Director Asset Management Attorney

SEI is seeking an Attorney-Director to join its Asset Management Legal team and provide practical legal and regulatory support for the continued evolution of SEI’s global asset management business. The Asset Management Legal Team plays an important role in helping the business design, launch, operate, govern, and distribute investment products and solutions in a manner that supports growth, manages risk, and aligns with evolving regulatory expectations.

The Attorney-Director will initially focus on SEI’s SEC-registered fund complex, which includes approximately $110 billion in assets under management, while also supporting the broader transformation of SEI’s asset management platform, distribution relationships, investment advisory activities, and related operating capabilities. This includes partnering with business, compliance, risk, operations, technology, and leadership teams as SEI evaluates new products, enhances existing offerings, expands distribution opportunities, and adapts to market, client, and regulatory change.

The successful candidate will be a practical, business-oriented attorney who can independently navigate complex legal and regulatory issues, exercise sound judgment, and translate legal requirements into clear, actionable guidance for stakeholders. The Attorney-Director will be a member of SEI’s Legal, Compliance, Risk & Corporate Development Department, report to the Senior Director of the Asset Management Legal team, and contribute to a collaborative legal function that supports responsible innovation and the long-term evolution of SEI’s asset management business.

What you will do:

Advise on Investment Products and Advisory Operations

• Provide legal and regulatory advice regarding the design, launch, operation, governance, and distribution of investment products and solutions, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, collective investment vehicles, managed account programs, and other investment offerings.

• Advise on matters arising under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Investment Advisers Act of 1940, Securities Act of 1933, Securities Exchange Act of 1934, applicable SEC and FINRA requirements, ERISA, and other relevant regulatory frameworks.

• Support the ongoing operation and governance of SEI’s proprietary investment products, including matters presented to fund boards, committees, and other governance bodies.

• Counsel investment advisory and related operational teams on portfolio management, trading, valuation, disclosure, conflicts, fiduciary obligations, and regulatory change.

Partner with the Business

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to product, investment, distribution, operations, technology, compliance, and risk stakeholders.

• Partner with business teams to evaluate new products, services, distribution arrangements, strategic partnerships, platform relationships, and other growth initiatives.

• Provide practical guidance that balances legal and regulatory requirements with commercial objectives, client needs, operational considerations, and effective risk management.

• Collaborate with colleagues across SEI’s global legal, compliance, risk, corporate development, and business functions on cross-functional initiatives.

Support Distribution and Commercial Arrangements

• Advise on the distribution of investment products across institutional, intermediary, retirement, advisory, and wealth management channels.

• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret investment management, distribution, servicing, platform, strategic partnership, and other agreements supporting asset management activities.

• Assess disclosure, compensation, conflicts of interest, and regulatory considerations arising from product and distribution arrangements.

Manage Regulatory and Governance Matters

• Monitor and evaluate legal, regulatory, and industry developments affecting investment advisers, registered funds, ETFs, and other investment products, and communicate their practical implications to stakeholders.

• Support regulatory examinations, inquiries, audits, investigations, internal reviews, and remediation efforts.

• Help develop scalable policies, governance frameworks, escalation processes, and controls that support responsible growth and effective regulatory compliance.

• Manage outside counsel and other specialized advisors as appropriate.

What we need from you:

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

• Meaningful experience (7-10 years) advising registered investment companies, investment advisers, broker-dealers, financial institutions, or other participants in the asset management industry.

• Strong working knowledge of federal securities laws and regulations applicable to registered investment products and advisory businesses.

• Ability to independently analyze complex legal and regulatory issues and deliver practical, business-aligned advice.

• Excellent legal research, drafting, negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, take ownership of matters, and operate effectively in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

• High degree of integrity, professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.

What we would like from you:

• Experience advising on exchange-traded funds, including ETF product development or launches, ongoing operations, distribution, capital markets arrangements, disclosure, governance, or related legal and regulatory matters.

• Experience supporting fund boards or other investment product governance bodies.

• Experience with regulatory examinations or inquiries involving registered funds or investment advisers.

• Experience working in-house at an asset manager, financial institution, or financial technology organization, or in an investment management practice at a law firm.

What Sets This Opportunity Apart

This role offers the opportunity to work on sophisticated legal, regulatory, governance, and strategic matters affecting a global asset management platform. The Attorney- Director will engage directly with business leaders, investment professionals, product teams, distribution partners, compliance and risk professionals, and other senior stakeholders. The position combines substantive investment management work with meaningful business engagement and the opportunity to help shape new products, operating models, and strategic initiatives.

Career Growth Opportunities

The position provides opportunities to broaden expertise across investment products, advisory operations, distribution, product governance, regulatory strategy, and enterprise initiatives. A successful Attorney-Director may take on increasingly complex matters, lead significant cross-functional workstreams, and expand leadership responsibilities within SEI’s Legal, Compliance & Corporate Development organization.

Attributes We Value

• Integrity and strong ethical standards

• Sound judgment and accountability

• Practical, solution-oriented thinking

• Strong business acumen and strategic perspective

• Intellectual curiosity and commitment to continuous learning

• Clear communication and active listening

• Collaboration and relationship building

• Initiative, ownership, and responsiveness

• Professional maturity and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, get-it-done environment

SEI’s competitive advantage:

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including comprehensive care for your physical and mental well-being, a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, support for working parents and flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about. 

Benefits include healthcare (medical, dental, vision, prescription, wellness, EAP, FSA), life and disability insurance (premiums paid for base coverage), 401(k) match, education assistance, commuter benefits, up to 11 paid holidays/year, 21 days PTO/year pro-rated for new hires which increases over time, paid parental leave, back-up childcare arrangements, paid volunteer days, a discounted stock purchase plan, investment options, access to thriving employee networks and more.

We are a technology and asset management company delivering on our promise of building brave futures (SM)—for our clients, our communities, and ourselves.  Come build your brave future at SEI.  

The position title reflected in this job description is aligned with SEI's current internal job architecture. As part of SEI's role and career framework, internal job titles may not directly correspond to external market titles and may differ from titles previously assigned during an employee's tenure or at the time of hire.

SEI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and so much more…

After over 50 years in business, SEI remains a leading global provider of investment processing, investment management, and investment operations solutions. Reflecting our experience within financial services and financial technology our offices encompass an open floor plan and numerous art installations designed to encourage innovation and creativity in our workforce. We recognize that our people are our most valuable asset and that a healthy, happy, and motivated workforce is key to our continued growth. At SEI, we’re (literally) invested in your success. We offer our employees paid parental leave, back-up childcare arrangements, paid volunteer days, education assistance and access to thriving employee networks. 

SEI is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

AI Acceptable Use in the application and interview process:

SEI acknowledges the growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools into individuals’ personal and professional lives.  If you intend to incorporate the use of any AI tools at any stage of the application and/or interview process, please ensure you have reviewed and adhere to our AI use guidelines.