Product Strategist - ABS Fixed Income, Vice President

Description

About this role

About BlackRock Fixed Income

BlackRock's Fixed Income team offers an array of fixed income products designed to meet specific client risk and return profiles. Within our active business, there are two core investment processes, systematic and fundamental. Our systematic active business which applies cutting-edge quantitative strategies seeks to generate alpha for clients from macro, security selection and relative value opportunities. The fundamental business applies fundamental investment styles and strategies to generate alpha for clients across Sterling, Euro, USD, Emerging Markets and Global portfolio groups. This role is for a Product Strategist for the Fundamental Fixed Income team on the Securitized Assets investment platform.

The Product Strategy team is responsible to providing a link between the investment team and various client groups and internal stakeholders. The team is also responsible for the development and commercialization of Fixed Income products for Institutional and Retail investors, overseeing the distribution and management to various sales channels, including investment consultants, bank platforms as well as existing clients and prospects. The universe of products includes comingled products and customized separate managed accounts (SMA). The team is also centrally involved in the firm's thought leadership agenda and publishes periodically market insights and product focus pieces. Critical to the success of the Product Strategy team is the maintenance of strong relationships with the Institutional Client Business (ICB), and iShares & Wealth (iSW) Sales groups, who are responsible for managing and developing BlackRock's client relationships.

Job Purpose/Background:

BlackRock's Fundamental Fixed income team is looking for a Vice President in Fixed Income Product Strategy to support and promote the European Asset-Backed Securities (ABS) business.

The European ABS team is an integral part of BlackRock's Fundamental Fixed Income platform and contributes to the diversification and alpha generation across various actively managed fixed income portfolios. The London-based team is embedded in BlackRock's Global Fixed Income platform and manages several client SMA's and is responsible for sourcing asset-backed securities for the firm's global fixed income platform.

As an intermediary between the European ABS portfolio management team and key internal stakeholders, including the Consultant Relations Group for EMEA, this individual's main focus will be supporting and promoting the firm's European ABS investment capabilities. This includes working closely with marketing and other key stakeholders with a clear mandate and focus on commercial activities, both sales and defence. The successful candidate will possess deep knowledge of the asset-backed securities market in EMEA and other complementary securitized instruments structured abroad. In addition, a firm understanding of market trends, global economics and monetary policy would be a plus. The successful candidate will possess exceptional commercial skills, the ability to create and deliver on sales targets, and pivot to defence where appropriate. Strong communication skills are a must and the ability to form trusted relationships with other European fixed income team members, and sales partners will also be key.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute on an external commercial strategy for the team, build and deliver on strategic growth plans
• Work alongside portfolio managers to represent the European ABS Team to external and internal stakeholders
• Deepen internal relationships with EMEA sales teams to pursue commercial opportunities and identify potential gaps in product range based on overarching industry trends
• Present the team's investment capabilities and market views to existing and potential clients, act as a senior spokesperson for the team
• Develop and build a framework for providing regular market information and education to end clients, to improve familiarity with the asset class and become a trusted partner
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders on EMEA's securitization rules and figure as a subject expert on the regulatory landscape for EMEA's ABS market
• Build and improve narrative around ESG integration in investment process
• Drive forward future product innovation particularly around ongoing ESG requirements
• Be responsive to client requests and queries and streamline existing client reporting requirements

Knowledge/Experience Required:

• Strong understanding of the asset management industry and capital markets, particularly in securitized assets as well as fixed income
• Robust knowledge of European ABS
• Excellent commercial skills and track record
• Strong understanding of the EU Securitization Regulation
• ESG knowledge alongside European regulation (SFDR, labels) an advantage

Skills/Qualifications:

A successful candidate will have:

• Solid interpersonal skills and ability to quickly form meaningful working partnerships
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills to clearly articulate fixed income concepts, ideas, and processes. Fluency in written and spoken English, European language skills an advantage
• Excellent presentation skills
• Team player and a collaborative and cooperative approach to tasks
• Disciplined organisation skills
• Ambitious work ethic and professional disposition
• Strong quantitative skills
• Post graduate qualifications favourable (CFA, MBA). IMC preferred
• Strong knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint essential; Bloomberg and other market data systems useful. Working knowledge of Aladdin, or other investment management tools, an advantage

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being. Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children's educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment - the one we make in our employees. It's why we're dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit careers.blackrock.com | www.blackrock.com/corporate | Instagram: @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: 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.