Vice President, Trust Services

Accountabilities:

As the business leader for Trust Services, you will be responsible for strategic direction, financial performance, partner relationships, client solutions, and operational excellence. You will collaborate with internal stakeholders and external trust companies to deliver high-quality fiduciary services while supporting sustainable business growth.

• Strategy and business leadership

  • Develop and execute a multi-year strategy for Trust Services, defining service offerings, partnership models, and the roadmap for future capabilities.

  • Own the business's revenue and budget, reporting financial and operational performance to senior management.

  • Collaborate with Corporate Development to identify and develop strategic relationships.

  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators, including assets under trusteeship, trust volumes, revenue, pipeline, cycle times, client satisfaction, and partner service levels.

  • Trust partner management

    • Lead the selection, contracting, and ongoing management of independent trust companies acting as current or successor trustees.

    • Manage requests for proposals, partner transitions, and relationship development.

    • Assess partners based on fiduciary powers in key jurisdictions, including South Dakota, Delaware, Nevada, and Wyoming, as well as fee structures, investment arrangements, technology, and service quality.

    • Monitor partner performance through scorecards and quarterly business reviews to ensure service-level commitments are met.

    • Maintain due diligence documentation and partner transition plans in coordination with Legal and Compliance.

    • Trust solutions and advisor consulting

      • Serve as the trust subject matter expert for wealth management teams, clients, prospects, and centers of influence.

      • Explain trust solutions and communicate their value to clients and professional partners.

      • Design trust solutions for individual client cases, coordinating trust structures with clients and their estate attorneys.

      • Lead trust-related client and prospect meetings alongside wealth advisors.

      • Increase adoption of trust services through advisor training, case studies, playbooks, and other enablement initiatives.

      • Develop and implement growth strategies, manage the sales pipeline, and support business development initiatives.

      • Operations and client experience

        • Establish workflows, procedures, and systems for trust intake, partner handoffs, and ongoing case management.

        • Act as the escalation point for complex partner and client servicing issues.

        • Conduct periodic client reviews with wealth advisors to monitor satisfaction and identify opportunities for improvement.

        • Coordinate trust-related matters across departments to ensure consistent service delivery.

        • Report on business volume, productivity, revenue, and business development progress.

        • Trust Operations leadership

          • Provide business direction and support to the Trust Operations team as it transitions into the Client Service organization.

          • Define business priorities, service standards, and workflows in partnership with Client Service leadership.

          • Provide expert guidance and decisions on complex trust cases and partner-related questions.

          • Review volumes, processing times, client feedback, and advisor feedback to identify operational improvements and capacity requirements.

          Requirements:

          The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in trust, estate, or private wealth services, together with a strong record of business leadership and the ability to influence teams across organizational boundaries. You should combine deep fiduciary knowledge with commercial judgment, client-facing expertise, and the ability to build effective external partnerships.

          • At least 12 years of experience in trust, estate, or private wealth services.

          • Experience building, managing, or leading a trust or fiduciary-related business.

          • Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and collaborate across multiple functions.

          • Strong knowledge of directed and delegated trust structures, trust company relationships, and multi-state trust considerations.

          • Experience evaluating and managing external trust providers and fiduciary partnerships.

          • Strong trust case design and consulting skills, including the ability to work directly with clients, wealth advisors, and estate attorneys.

          • Proven ability to develop business strategies, manage budgets and revenue, monitor performance metrics, and support growth initiatives.

          • Excellent communication, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

          • Strong organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to oversee complex cases and improve operational processes.

          • A Juris Doctor (JD), Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA), Certified Financial Planner (CFP), or Chartered Trust Advisor (CTA) designation is preferred.

          Benefits:

          • Annual base salary: $204,000–$240,000 USD, depending on location, experience, education, skills, and relevant licenses or certifications.

          • Incentive compensation: Eligibility for additional incentive compensation through the company's incentive programs.

          • Remote work: Flexibility to work remotely from a dedicated home office or in a professional office environment.

          • Medical coverage: Three Cigna medical plan options, including two high-deductible plans and a traditional copay plan; Kaiser plans are available in California.

          • Health savings account: Employer contributions for eligible employees enrolled in a high-deductible health plan.

          • Dental and vision: Two comprehensive dental plan options and vision insurance.

          • Life and disability insurance: Company-paid basic life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, plus short-term and long-term disability coverage.

          • Supplemental insurance: Options for supplemental life and AD&D, short-term disability, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage.

          • Paid time off: Generous vacation and sick leave, plus 14 company-paid holidays, including a full week off at Thanksgiving.

          • Family support: Eight weeks of paid parental leave, family medical leave, maternity-related disability benefits, and adoption assistance reimbursement.

          • Dependent care: Dependent care savings account options for eligible expenses.

          • Caregiving and well-being: Employee assistance services and company-paid concierge support for caregiving needs and other life challenges.

          • Retirement savings: 401(k) plan with Traditional and Roth options, per-pay-period employer matching, and an after-tax contribution option.

          • Additional perks: Pet insurance and access to personalized financial planning and guidance at preferred employee pricing.

          • Work schedule: Standard business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with occasional early or late hours as business needs require.