Associate Director - Fund Design

Carne Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Carne Group in London is seeking an Associate Director for Fund Design to steer end‑to‑end product structuring, governance and launch across multiple asset classes. You’ll partner with client teams and external providers to craft viable, regulated fund solutions that meet commercial and regulatory requirements.

You will lead cross‑functional engagements across business development, onboarding, operations, compliance and legal.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in fund development, leading end‑to‑end fund design from concept through regulatory approval and launch.
• 10–15 years’ experience in asset management, asset servicing or related fund services, ideally with both technical product development and client‑facing activity.
• Strong private markets experience across a broad range of structures (closed‑ended, semi‑liquid).
• Authorised fund expertise, including design/launch of regulated fund structures and understanding of governance.
• Product governance experience and investor protection expectations.
• Institutional client coverage experience with asset managers, platforms, pension providers and investors.
• End‑to‑end lifecycle management from concept to post‑launch growth.
• Cross‑functional leadership across BD, operations, legal, regulatory and external teams.
• Strong client management; primary client contact throughout fund design and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with BD and clients to shape fund structures and deliver viable product solutions.
• Lead design and structuring of new investment products across asset classes and domiciles.
• Coordinate fund launch processes with internal teams, counsel, regulators and service providers.
• Lead cross‑functional governance and ensure products meet regulatory and client objectives.
• Maintain market leadership by tracking regulations and market trends and contributing to scalable product solutions.

Skills

Fund development

Asset management

Private markets

Authorised funds

Product governance

Institutional clients

End-to-end lifecycle

Cross-functional leadership

Client management

Job description

Associate Director – Fund Design

Location: London

Employment Type: Permanent

Responsibilities

• Client Advisory & Business Development
  • Partner with Business Development teams and clients to shape fund structures and deliver commercially viable product solutions.
  • Support pitches, RFPs, client meetings and strategic opportunities through technical product expertise and market insight.
• Fund Design & Product Development
  • Lead the design and structuring of new investment products across multiple asset classes, domiciles and fund vehicles.
  • Prepare product proposals, term sheets and supporting documentation for internal governance approval.
• Fund Launch & Implementation
  • Act as the primary client contact throughout the fund launch process, from concept through to regulatory approval and launch.
  • Coordinate internal teams, external counsel, regulators and service providers to ensure successful implementation.
• Stakeholder Management & Product Governance
  • Lead cross‑functional engagement across business development, onboarding, operations, compliance, legal and regulatory teams.
  • Ensure product structures are operationally robust, compliant with regulatory requirements and aligned with client objectives.
• Market Leadership & Innovation
  • Maintain expertise on evolving fund structures, market trends and regulatory developments across key jurisdictions.
  • Contribute to Carne's platform strategy, thought leadership initiatives and the development of scalable product solutions.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in fund development, including leading end‑to‑end fund design from concept and structuring through regulatory approval and launch.
• 10–15 years’ experience in asset management, asset servicing or related fund services, ideally with exposure to both technical product development and client‑facing commercial activity.
• Strong private markets experience, particularly closed‑ended and semi‑liquid structures across a broad range of private‑market asset classes.
• Authorised fund expertise, including the design and launch of regulated fund structures and a strong understanding of product governance and regulatory expectations across UCITS, AIFs, ELTIFs, UCI Part II funds, LTAFs and related European fund regimes.
• Product governance experience, with a clear understanding of good product governance and investor protection expectations.
• Institutional client coverage experience, including working with asset managers, platforms, pension providers, wealth channels and investors.
• End‑to‑end product lifecycle management experience, including early‑stage concept discussions, fund structuring, operational setup, transition of assets and post‑launch growth support.
• Cross‑functional leadership skills, with the ability to work across business development, operations, legal, regulatory, compliance, onboarding and external service provider teams.
• Strong client management skills, including acting as a primary client contact throughout fund design, development and implementation.

Preferred Experience

• Experience launching liquid and alternative fund structures, including UCITS, AIFs, UK authorised funds, Irish funds, Luxembourg funds or other cross‑border vehicles.
• Established relationships with key service providers, including fund administrators, transfer agents, depositaries, legal counsel, auditors and consultants.
• Experience supporting teams working across different jurisdictions or remotely.
• Knowledge of platforms, pension providers, wealth distribution channels and life company requirements.
• Ability to use AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot, to improve efficiency, automation and scalability of fund design and implementation processes.

Team Context

The Fund Design and Product Development team forms part of Carne’s global Client Solutions function, which sits within Business Development. The team’s purpose is to support group revenue growth from new and existing clients by providing technical subject matter expertise to transactional sales, complex sales and relationship management teams. The team also supports marketing, strategy and product development by bringing market insight into Carne’s proposition development and helping to create scalable, client‑led solutions.

Competencies

• Teamwork – Builds strong partnerships across the business, regulators and providers; aligns stakeholders to shared outcomes and resolves complex issues through collaborative leadership.
• Developing Others – Supports and develops colleagues through knowledge‑sharing, coaching and peer review; may provide day‑to‑day guidance to junior team members and contribute to a positive team culture.
• Leading and Influencing – Builds credibility with internal stakeholders and providers; uses influence and evidence‑based recommendations to drive timely decisions and follow‑through in regulated and delegated environments.
• Effective Communication – Communicates with clarity and impact at all levels, producing concise executive‑level reporting; presents complex risks and options in a way that enables timely decisions.
• Planning and Organising – Plans and organises work effectively, managing competing priorities and timelines; maintains trackers and governance calendars to ensure oversight activity is delivered on time and risks escalated appropriately.
• Analytical (Attention to detail) – Applies strong analytical judgement to complex MI and control evidence; identifies themes, assesses materiality, and drives action to improve risk and control outcomes.
• Strategic Focus (Problem‑Solving) – Thinks strategically and drives continuous improvement; anticipates regulatory and operational change, designing scalable solutions that improve controls, efficiency and client outcomes.
• Adaptability – Leads effectively through ambiguity and change; adjusts approach to different stakeholders and market/regulatory developments while maintaining clear direction and standards.
• Resilience – Maintains composure under pressure and supports consistent delivery during incidents, audits or regulatory scrutiny; escalates appropriately and helps drive issues to resolution.
• Drive and Motivation – Takes ownership for high‑quality delivery; follows through on actions with providers and internal stakeholders, helping ensure commitments are met and control outcomes are improved.
• Client‑centric focus – Balances regulatory obligations with client outcomes; builds trusted relationships and ensures the oversight function delivers a consistent, high‑quality service model.
• Learning Mindset – Keeps current on regulatory and market developments; seeks better ways of working, champions modern tooling and data‑driven oversight, and embeds learning across the team.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Carne Group is an equal opportunities employer and embraces diversity across all dimensions of our workforce. We encourage applicants from under‑represented groups to apply without fear of discrimination.