Product Lead, Asia & Middle East

ST. JAMES'S PLACE (SINGAPORE) PRIVATE LIMITED; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services company in Singapore is seeking a senior professional to manage product development across Asia and the Middle East. The role focuses on designing and implementing new financial products while ensuring compliance with local regulations. Ideal candidates must have extensive experience in the financial sector, particularly in product strategy and development, as well as strong problem-solving abilities. This position involves collaboration with international teams and may require occasional travel.

Benefits

International travel opportunities

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in developing and launching financial products.
• Familiarity with international market regulations, especially in Asia and the Middle East.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of product design and business submission processes.
• Lead the development of new products in international markets.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations and internal policies.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Participate in strategic decision-making committees.

Skills

Product development

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Problem-solving

Commercial awareness

International market knowledge

Education

Deep understanding of financial services

Experience with regulators

Tools

Project management concepts

Job description

Overview

Main Purpose of Job:

The role of Group Products (“the Division”) is to develop and oversee the suite of products and services available to clients of St. James's Place, ensuring they are fairly priced, support business growth and deliver good client outcomes.

The main purpose of the role is to manage the range of SJP products (technical, regulatory & client experience) offered in our overseas geographies (currently Hong Kong, UAE and Singapore). This involves supporting the existing proposition as well as supporting development and design of new products for Asia and Middle East (AME), including new regions, in line with the local regulations, market conditions, as well as in line with corporate goals and objectives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic ownership of SJP proposition: Take ownership of the design and ongoing suitability of our existing SJP product range and the client value proposition which includes the end-to-end business submission process (for both manufactured and 3rd party products) that is available to our AME Partners. This includes working closely with cross functional teams such as compliance, the AME Investment division, and various other teams to ensure compliance with local regulations, alignment with investment strategies, to provide an exceptional client and Partner experience and great client outcomes.
2. Product Development Leadership: Drive the research, prioritisation, design, development, and implementation of new products and services, both in new regions and within our existing (non-UK) markets. This includes exploring opportunities that may result in non-SJP solutions. This role will be crucial in shaping our proposition in Asia and the Middle East, while expanding our market presence.
3. Subject Matter Expertise: Provide expert support to other areas of SJP, including Partnership and Partner Development Managers (PDMs). Deep knowledge and analysis will enable these teams to fulfil their responsibilities effectively. You will also contribute to the production of analysis, recommendations, and Board papers.
4. Collaboration with Outsourced Providers: Work closely with our key outsourced providers such as SS&C and Intellect to ensure they have a thorough understanding of product developments and agree upon solutions that enable successful product launches and process improvements. This collaborative effort will enhance productivity for existing SJP Partners and support future recruitment efforts.
5. Provide Quality Assurance: Own the factual and compliance accuracy, with a focus on client experience of, illustrations, T&Cs (and similar) & marketing materials of our manufactured product range. Attention to detail will play a vital role in maintaining the highest standards of quality at launch and on an ongoing basis.
6. Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Take responsibility for ensuring that all work is in line with the regulatory requirements of each international territory, as well as compliance with internal governance requirements. Any concerns or issues will be promptly raised with the AME legal and regulatory Subject Matter Expert.
7. Committee Membership: Participate in various SJP Asia and Middle East committees, leveraging expertise to contribute to strategic decision-making and drive positive outcomes for SJP Asia and Middle East.

Requirements of the Job

Culture and Values

Culture and Values:

Have a clear understanding of SJP culture and values, and champion these in your role.

Foster and embed a positive culture that is committed to supporting employees, sets the tone for leadership behaviour, values, and ethics, and champions diversity, equality and inclusion throughout SJP, in line with SJP’s policies.

Lead by example and set the right tone regarding the Group’s culture and policies on complying with all applicable laws, regulations and ethical issues.

Encourage timely open and honest conversations within your team and with Stakeholders to drive positive outcomes.

People Management Responsibilities:

Not strictly applicable, however this may change.

The jobholder will also be supported by Actuarial Managers, Actuarial Consultants and Actuarial Specialists of the broader Group Products Division to meet the role's responsibilities, albeit this may be on a limited basis given the regional focus. The jobholder will need to lead and direct and motivate these team members; providing guidance and support.

You are responsible for further embedding the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA’s) Principle 12 ‘A firm must act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers’ within your team including any associated policies and practices you are responsible for. You must role model and champion the values and behaviours in line with our culture, ensuring your colleagues are aware of what the Consumer Duty means and why it is relevant to their role, including encouraging them to raise concerns if they feel the firm is not delivering good outcomes. You are accountable for ensuring your teams have completed all mandatory training required for their role.

