Associate / Vice President, Investment Product Strategy - Fixed Income

About this role

Associate/Vice President, Index Fixed Income Product Strategist, BlackRock Global Markets and Index Investments (BGM)

Business Unit Overview

BlackRock Global Markets and Index Investments (BGM) brings together BlackRock’s Index Investments, Cash Management, Global Trading, ETF Markets, Securities Lending, and Financing & Financial Resource Management businesses. Together, we provide clients with superior market access and index investment outcomes through:

• World class talent, operating at the intersection of investment insight, markets expertise, risk management and process design
• Technology at the heart of our processes, with in-business tech teams that create cutting-edge IP, providing an advantage in quality, scale, and risk control
• A focus on transforming markets, driving and advocating for more accessible, resilient, and transparent markets to deliver more choice and lower costs for investors

Team and Role Overview

BlackRock’s Index Investments business is a global leader with over $9tn in assets under management. The Index Fixed Income (IFI) team has responsibility for managing Blackrock’s Index Fixed Income portfolios, including Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), mutual funds, & segregated mandates. We manage over $2.0 trillion in global index fixed income assets across Developed and Emerging Markets. Our clients include corporate and public pension plans, central banks, sovereign wealth funds and retail investors. 

The Index Fixed Income Product Strategy team in EMEA is responsible for representing index fixed income capabilities across mutual funds and segregated mandates. The team works closely with Index Equity Product Strategy to drive strategy across the Index Investment platform and deliver client solutions. The responsibilities of the team span platform and product positioning, product development (including ESG-related updates), research, client engagement, portfolio reporting and performance analysis and education. This individual will support index fixed income solutions across a range of different exposures and benchmarks, playing a crucial role in working with key clients across the region.

The individual will work in partnership with portfolio management, sales teams, and other key stakeholders to promote and support the product range. This will include working on marketing materials, RFPs, reports and client queries, as well as presenting to clients, partnering with the index equity business to present a unified index platform. The successful candidate will possess knowledge of fixed income, the index ecosystem, cross-border funds, investment management and global markets. Additionally, the candidate must have exceptional communication skills, the ability to form trusted relationships and work across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive indexing strategy across mutual funds and segregated mandates, working in close partnership with client and investment teams to set the strategic objectives, price new business opportunities, lead RFPs and cover client requests on our platform and their portfolios
• Be the contact point for client teams regarding fixed income indexing opportunities
• Advise clients on all aspects of index portfolio strategy including portfolio management, trading, portfolio analytics, performance reporting, ESG data and integration, transitions and securities lending.  Articulate competitive advantages to clients
• Develop product marketing materials, client presentations and customised portfolio analyses
• Develop portfolio and performance analysis together with our risk and investment teams
• Work closely with other dedicated product specialist teams to deliver a seamless indexing client servicing across fixed income and equity
• Drive the development of new product ideas
• Work with platform and investment teams to drive scale in our processes

Knowledge/Experience/Competencies

• Knowledge 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
• Understanding of mutual fund industry trends and client segment dynamics
• Highly numerate, with analytical capabilities
• 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

• 3-5+ years of experience ideally in a client-facing fixed income role
• Fluent in English
• CFA qualification/candidacy, IMC qualification, an advantage
• Programming skills highly preferred (Python, VBA)
• Knowledge of BlackRock Aladdin tools beneficial

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.

Guidance on AI use for candidates

At BlackRock, AI has long been part of how we work – enhancing decision-making, improving operations, and helping us deliver better outcomes for clients. We encourage candidates to use AI thoughtfully to learn, prepare, and work more effectively; but during our interview process, we want to focus on getting to know you through your own experiences, thinking, and judgment. To support you, we’ve provided guidance on when and how to use AI during our hiring process so you can approach each step with confidence and showcase your best self.

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.

To learn more about BlackRock, please visit Careers.BlackRock.com. We also encourage you to get to know us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, X, and TikTok.

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.