ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Vice President Defined Contribution Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SCALIS

Vice President, Retirement Services

Bradenton, FL · On-site

$160 - $230/hr

Key Responsibilities CoAd is seeking a Vice President, Retirement Services to lead the company ... Stay current on legislative and regulatory developments affecting defined contribution plans, MEPs ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsFinance and Insurance JobsAccounting JobsAccounting Professional JobsVice President Defined Contribution Jobs

Vice President Defined Contribution information

See salary details

$43.5K

$157.5K

$277.5K

How much do vice president defined contribution jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for vice president defined contribution in the United States is $157,532.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $115,000.00 and $190,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a vice president defined contribution do?

A Vice President of Defined Contribution typically oversees the management and strategic direction of defined contribution retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans, within a financial institution or corporation. Their responsibilities include ensuring regulatory compliance, developing plan offerings, managing client relationships, and leading teams that administer these plans. They also work to improve plan performance, enhance participant engagement, and stay current with industry trends and legislative changes. This role requires strong leadership, deep industry knowledge, and excellent communication skills to effectively serve clients and drive business growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a vice president defined contribution?

To thrive as a Vice President, Defined Contribution, you need deep expertise in retirement plan management, compliance, financial analysis, and a bachelor's degree in finance or a related field (often enhanced by a CFA, CIMA, or similar certification). Proficiency with recordkeeping platforms, retirement plan administration software, and regulatory systems like ERISA is typically required. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and client relationship management skills help differentiate top performers in this role. These qualifications are vital for driving business growth, ensuring regulatory compliance, and delivering superior client solutions in the competitive retirement plan industry.

What are some common challenges faced by a vice president defined contribution when managing large retirement plan portfolios?

A Vice President of Defined Contribution often faces challenges such as staying current with evolving regulatory requirements, managing diverse client expectations, and ensuring the competitiveness of plan offerings. Balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders—including plan sponsors, participants, and internal teams—can be complex, especially when introducing new investment options or plan features. Additionally, maintaining operational efficiency and driving participant engagement through education and communication initiatives are ongoing priorities. Successful VPs leverage cross-functional collaboration and proactive problem-solving to navigate these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Vice President Defined Contribution vs Vice President Retirement Plans?

AspectVice President Defined ContributionVice President Retirement Plans
Primary FocusManaging defined contribution plan strategies and operationsOverseeing overall retirement plan offerings and client solutions
CertificationsCFP, CFA, or actuarial credentials often preferredSimilar certifications, with emphasis on retirement planning expertise
Work EnvironmentFinancial services firms, plan providers, or consulting firmsFinancial institutions, plan administrators, or consulting firms
Industry UsageCommonly used in pension and retirement plan sectorsBroader, includes retirement plan design and management

The Vice President Defined Contribution typically focuses on managing specific defined contribution plans like 401(k)s, while the Vice President Retirement Plans oversees a wider range of retirement solutions. Both roles require similar credentials and work in comparable environments, but their scope and responsibilities differ slightly, with the former concentrating on plan-specific strategies and the latter on overall retirement offerings.

What cities are hiring for Vice President Defined Contribution jobs?

Cities with the most Vice President Defined Contribution job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Defined Contribution jobs?

The most popular types of Defined Contribution jobs are:

What states have the most Vice President Defined Contribution jobs?

States with the most job openings for Vice President Defined Contribution jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Vice President Defined Contribution jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Vice President Defined Contribution jobs are:

Vice President Defined Contribution jobs near you
Infographic showing various Vice President Defined Contribution job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $157,532 per year, or $75.7 per hour.

Vice President, Defined Contribution Lead

Ares Operations LLC

New York, NY • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Over the last 20 years, Ares' success has been driven by our people and our culture. Today, our team is guided by our core values - Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Aware, Trustworthy - and our purpose to be a catalyst for shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and employee-focused programming, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive work environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can build careers within this exciting and growing industry.

Job Description

About Ares Wealth Management Solutions (AWMS)

Ares Wealth Management Solutions (AWMS) oversees the product development, distribution, marketing, and client management activities of investment offerings for the global wealth management channel. With a team of more than 150 professionals and backed by the power and scale of the Ares platform, AWMS represents one of the most resourced wealth distribution and client service teams in the alternatives industry. AWMS' mission is to provide advisors and their clients access to innovative, solutions-oriented investment opportunities, across the Ares platform of industry leading credit, private equity, real estate, and secondaries strategies. Through our range of institutional and retail structures, coupled with excellent client service and educational resources, we help investors diversify their portfolios with private market solutions that can deliver consistent, long-term growth.