Job Knowledge:

Extensive Knowledge and Experience: A deep understanding of product development and the wider client value proposition (for example the end-to-end business submission process) is an essential requirement for this role. Experience in developing and launching successful products in the financial services industry is necessary.

International Market Expertise: Familiarity with international markets, particularly those of the existing territories, is highly desirable. This includes comprehensive knowledge of the local market landscape, competitor products, and regulatory frameworks.

Experience with Regulators: Experience working with both UK and international regulators, such as SFC (Securities and Futures Commission- Hong Kong), IA (Insurance Association- Hong Kong), and MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore), is highly desired. The ability to design products within regulatory requirements and ensure compliance will be crucial to avoid regulatory censure.

Project Management: The role will involve membership or workstream leadership in various projects. While direct experience with recognized methodologies such as PRINCE II or Agile is not required, familiarity with project concepts such as requirement documents and planning is essential.

Cross-functional Collaboration: The role will be part of the core SJP Asia and Middle East team and will require collaboration across the business. Having broader knowledge of SJP, including any ongoing UK product developments, would be beneficial in effectively contributing to the organization's overall strategy.

SJP Business Expertise:

As a senior member of SJP AME, with a broad scope of influence across multiple facets of the SJP businesses, this role holds significant responsibility for overseeing the entire spectrum of our products in Asia and the Middle East. This encompasses not only SJP manufactured products but also consideration of our DFM initiatives and third-party offerings. To excel in this role, a comprehensive understanding of the SJP model, as well as the various teams and functions within SJP, is paramount. Additionally, excellent commercial awareness and a strong grasp of the competitive landscape in overseas financial services markets is crucial. These attributes will enable identification of opportunities in our non-UK markets, reinforce our value proposition, enhance Partner productivity, drive Partner recruitment efforts, and ultimately improve client outcomes

Problem Solving:

The success of this role lies in its responsibility for identifying both client needs and market gaps and actively supporting the development of innovative solutions to address these gaps. This collaborative effort involves working alongside regulatory constraints and aligning with the broader SJP change initiative. The role requires a high level of co-operative working and influential skills, as it entails finding new solutions or leveraging existing ones in novel ways. It also involves working within regulatory constraints and finding pragmatic solution to technical or resource limitations. Success in this role demands exceptional problem-solving and analytical abilities, coupled with a pragmatic approach and sound commercial judgment. The role will need to navigate complex scenarios, leveraging their expertise to strike the right balance between meeting regulatory requirements and driving business success.

Nature and Scope of Impact:

The Asia and Middle East Product team plays a pivotal role in supporting our international clients, their Partners, and other critical business functions such as marketing, legal, and operations. The team is responsible for both project work, such as new product launches, and business-as-usual (BAU) activities, including addressing Partner queries and driving continuous process improvements. This work directly and indirectly enables Partners to operate more efficiently, increase client’s investment with us, and attract new clients. The team's efforts are also instrumental in supporting Partner recruitment efforts, including those who may not have considered joining given the current product range or target market.

As a senior manager you will be responsible for launching new products in a controlled manner that aligns with regulatory requirements and enhances our overall value proposition. While the primary impact will be on the overseas part of the business, there may be cross-over with the UK teams, such as on product development and operations. Expertise in these areas will be critical in ensuring successful collaboration across functions and driving the organization's overall strategy forward

Interpersonal Skills:

Given the technical nature of this role, the ability to communicate complex or technical concepts to non-technical colleagues and Partners, some of whom may have English as a second language, is a critical requirement. This demands a breadth of communication styles, as we have employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, exceptional communication skills and cultural awareness are essential.

Success in this role requires working across our key partners, such as SS&C and Intellect, and requires a deep understanding of their challenges to create effective solutions. This role must negotiate and influence these Partners to achieve desired outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

While the role primarily involves working with colleagues at a similar level, there will be some interactions with Directors and Divisional Directors across the business, as well as higher-level executives, particularly the Asia and Middle East ExCo. This role demands an individual who can navigate complex scenarios, collaborate effectively with stakeholders across functions and levels, and drive the organization's overall strategy forward.

Special Requirements:

As the role involves working in cross-site teams (and across time-zones), flexibility in location and hours will be necessary. Some International travel possible which could include weekend travel