Director, Digital Asset Operations

 

Why work for us?

 

A career at Janus Henderson is more than a job, it’s about investing in a brighter future together. 

 

Our Mission at Janus Henderson is to help clients define and achieve superior financial outcomes through differentiated insights, disciplined investments, and world-class service. We will do this by protecting and growing our core business, amplifying our strengths and diversifying where we have the right.

 

Our Values are key to driving our success, and are at the heart of everything we do:

 

Clients Come First - Always | Execution Supersedes Intention | Together We Win | Diversity Improves Results | Truth Builds Trust

 

If our mission, values, and purpose align with your own, we would love to hear from you!

 

Your opportunity 

This newly created role will help establish Janus Henderson’s Digital Asset Operations capability within the Chief Operating Officer Department. Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for an initial period of approximately 18 months, the role will be responsible for shaping the operating model, governance framework, control environment and launch readiness approach for tokenized investment products and blockchain-enabled servicing capabilities.

The role will act as the operational bridge between digital asset innovation and institutional execution, partnering with Innovation, Transfer Agency, Middle Office, Fund Administration, Investments, Product, Distribution, Technology, Legal, Risk and Compliance. Initial priorities will include supporting selected strategic digital asset partnerships, assessing opportunities involving tokenization and blockchain-enabled platforms, and helping position Janus Henderson for tokenized product opportunities across its global operating regions.

• Own the development of operating procedures, control frameworks, escalation paths, service levels and operational readiness plans for digital asset and tokenized product initiatives.
• Establish and maintain operating model documentation, including process maps, RACI models, decision logs, risk and issue tracking, control inventories and launch readiness checklists.
• Define run-the-business and change-the-business requirements for digital asset operations, ensuring new capabilities can transition from pilot activity to scalable production support.
• Support the design of operational workflows for token issuance, investor onboarding, transfer restrictions, lifecycle events, subscriptions, redemptions, settlement, reconciliations, corporate actions and investor reporting.
• Assess interoperability requirements between blockchain-enabled infrastructure and traditional fund accounting, transfer agency, custody and distribution platforms.
• Support the definition of operational controls for tokenized share classes, including register integrity, investor eligibility, dealing cut-offs, settlement finality and exception management.
• Define the operational servicing model for tokenized share classes, including distribution readiness, transfer agency servicing, investor eligibility, dealing workflows, settlement, reconciliations, reporting and exception management.
• Support due diligence, onboarding and oversight of external partners, vendors and infrastructure providers involved in digital asset initiatives.
• Help establish governance forums, decision-making frameworks, operating procedures, controls and management reporting for digital asset initiatives.
• Identify operational risks, dependencies, regulatory considerations and control requirements associated with tokenized products and blockchain-enabled servicing models.
• Partner with Distribution and Investments to assess client, product and regional requirements for tokenized investment offerings.
• Monitor market developments, competitor activity and regulatory change relating to digital assets, tokenization, blockchain infrastructure and digital custody.

 

What to expect when you join our firm

 

• Hybrid working and reasonable accommodations
• Generous Holiday policies
• Excellent Health and Wellbeing benefits including corporate membership to Wellhub
• Paid volunteer time to step away from your desk and into the community
• Support to grow through professional development courses, tuition/qualification reimbursement and more
• Maternal/paternal leave benefits and family services
• Unique employee events and programs
• Complimentary beverages, snacks and all employee Happy Hours

 

Must have skills

 

• Significant experience within asset management, investment operations, fund administration, transfer agency, custody, capital markets infrastructure, or a related financial services environment.
• Strong understanding of traditional asset management operating models and front-to-back investment servicing processes.
• Experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives across business, operations, technology, risk, compliance and legal teams.
• Demonstrable exposure to digital assets, tokenization, blockchain-enabled financial products, digital custody, digital wallets, or related institutional digital asset initiatives.
• Ability to translate emerging technology concepts into practical operational requirements, controls and implementation plans.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to operate in an ambiguous and evolving environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders and align multiple teams around common outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare executive-level materials and recommendations.
• Experience supporting operating model design, process mapping, control design, risk assessment and implementation planning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to organize and assimilate complex information across multiple workstreams.
• Ability to balance innovation, commercial opportunity, risk management and regulatory expectations.
• Collaborative and inclusive work style.
• Strong execution discipline and ability to drive outcomes without relying on a large established team or existing process framework.
• Fluency in English required.

