Director of Product Development - Barings

Barings; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Director for Product Development to drive innovative solutions in the Wealth market. This pivotal role involves leading the development and management of Private and Alternative asset products, ensuring they meet market demands while adhering to regulatory standards. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in investment fund management, strong project management skills, and a keen understanding of market trends. Join a dynamic team dedicated to delivering exceptional value to clients and shaping the future of investment strategies. If you are passionate about financial services and thrive in a collaborative environment, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience with investment funds required.
• Practical knowledge of Private/Alternative Assets for Wealth channel.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development for Private/Alternative asset classes.
• Manage fund launches and coordinate with stakeholders.

Skills

Investment Fund Management

Project Management

Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

Numeracy Skills

Education

CFA or equivalent qualification

Tools

Excel

Job description

Director of Product Development - Barings

At Barings, we are as invested in our associates as we are in our clients. We recognize those who work diligently for us and reward them for personal and professional integrity, communication skills, distinct competencies and expertise in specific strategies, ability to collaborate as a team member and true dedication to the interests of our clients.

Title: Product Development - Senior Director / Director (Alternatives into Wealth)
Department: Product Management
Location: London

Barings is a leading global financial services firm dedicated to meeting the evolving investment and capital needs of our clients and customers. Through active asset management and direct origination, we provide innovative solutions and access to differentiated opportunities across public and private capital markets. A subsidiary of MassMutual, Barings maintains a strong global presence with business and investment professionals located across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

The mission of the Product Management team is to promote the firm's growth strategies by driving solutions and championing cross-business collaboration to optimize and deliver commercially viable products and initiatives. This role sits within the Specialists Product Management team covering products for the Wealth market for Barings Private / Alternative / illiquid asset classes (Globally), Insurance Solutions, Capital Solutions products and Multi-Private Asset products.

Primary Responsibilities

The Product Development - Specialists role is the internal representative of our Private Asset investment teams, responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining investment products, through their entire lifecycle. The role encompasses proactive market research, analysis and coordinating on new product proposals.

This role will primarily lead Barings product development and management for Private / Alternative asset classes into the Wealth market. This role requires strong collaboration with Client Portfolio Managers, Legal, Compliance, Sales, Operations, Investment, Finance and Risk teams, as well as external counsel, fund administrators, service providers and investors to ensure coordination across all stakeholders.

Key areas of focus include:

• Product Strategy
  • Understand current market trends and activity across all private/alternative asset classes and the Wealth market in order to lead strategy for development and innovation of appropriate vehicles and investment products.
  • Stay up to date with current and proposed key product and other relevant regulations that impacts Private Assets into Wealth products.
  • Responsible for preparing relevant outputs on product development/innovation and presenting to senior leaders in Sales, Client Portfolio Management and others as necessary.
  • Internally champion and coordinate Private Assets into Wealth products, in close partnership with key stakeholders, and communicate with relevant stakeholders.

• Product Development and Launch
  • Project manage fund launches with all relevant stakeholders across Barings.
  • Help drive the structuring of new funds (or modifications), providing input on documentation and financial modelling of new and existing funds, as required.
  • Bring market insight and be subject matter expert of fund commercial terms and mechanics (investor subscription, redemption, and other liquidity terms, ESG guidelines, etc.)
  • Maintain technical expertise and understanding of evolving regulatory framework, proactively considering efficient responses to changing requirements.
  • Shepherd all product launches through Barings governance process.
  • Design and establish currency hedging strategies for new and existing European and Global funds, as required.

• Product Maintenance
  • Serve as the primary investment team representative to internal business partners related to product level activity (including fund economics and mechanics and investment restrictions).
  • Research and socialisation of product trends and innovations, with a specific focus on fund economics and mechanics.
  • Product-lead for any changes in regulation that impact our Private Assets into Wealth funds.
  • Collaborate with Client Portfolio Managers, Sales and others in the firm to add scalable and effective new distribution avenues, platforms, structures, intermediaries, as relevant to assist relevant Products to grow and stay relevant in the market.

Qualifications

• Ideally combined with some or all of the below:
  • [+10] years' experience of working with investment funds.
  • Practical and detailed knowledge of the Private/Alternative Assets for the Wealth channel - North America / Europe / APAC.
  • Extensive knowledge AIFMD, European fund range product strategy, development and management. Knowledge of Part II UCIs, ELTIFs and similar platforms preferred.
• Clear communicator.
• Highly organised, numerate with strong attention to detail and excellent project management skills.
• CFA or other equivalent qualification preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills.

Barings is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer; Minority/Female/Age/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply.