Director, Compliance

Sagard Overview

Sagard is a global multi-strategy alternative asset management firm investing across venture capital, private equity, private credit and real estate. Sagard also engages in private wealth management through Sagard Wealth.

Founded in 2016 and guided by the core values of entrepreneurship, innovation, collaboration, rigour and authenticity, Sagard has grown at an extraordinary pace. In under a decade, the firm has built more than US$45 billion in assets under management, 400 portfolio companies and a team of close to 600 professionals.

And Sagard is just getting started: the firm is well positioned to keep growing substantially, both organically and inorganically, in pursuit of its vision of becoming one of the best-performing investment management firms in the world.

Headquartered in Canada, Sagard currently has offices in Canada, the United States, Europe and the Middle East.

More at https://www.sagard.com

Position Overview

This is a rare chance to help build the compliance engine of one of the world's fastest-growing alternative asset managers. Sagard is seeking a Director, Compliance to power its next phase of expansion and deepen its in-house legal and compliance capabilities. Sagard is building the legal and compliance department of the future: an AI-enabled function where best-in-class legal and compliance technology absorbs the repetitive work so that members of the team spend their time on judgment, strategy and deal-making. This role will help lead that build, and the firm is investing seriously behind it.

The Director, Compliance will be a key member of Sagard Compliance, an integrated global team responsible for ensuring Sagard remains compliant with legal and regulatory frameworks in all jurisdictions in which it operates. You will keep several high-stakes matters moving all at once without losing your composure, your sense of humour, or your bias for practical solutions. The ideal candidate brings gravitas, sharp problem-solving instincts, and genuine enthusiasm for Sagard's growth story, someone who leads with confidence, welcomes competing demands, and is energized rather than unsettled by a firm that keeps reinventing itself.

As part of a broader team, the Director, Compliance will have substantial responsibility for the compliance programs of Sagard entities registered in Canada, the United States and internationally as well as supporting product formation, investment activity and M&A processes. This role offers functional ownership from Day 1 with direct access to executive leadership. For the right candidate demonstrating Sagard’s values, this position provides a clear pathway to leadership on the Compliance team, with a trajectory to transition into the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) for a business line or registrant over time.The ideal candidate will also:

• have excellent judgment, developed from experience in-house at a global multi-strategy alternative asset manager and/or at a top-tier law firm;
• be technologically fluent and capable of building processes and systems with artificial intelligence tools such as Harvey, ChatGPT, and Claude, or willing to learn; and
• be at ease operating in a sophisticated private markets environment with an international presence.

Responsibilities

• Help lead the compliance programs for certain Sagard affiliates which are SEC-registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and/or portfolio managers, investment fund managers and exempt market dealers under NI 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.
• Maintain and enhance the compliance manual, code of ethics, supervisory procedures, and related policies.
• Lead annual compliance reviews and prepare reports for senior management, governing bodies, and parent company legal/compliance stakeholders.
• Lead or support on regulatory and compliance aspects of new product development, M&A transaction and integration initiatives and portfolio transaction activities.
• Monitor regulatory developments affecting SEC RIAs, private funds, private credit, real estate, private equity, fund-of-funds, co-investments, secondaries, and cross-border advisory activities.
• Oversee RAQ, Investment Fund Survey, Form ADV, Form PF, Form D, and other regulatory filings.
• Support compliance with private fund rules, marketing rules, custody requirements, pay-to-play rules, political contribution rules, and books-and-records obligations.
• Review investor communications, marketing materials, DDQs, RFPs, pitchbooks, performance presentations, and related external materials which are systematically escalated to internal compliance teams after AI-assisted and external review.
• Advise on conflicts of interest, allocation of investment opportunities, fees and expenses, valuation, side letters, MNPI, personal trading, gifts and entertainment, outside business activities, and political contributions.
• Provide compliance oversight across venture capital, private equity fund-of-funds, private credit, real estate, secondaries, co-investments, separately managed accounts, and other alternative investment strategies.
• Support diligence and monitoring processes involving underlying managers, borrowers, sponsors, operating partners, joint venture partners, LPAC participation, side letters, MFN provisions, and investor reporting.
• Coordinate compliance matters involving international affiliates, cross-border advisory activity, marketing, delegation, information sharing, and intercompany services.
• Work with internal counsel, external counsel and senior management to manage jurisdictional regulatory risks.
• Assist with OSC, SEC or other regulatory examinations, inquiries, regulatory correspondence, and remediation of any compliance findings.
• Assist in managing relationships with compliance consultants and other service providers.
• Assist in developing and delivering compliance training across investment, investor relations, finance, operations, and leadership teams.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance, accountability, and ethical conduct.
• Participate in compliance, valuation, conflicts, risk, operating, or governance committees as appropriate.

Qualifications

• 7-12 years of relevant regulatory and compliance experience.
• Significant experience with OSC/AMF-registered PM/IFMs and/or SEC-registered investment advisers managing U.S. private funds, alternative investment strategies and/or private wealth vehicles operating under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
• Multi-strategy experience. Familiarity with supporting a broad range of investment strategies and asset classes. Experience with venture capital, private equity, private credit, real estate, fund-of-funds, secondary funds, co-investments, separately managed accounts, and/or other alternative investment strategies.
• Strong knowledge of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and SEC rules applicable to private fund advisers.
• Demonstrated experience managing SEC examinations and regulatory inquiries.
• Experience working with international affiliates, global advisory structures, or cross-border investment management platforms.
• AI-fluent and technically curious. Hands-on user of AI and automation tools, with a real point of view on where they work, where they do not, and how to scale a compliance function with technology rather than headcount.
• Strong understanding of conflicts management, allocation policies, marketing review, valuation oversight, fee and expense practices, and investor reporting controls.
• Experience preparing compliance testing, annual reviews, and regulatory filings.
• Familiarity with international regulatory regimes affecting private fund marketing and advisory activities.

Key Competencies

• Deep technical knowledge of NI 31-103 and/or SEC RIA compliance requirements.
• Experience balancing regulatory rigor with commercial practicality.
• Practical, business-oriented judgment and strong ethical standards.
• Ability to identify, prioritize, and escalate compliance risks.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort interacting with senior executives, investment professionals, regulators, outside counsel, parent company stakeholders, and institutional investors.
• Ability to operate independently while collaborating across functions and jurisdictions.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Travel may be required.
• For all positions in Québec, proficiency in French and English, both spoken and written, is mandatory. English is required due to regular interaction with colleagues and external partners outside Québec.

Sagard is an equal opportunity employer, which values diversity in the workplace. We are therefore happy to accommodate any individual.

If you require accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, please contact the People & Culture team to make your needs known in advance.

Sagard may use automated tools, including artificial intelligence, to support certain stages of the recruitment and selection process.