Alpha Complex Instruments Product Lead, Vice President

State Street; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

State Street Alpha seeks a Product Lead to drive strategy, development and delivery of OTC derivatives and complex instruments. You will align client needs, regulatory requirements and the Alpha vision to deliver front-to-back integrated solutions.

You will lead cross-functional teams, develop multi-year roadmaps, and oversee end-to-end product lifecycles. This role requires strong client engagement, Agile discipline and collaboration with architecture and development teams.

Qualifications

• Experience leading product strategy and roadmaps for complex financial instruments.
• Proven ability to translate client needs and regulatory requirements into product features.
• Strong understanding of front-to-back trade lifecycle and financial systems architecture.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic roadmap for OTC derivatives and complex instruments.
• Oversee end-to-end product lifecycle from idea to delivery, with clear ROI metrics.
• Embed Agile practices and collaborate with IT, engineering and operations.
• Lead client discovery and implement standards across cross-client baselines.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Agile practices

Education

CFA

MBA

Masters preferred

Tools

SQL

Tableau

Python

Job description

Who We Are Looking For

The Product Lead is a critical leader within the State Street Alpha business unit, driving the strategy, development, and delivery of OTC derivatives and other complex financial instruments. This role ensures that products align with client needs, regulatory requirements, and the overarching vision of State Street Alpha to deliver front-to-back integrated solutions.

Why this role is important to us

The team you will be joining plays an important role in the overall success of the organization. Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. To make that happen we need teams like yours to help navigate employees and the organization as a whole. In your role you will strive for cutting-edge solutions, that are straightforward and scalable. You will help us build resilience and execute day to day deliverables at our best.

What You Will Be Responsible For

Strategic Leadership and Market Insights

• Conduct market intelligence, competitive analysis, and industry trend research specific to OTC derivatives and complex instruments to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation.
• Lead client discovery sessions to deeply understand operational challenges, regulatory demands, and market needs across buy-side and sell-side participants.
• Develop and maintain a multi-year strategic roadmap for OTC derivatives and complex instrument product lines, ensuring alignment with client needs, evolving regulations, and State Street Alpha’s strategic vision.

Product Development and Delivery

• Oversee the end-to-end product lifecycle, from ideation and business case development to design, implementation, and delivery.
• Build robust business cases with quantifiable outputs, ensuring a clear ROI and alignment with the business strategy.
• Conduct detailed impact assessments of the product line across State Street Alpha’s e2e systems, ensuring solutions enhance operational efficiencies, mitigate risk, and improve system resilience.
• Embed Agile Practices into product development cycles:
• Participate in and lead daily standups, retrospectives, and sprint planning sessions to ensure clear progress and resolve blockers.
• Collaborate with Agile Scrum Masters in IT to drive seamless communication between business and technology teams.
• Incorporate client feedback iteratively by involving clients in regular demo sessions and milestone reviews, ensuring products meet user expectations.
• Partner with the architecture team to ensure that products are developed in line with modern design principles, supporting scalability and system integration across Alpha’s platforms.
• Collaborate with the development teams to oversee execution, ensuring that timelines, budgets, and quality standards are met.

Client Implementation and Standardization

• Manage the product line’s involvement in client implementations, ensuring seamless delivery and adherence to client-specific requirements for OTC derivatives and complex instruments.
• Actively contribute to Alpha’s Guilds, including financial product-focused groups and client implementation teams, to share knowledge and foster best practices across implementations.
• Use cross-client interactions to establish standards and frameworks that promote consistency in processes, reporting, and product delivery across Alpha’s client base.

Operational and Technical Oversight

• Drive initiatives to improve system redundancies and operational efficiencies within OTC derivatives workflows, ensuring products are robust and future-proof.
• Stay ahead of regulatory changes affecting OTC derivatives (e.g., uncleared margin rules, clearing mandates) and ensure compliance is embedded in product features and delivery models.
• Integrate new technologies like automation, AI, and distributed ledger technology (DLT) where appropriate to enhance operational workflows for complex instruments.

Collaboration and Leadership

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, client success, sales, and operations, to ensure cohesive product delivery.
• Represent the product team in executive-level discussions, ensuring alignment with State Street Alpha’s strategic goals and providing input on the broader product portfolio.
• Act as a thought leader within the organization, sharing expertise on OTC derivatives and complex instruments and mentoring junior team members.

What We Value

These skills will help you succeed in this role

• Extensive knowledge of OTC derivatives, structured products, and other complex financial instruments.
• Proven experience in product management, including strategy development, product delivery, and client implementations.
• Strong understanding of front-to-back trade lifecycle management, financial systems architecture, and operational workflows.
• Expertise in global regulatory frameworks affecting financial instruments, such as UMR, EMIR, and Dodd-Frank.
• Proficiency in Agile methodologies and tools, with a track record of leading iterative development cycles.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships across diverse teams and senior leadership.

Education & Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with data analytics tools (e.g., SQL, Tableau, Python) to derive insights and support decision-making.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and DLT within financial services.
• Prior experience working within a financial services technology platform or a similar business unit.
• CFA, MBA, or Masters preferred

About State Street

State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investment research & trading and investment management to institutional clients.

Work, Live and Grow.

We make all efforts to create a great work environment. Our benefits packages are competitive and comprehensive. Details vary in locations, but you may expect generous medical care, insurance and savings plans among other perks. You’ll have access to flexible Work Program to help you match your needs. And our wealth of development programs and educational support will help you reach your full potential.

Inclusion, Diversity and Social Responsibility.

We truly believe our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspective are a powerful contributor to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and reach their maximum potential while adding value to both our organization and our clients. We warmly welcome the candidates of diverse origin, background, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and personality. Another fundamental value at State Street is active engagement with our communities around the world, both as a partner and a leader. You will have tools to help balance your professional and personal life, paid volunteer days, matching gift program and access to employee networks that help you stay connected to what matters to you.

State Street is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work‑life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.