 

Nice to have skills

 

• Direct experience working on tokenized funds, tokenized share classes, digital asset products, stablecoins, digital custody, blockchain settlement, or distributed ledger technology initiatives.
• Experience with fund domiciles or regulatory environments in EMEA / US.
• Familiarity with tokenization platforms, digital custody providers, blockchain infrastructure providers or institutional digital asset ecosystems.
• Understanding of transfer agency implications for tokenized funds, including investor onboarding, register maintenance, dealing, settlement, reconciliations and reporting.
• Understanding of digital custody, wallet governance, private key controls, blockchain network providers, transaction approval controls and on-chain / off-chain reconciliation.
• Familiarity with operational risks associated with digital assets, including settlement risk, blockchain network risk, liquidity fragmentation, incident response, transaction screening, sanctions controls and Travel Rule considerations.
• Working knowledge of relevant digital asset and tokenization regulatory frameworks (i.e. MiCA, the EU DLT Pilot Regime, CSDR, etc.)
• Experience working with external service providers, fintech partners, custodians, administrators, transfer agents or technology vendors.
• Experience supporting new product launches or early-stage strategic initiatives in a regulated financial services environment.
• Additional language skills may be beneficial given the global nature of the role.
  
  

Key outcomes

 

• Establish the initial Digital Asset Operations governance and operating model framework.
• Define operational readiness requirements for tokenized share classes and blockchain-enabled servicing capabilities.
• Produce process maps, control inventories, risk assessments, launch readiness checklists and executive reporting for priority initiatives.
• Support due diligence and operational onboarding of selected digital asset partners and service providers.
• Help determine the longer-term Digital Asset Operations structure, including future team requirements, roles and governance model.
  
  

Supervisory responsibilities

 

• No direct supervisory responsibilities initially.
• The role will be expected to lead cross-functional working groups and influence delivery across multiple teams.
• As the Digital Asset Operations model matures, the role may evolve to include direct people management responsibilities.

 

Potential for growth

 

• Opportunity to help establish a new strategic capability within Janus Henderson.
• Potential to evolve into a broader leadership role within Digital Asset Operations as the operating model matures.
• Exposure to senior leadership, strategic partnerships, global product initiatives and emerging market infrastructure.
• Leadership development programs.
• Regular training.
• Career development services.
• Continuing education courses.
• Mentoring opportunities.

 

 

Colorado law requires an estimated closing date for job postings. Please don't be discouraged from applying if you see this date has passed.

 

At Janus Henderson Investors we’re committed to an inclusive and supportive environment. We believe diversity improves results and we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. Don’t worry if you don’t think you tick every box, we still want to hear from you! We understand everyone has different commitments and while we can’t accommodate every flexible working request, we’re happy to be asked about work flexibility and our hybrid working environment. If you need any reasonable accommodations during our recruitment process, please get in touch and let us know at recruiter@janushenderson.com

#LI-MM1 #LI-HYBRID

Annual Bonus Opportunity: Position may be eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus award from the profit pool. The profit pool is funded based on Company profits. Individual bonuses are determined based on Company, department, team and individual performance. 

 

Benefits: Janus Henderson is committed to offering a comprehensive total rewards package to eligible employees that includes; competitive compensation, pension/retirement plans, and various health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits. To learn more about our offerings please visit the Why Join Us section on the career page here.

 

Janus Henderson Investors is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. All applications are subject to background checks.

 

Janus Henderson (including its subsidiaries) will not maintain existing or sponsor new industry registrations or licenses where not supported by an employee’s job functions (as determined by Janus Henderson at its sole discretion).

 

You should be willing to adhere to the provisions of our Investment Advisory Code of Ethics related to personal securities activities and other disclosure and certification requirements, including past political contributions and political activities. Applicants’ past political contributions or activity may impact applicants’ eligibility for this position.

 

You will be expected to understand the regulatory obligations of the firm, and abide by the regulated entity requirements and JHI policies applicable for your role.