Vice President / Director, iShares EMEA Fixed Income Product Strategy team

About this role

About our Business

BlackRock’s Global Product Solutions develops, launches, manages and distributes investment solutions across multiple strategies and asset classes. The global team includes quantitative analysts, investment strategists and research analysts. We partner with clients to solve their investment and liability challenges by understanding their objectives, advising on solutions, and designing and implementing strategies that meet or exceed goals. 

About our Team

iShares EMEA Fixed Income Product Strategy team is responsible for driving indexed and actively managed fixed income ETF client adoption through targeted client initiatives, in partnership with distribution channels. The team is responsible for representing the firm’s investment process in front of clients and internal stakeholders, as well as driving commercialisation through key narratives, thought leadership, portfolio analysis and data driven insights. The team is expected to provide input to product development and partner with marketing teams on scaled narratives and campaigns.

About this Role

The position holder will be a Vice President / Director within the iShares EMEA Fixed Income Product Strategy team, focusing on driving client adoption and commercialising new and existing product ranges across wealth and institutional client segments. They will be expected to generate commercial results by leveraging the power of the firm, working closely with portfolio managers, other product strategists, distribution partners and marketing teams globally.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive high quality client engagements via positioning the entire iShares FI ETF platform.
• Develop client centric narratives based on differentiated ETF use cases, showcasing how ETFs are being used by different client segments / client types.
• Contribute to the production of high profile thought leadership pieces in growth areas.
• Produce data driven analysis to demonstrate the market quality of iShares FI ETFs based on track record of performance, portfolio management insights as well as ETF trading liquidity dynamics.
• Invest time to gain in depth understanding of Blackrock’s portfolio management investment processes and work alongside the PMs on commonly identified projects.
• Create high quality client materials and product positioning to enable sales teams across both the wealth and institutional channels. Drive initiatives to educate sales on ETF mechanics, use cases and product launches.
• Monitor competitor industry landscape. Keep track of products, performance and flow dynamics of other asset managers across ETFs and mutual funds.
• Work with the broader GPS teams and fixed income partner teams to support new product launches as well as contribute to new product ideas and / or enhancements to existing fund ranges
• Drive scale through efficiencies and automation within the team, particularly around using processing and analysing data

Knowledge/Experience Required:

• Proven track record in a fixed income specialist role, with deep understanding of fixed income markets, portfolio management and trading dynamics.
• Passionate about financial markets with an ability to communicate macro views and their impact in portfolios
• Thorough understanding of the ETF and mutual fund industry trends and client segment dynamics.
• Highly numerate, with analytical capabilities, preferably working with bond and index level analytics
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills to articulate technical concepts, ideas, and processes in a simple and transparent way
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities, often under tight deadlines
• Ability to develop trusting relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Strong team player, collaborative and cooperative and solution-oriented approach to tasks
• Disciplined organisation and project management skills. Ambitious work ethic and professional disposition

Skills/Qualifications:

• Min 5 years of fixed income experience in a buy side or sell side role with client facing experience
• Fluency in English and, preferably, another major European language. German speaking is a plus.
• CFA qualification, CFA candidacy, IMC qualification, an advantage
• Interest in using artificial intelligence tools and techniques in day-to-day workflows, productivity enhancements, as well as novel applications

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of employee benefits including: retirement investment and tools designed to help you in building a sound financial future; access to education reimbursement; comprehensive resources to support your physical health and emotional well-being; family support programs; and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics at law.