Junior Product Specialist – BlackRock Alternative Advisors – Analyst/ Associate recruitment
BlackRock is one of the world’s preeminent asset management firms and a premier provider of global investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary and individual investors around the world. BlackRock offers a range of solutions — from rigorous fundamental and quantitative active management approaches aimed at maximizing outperformance to highly efficient indexing strategies designed to gain broad exposure to the world’s capital markets. Our clients can access our investment solutions through a variety of product structures, including individual and institutional separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment vehicles, and the industry-leading iShares® ETFs.
Business Unit Overview:
BlackRock takes a dynamic approach to alternative investments, creating investment vehicles designed to capitalize on evolving opportunities in fast-changing markets. We offer clients strategies designed to provide returns with low correlations to the broad equity and bond markets, including private equity, real estate equity and debt, funds of hedge funds, single-strategy hedge funds, long-only absolute return strategies, commodities and structured products. Our alternative investment capabilities are fully integrated into BlackRock, allowing investment teams to capitalize on the firm’s considerable resources in areas such as risk management, product development, client service and operational support.
BlackRock Alternative Advisors (BAA), BlackRock’s fund of hedge funds unit, manages over $19 billion (as of May 1, 2012) in a wide range of absolute return and hybrid strategies for a broadly diversified, global client base.
Job Purpose/Background:
The BAA Product Specialist team, which resides within BlackRock’s portfolio management function, is tasked with coordinating with the various BlackRock marketing teams in order to attract and retain client investments in BAA products. The Product Specialist role emphasizes new business development and client relationship management, primarily with institutional investors. Product Specialists are also involved in developing marketing materials and written content that support capital raising and retention efforts. The role demands a high degree of collaboration with other BAA team members, as well as frequent interaction with other BlackRock business units, such as BlackRock’s Global Client Group (GCG), Global Consultant Relations group (GCR) and Alternative Investment Strategies Group (AISG).
Key Responsibilities:
- Content and Marketing Materials: The Product Specialist will develop written content and marketing materials necessary for both new business development and client relationship management.
- Due Diligence: Comprehensive due diligence will be undertaken on each potential client opportunity. The Product Specialist will conduct timely and extensive research on prospective clients and/or opportunities using external sources as well as our proprietary databases.
- Relationship Management: The Product Specialist will oversee certain relationships with internal, including BlackRock’s sales/marketing teams. He/she will also support the team in managing relationships with external clients and consultants.
Development Value:
The intention will be for this hire to have the opportunity over time to build their skill set to enable them to develop into a client facing Product Specialist with client responsibilities such as.
- New Business Development: In the longer term, he / she will be tasked with sourcing and evaluating new business opportunities. This includes coordinating with GCG, GCR and AISG to identify potential institutional investors for BAA products. He / She should have a thorough knowledge of the institutional investment marketplace, including investors and asset consultants, as well as an understanding of the institutional asset management sales process. He / She will need to gain an understanding of BAA’s investment approach and products in order to effectively solicit and develop new relationships for BAA.
- Relationship Management: The Product Specialist will over time oversee certain existing external client and consultant relationships.
Knowledge/Experience:
- Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills to clearly articulate sophisticated concepts, ideas, and processes
- An understanding of the institutional asset management sales process would be beneficial
- Capital markets knowledge and experience would also be beneficial
- Proven presence, maturity and credibility to enable the incumbent to develop into a role that would allow them to present effectively to external investors in the future
Skills/Qualifications:
- Disciplined organization and project management skills
- A good level of ability is required in all Microsoft Office applications including PowerPoint and Excel
Competencies:
- Ambitious work ethic and professional disposition
- Collaborative and cooperative approach to tasks
- Unimpeachable integrity with an uncompromised reputation