Senior Product Manager - 12 month FTC

At M&G our vision is: to become the best loved and most successful savings and investment business and we're looking for people who are excited about joining us on our journey. We're digitally transforming and investing heavily in technology and innovation to develop new and improved customer propositions that really raise the bar for our customers. To help us achieve our vision we're looking for exceptional people who live our values and behaviours and who can inspire others; embrace change; deliver results and keep it simple.

We know that an inclusive environment makes us more accessible and ensures we attract, engage, promote and retain exceptional people. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender/gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity/nationality, disability, or military service and welcome those who have taken career breaks. We will consider flexible working arrangements or home working arrangements for any of our roles.

What you can expect from us:
We are committed to creating an environment where you can be exceptional at all you do. To help us deliver this, we promise to:

• Challenge Your Limits by creating a stimulating working environment and providing opportunities for you to be involved in meaningful and challenging work
• Support Your Aspirations with a commitment to learning and development that helps you achieve and build your experience with people who want you to succeed
• Value Your Input whereby leaders and managers will involve you in key decisions, listen to your thoughts and recognise the important contribution you make
• Balance Your Life through a work life partnership that focuses on making this an inclusive, diverse and friendly place to work and offers the flexibility and support that enables everyone to be at their best

How do we support our employees:
All M&G plc employees will be supported in the workplace through our M&G Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). If you need counselling, confidential financial or legal advice. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and offers access to qualified professionals who can provide specialist information, advice and support on many issues. It offers a broad range of services, including help with family issues, maintaining work/life balance and mental health support.

The Role:

An opportunity has arisen for a Senior Product Manager to join the Product Development and Management team responsible for the private asset product range on a fixed term contract basis. This individual will provide direction and leadership in respect of new product development and the ongoing management of the product range. This is a wide and diverse product range with a strong focus on alternative assets across multiple product structures and fund domiciles. Asset classes covered include: private placements, leveraged finance, direct lending, asset backed securities, real estate finance, distressed debt, infrastructure debt and equity and private equity.

The candidate must have demonstrable experience within the asset management industry, ideally in a product development / management role. They should have a strong understanding of different fund structures and domiciles including both regulated and unregulated funds with strong knowledge of alternative investment funds and experience of fund structuring. They should also be able to demonstrate their knowledge of portfolio management across fixed income and alternative asset classes.

Key Work Level Accountabilities:

Manager or Expert:

• For people managers, accountable for managing and motivating others to ensure quality of delivery to customers and stakeholders
• For technical specialists, accountable for delivering expert advice or service, using specialist knowledge and subject matter expertise
• Applies judgement to deliver outcomes, evaluating a range of potential solutions, considering the impact for customers, cost and risk
• Manages conflicts that may impact delivery
• Challenges upwards given knowledge of delivery and awareness of complex systems and the broader picture
• Identifies and anticipates need for changes to continuously improve quality and efficiency of output
• Manages resources and risks using expert judgment, know-how and experience

Key Responsibilities for this role:

• Acting as product sponsor in the development of new products ensuring that initiatives follow the Product Development and Management process, leading on product design and taking an active position on fund launch Steering Committees and ensuring fund documentation is fit for purpose.
• Leading product management reviews, ensuring that the product range remains fit for purpose in terms of client expectations, pricing, profitability and the prevailing regulatory landscape.
• Maintaining an up to date knowledge of market and industry trends and regulation and assessing their impact on the existing product set and encouraging product innovation.
• To work collaboratively with colleagues and take personal accountability to maintain and enhance controls you are responsible for to support improvement of the overall control environment, customers outcomes and a reduction in M&G's operational risk.

Key Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

Essential

• Experience within the asset management industry, preferably in a product development / management role with demonstrable fund structuring experience in private assets.
• Good knowledge of different product structures and alternative asset classes.
• Highly motivated, proactive, resilient and flexible.
• Organised and able to manage multiple initiatives concurrently and prioritise workload appropriately.
• Self starter with a track record of working on own initiative to tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills with excellent analytical and report writing skills.

Desirable

• IMC / CFA / CAIA
• Detailed knowledge of capital markets (including private debt, alternative and sustainable investment strategies)
• Detailed knowledge of a range of product jurisdictions and relevant regulations (e.g. AIFMD, UCITS, MiFID II)

Work Level: Manager or Expert
Recruiter Name: Phoebe Ewers
Closing Date: 10th December 2021

We live by four behaviours at M&G and we ask all our employees to:

• Inspire Others - Support and encourage each other, creating an environment where everyone can contribute and succeed
• Embrace Change - Be open to change, willing to be challenged and able to adapt quickly and imaginatively to new ideas
• Deliver Results - Focus on outcomes, set high standards and deliver with energy and determination
• Keep it Simple - Cut through complexity and bureaucracy, be clear and decisive and never overcomplicate things