Director of Operations

Director of Operations | Independent RIA | Chapel Hill, NC

Compensation : $100k-$150k base + performance bonus, commensurate with experience

Our client is a growing, independent RIA based in Chapel Hill, NC, managing $600M+ in client assets -and they're building the operations function to match their next stage of growth. That's where you come in.

Why this role?

• Build (not inherit) the operations function - rhythms, standards, documentation, and team structure, from the ground up
• Lead a client-service and operations team directly, with real decision-making authority day one
• Partner closely with firm leadership on a CRM transition and firm-wide process improvements
• A genuine path to COO as the firm scales - grow into the seat by building the operation that gets there

What you bring:

• 5+ years in operations leadership, 10+ years total in RIA, wealth management, or broker-dealer environments
• A track record of scaling an operations function through real growth - not just maintaining a steady shop
• Builder-first energy: you've stood up workflow, automation, and process infrastructure that cut manual effort as volume climbed
• Fluency with wealth management CRMs and custodian platforms (Schwab, Fidelity, Pershing, or similar)
• Comfortable hands-on in a boutique environment today, with the ceiling to run something much bigger tomorrow

This is a tactical, in-the-trenches builder's role - not a strategy-first executive seat. If you love creating order out of ambiguity and want a real path to COO, let's talk.