VP/Associate, Product Development

About this role

Strategic Product Management (SPM)

SPM's global mission is to bring innovation, discipline, and focus to BlackRock's investment product platform by partnering and aligning with Client Businesses, Investment Teams and Corporate Functions (SPM's key stakeholders) on a clear set of product priorities that deliver for our clients, the firm, and our shareholders.

EMEA SPM includes five functions: Product Development, Product Implementation, Product Strategy, Product Structuring and Product Oversight. The five SPM functions work closely together to enable BlackRock to achieve its growth objectives by driving a clear product strategy to meet current and future needs of clients. The responsibility for product development and range management activities for EMEA pooled funds (ex ETFs) sits with the Product Development function.

The Product Development team's objectives are to:

• Consider product design from a client, regulatory, structuring and operational perspective to deliver competitive solutions and scalable products
• Manage an independent, transparent and disciplined process for product development, product changes, product approvals and implementation;
• To design and deliver innovative bespoke solutions for clients
• To drive product rationalization (closures) to eliminate unprofitable and non-strategic products from the platform

Job Purpose/Background:

This is a high-profile role that is business critical given the importance of supporting the firm's growth objectives for the future.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with stakeholders in BLK's client facing teams, investment teams, research & strategy and operating teams to input into the firm's product strategy from a design and structuring perspective
• Design proposals including:
  • Conduct market research to establish a fund's viability in the market, customer appropriateness, competitor landscape and pricing
  • Consider the specifics of certain client segments, market access, operating platform constraints and structural efficiencies
• Lead or sponsor projects to deliver solutions, fund launches, repositionings and other changes - across a wide range of client businesses and asset classes

Skills/Qualifications:

• Previous relevant experience in the investment funds industry/business
• CFA, MBA, IMC, CAIA and/or FRM or a desire to pursue these is welcome
• Experience in Project Management/Product Development (i.e. the design, coordination and launch of products) preferred
• Good knowledge of investment and/or distribution of a broad range of investment strategies and products.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships across the business, operations and suppliers at all levels of management up to and including Board of Director and Regional Leadership team level.
• Proactive approach to lead and direct change
• Strong, proven, project management skills
• Fluency in additional, European language is a plus
• Key personal attributes will also include a high level of intellectual agility and creativity, ability to work independently as well as part of a team, the ability to manage business expectations and the desire to continuously learn

About BlackRock

BlackRock helps investors build better financial futures. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of March 31, 2019, the firm managed approximately $6.52 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Blog: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock .

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law.

BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.