Position Summary

Ares is seeking a Vice President, Defined Contribution to join the RIA & Family Office Partnerships team. This individual will play a key role in executing Ares' defined contribution strategy across the wealth management ecosystem, helping expand the adoption of private markets within retirement-oriented investment programs.

The successful candidate will serve as a relationship manager, strategic partner, and subject matter expert across the defined contribution landscape, working closely with retirement-focused RIAs , recordkeepers, broker-dealers and other advisor platforms. This role requires a highly collaborative professional who can coordinate across distribution, product, marketing, legal, operations, and investment teams to advance strategic initiatives and drive business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Defined Contribution Strategy & Business Development

  • Support the execution of Ares' defined contribution strategy within the RIA, family office, and broader wealth management channels.
  • Partner with the RIA & Family Office sales team to uncover opportunities where retirement and wealth management channels intersect.
  • Develop and execute business plans and sales strategies designed to increase awareness, engagement, and adoption of Ares investment solutions.
  • Monitor retirement industry developments, competitive dynamics, regulatory changes, and product innovation trends to identify new opportunities.

Strategic Relationship Management

  • Maintain strong relationships with key defined contribution stakeholders, including advisors, consultants, recordkeepers, home office research teams, and platform executives.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for strategic retirement-related partners and support partner onboarding, due diligence, fund placement, and education initiatives.
  • Proactively engage with existing and prospective partners to identify opportunities and address business needs in a timely manner.

Advisor Education & Thought Leadership

  • Serve as a subject matter expert on retirement investing and the role of alternative investments within participant portfolios.
  • Deliver presentations, webinars, educational events, and thought leadership content to advisors, consultants, and platform partners.
  • Support conference participation, partner events, sponsorships, roadshows, and other industry engagements.
  • Develop insights and recommendations regarding evolving retirement market trends and implementation considerations.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Partner closely with Product Management, Investor Services, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Operations, and Investment Teams to advance key strategic initiatives.
  • Coordinate internal resources to support onboarding efforts, diligence processes, fundraising initiatives, and partner engagement activities.
  • Maintain and oversee pipeline, relationship, and opportunity tracking systems to ensure effective follow-up and execution.
  • Prepare presentations, business reviews, and strategic updates for senior management, including pipeline activity, partner engagement, and growth opportunities.
  • Provide market feedback to support product development, positioning, and future retirement-focused initiatives.

Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • 7+ years of experience in defined contribution or retirement consulting
  • Strong understanding of the defined contribution landscape, including 401(k), 403(b), 457, and other retirement structures.
  • Experience working with RIAs, family offices, retirement advisors, consultants, recordkeepers, or wealth management platforms.
  • Demonstrated relationship management and business development experience with institutional or intermediary clients.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, organizational, and project management skills.
  • Ability to operate effectively across multiple stakeholders and manage numerous strategic initiatives simultaneously.
  • Proficiency with CRM systems and pipeline management processes.

Preferred

  • Knowledge of alternative investments, private markets, and portfolio construction frameworks.
  • Existing relationships across the retirement and defined contribution ecosystem.
  • Professional designations such as CFA, CAIA, CFP, CIMA, QKS, AIF or similar credentials.
  • Experience working in a highly collaborative, matrixed organization.

Reporting Relationships

Partner, Head of RIA & Family Offices

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Total compensation may also include a discretionary performance-based bonus. Note, the range takes into account a broad spectrum of qualifications, including, but not limited to, years of relevant work experience, education, and other relevant qualifications specific to the role.

$190,000 - $220,000

The firm also offers robust Benefits offerings. Ares U.S. Core Benefits include Comprehensive Medical/Rx, Dental and Vision plans; 401(k) program with company match; Flexible Savings Accounts (FSA); Healthcare Savings Accounts (HSA) with company contribution; Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Short-Term Disability (STD) insurance; Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and Commuter Benefits plan for parking and transit.

Ares offers a number of additional benefits including access to a world-class medical advisory team, a mental health app that includes coaching, therapy and psychiatry, a mindfulness and wellbeing app, financial wellness benefit that includes access to a financial advisor, new parent leave, reproductive and adoption assistance, emergency backup care, matching gift program, education sponsorship program, and much more.

There is no set deadline to apply for this job opportunity. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the search is no longer active.

Apply