Product & Strategy Manager, Asia & Middle East

St. James's Place – Asia & Middle East; Singapore; Hybrid; SGD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in Singapore is seeking a seasoned professional to lead product management and development for the Asia and Middle East regions. The role requires extensive knowledge in product development, regulatory compliance, and collaboration across teams to enhance client experiences and expand market presence. Candidates should possess strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work internationally. The position offers a hybrid work model with various benefits.

Benefits

Hybrid work arrangement

23 days annual leave

Dental, Medical and Life Insurance

Career development opportunity

Inclusive company culture

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of product development and client value proposition.
• Experience in launching products in financial services.
• Familiarity with international markets, especially existing territories.

Responsibilities

• Strategic ownership of SJP product range and client value proposition.
• Drive research, prioritization, design, and implementation of new products.
• Provide expert support to internal teams and produce strategic analysis.

Skills

Product development

Regulatory compliance

Problem-solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Job description

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.

Job Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Provide Quality Assurance: Own the factual and compliance accuracy, with a focus on client experience of, illustrations, T&C (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.
• 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.
• 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

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.

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.

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.

We Offer

• Hybrid work arrangement
• 23 days annual leave
• Dental, Medical and Life Insurance
• Career development opportunity
• Inclusive company culture