QA capabilities
• Experience with CRM systems and reporting tools
• Familiarity with investment reporting platforms (e.g., Addepar, Black Diamond) preferred
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Experience with, or ability to quickly adapt to, enterprise business applications such as NetSuite, Salesforce, Asana, ChatGPT, or similar platforms
• Strong technical aptitude with the ability to learn new systems independently and continuously enhance proficiency

Project Management and Execution

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to identify critical milestones, develop clear workplans, and deliver high-quality results on time
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize competing demands and manage multiple concurrent workstreams
• Proven ability to anticipate business needs and apply critical thinking in a solutions-oriented manner
• Track record of initiating and implementing process improvements

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a strong customer service orientation
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across internal teams and external partners
• Ability to communicate complex investment concepts clearly and accurately

Professional Attributes

• High ethical standards and ability to maintain confidentiality of extremely sensitive and private information
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Self-motivated, resourceful, and resilient in dynamic environments
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across varied activities and projects
• Professional and personal alignment with Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s mission and values
• Genuine enthusiasm for philanthropy and community impact

SALARY AND BENEFITS

SVCF is committed to offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits. The target hiring range for this position is $140,000 to $160,000 per year based on experience, credentials and internal salary equity.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes generous medical, dental, and vision plans; paid time off; holidays and employer contribution and matching to a 403(b) retirement plan.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent in this position.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND INCLUSION

Silicon Valley Community Foundation has a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and equal opportunity.  We are committed to building a team that is representative of our community. 

SVCF is an equal opportunity employer.  Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, political affiliation, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

SVCF is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals.  As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.  If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions, of employment, please contact humanresources@siliconvalleycf.org.  Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format and/or using specialized equipment.