Managing Director, UK DB Pension Outsourcing Partnerships

About this role

Managing Director, Head of UK DB Pension Outsourcing Partnerships

About BlackRock:

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's institutional business serves corporate and public sector pension funds, charities and endowments, insurers and other financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds as well as governments and official institutions.

Our institutional clients have very specific needs that require genuine partnership. We aim to be that investment partner by listening to our clients, understanding them and by applying our investment expertise across asset classes and markets to solve their needs.

In practice, our commitment to fostering long-term relationships means we can gain a deep understanding of our clients' long-term objectives. Having a culture where we share knowledge across asset classes and regions allows us to create investment solutions that better meet client specific challenges. The third pillar underpinning our offering is our risk management culture and systems: we seek to ensure that every investment position is deliberate, diversified and appropriately scaled. 

Job Purpose/Background:

The successful candidate will be responsible for a portfolio of Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO, or fiduciary) client relationships. They will be responsible for building and owning the strategy for UK DB OCIO and affiliated business outcomes. involved in the full life cycle of OCIO client relationships, from pre-sale prospecting through the sales process including calls with prospective clients and third party evaluators, and responsibility for reviewing RFP responses. They will then oversee the onboarding process and be responsible for leading the business with new and existing clients. The candidate will drive BlackRock’s engagement with the UK pensions industry on the topic of outsourcing for DB schemes, covering marketing and interaction with third party evaluators and professional trustees.

The role requires a strong understanding of the UK defined benefit pensions landscape and investment strategy for these schemes. The successful candidate will have a track record of starting, managing and developing client relationships, ideally in a OCIO & fiduciary context. A network of professional trustees and third party evaluators is desirable.

The candidate will be able to demonstrate knowledge of key risks and opportunities for the industry and a strong track record of sales for this client segment.

Key Responsibilities:

The role is expected to be split into two key areas: sales/prospecting and industry engagement. There will also be additional responsibilities such as, internal networking and leadership forums and proposition improvement.

Sales and prospecting

Ownership of full sales process from opportunity identification through the RFP and tendering process and on to pitching and successful completion. It will involve:

• Working with colleagues to identify and target prospective OCIO clients;
• Responsibility for and oversight of the RFP process – working with the RFP team, investment team and junior sales colleagues;
• Review of presentation materials;
• Participation in pitch rehearsals to hone messaging;
• Attendance at pitch meetings as lead client contact;
• Assistance in converting key sales messages into creative marketing collateral;
• Feedback of success stories and learning points for future meetings.

Wider industry engagement

Working with Marketing, Corporate Comms, investment, institutional and consultant relations colleagues to promote our brand within the industry, such that BlackRock is known as a market-leading OCIO provider. The role will require the candidate to engage with external parties including:

• Third party evaluators;
• Professional trustees;
• Prospective clients through attendance at conferences and industry events;
• Networking within the industry to promote our OCIO proposition.

Additional roles

• Identification of improvements which could be made to the current OCIO offering
• Working with senior stakeholders across the business to improve our OCIO proposition
• Engaging with the OCIO investment team and other BlackRock product areas to integrate BlackRock offerings into solutions as appropriate.

Key Requirements:

The candidate is expected to have the following:

• 15 years’ UK pensions industry experience
• CFA/FIA qualification preferred
• Ability to explain complex concepts clearly and concisely
• Strong sales and relationship management track record
• Deep network within industry, covering professional trustees and third party evaluators in particular
• Excellent presentation delivery skills, in both virtual and in-person meetings
• Track record of driving change within a team or business

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.