Job Description
Title:  Product Development – Private Assets/Alternatives
Department: Product Management (Specialists)
Location: London, UK
Primary Responsibilities 
The Product Development – Specialists role is the internal representative of the investment team, responsible for defining, developing, implement and maintaining investment products, through their entire lifecycle with the aim of optimising and delivering commercially viable products and initiatives. The role also encompasses proactive market research, analysis and coordinating on new product proposals. The Specialists Team are cover products for the Wealth market for our Private / alternative / illiquid asset classes, Insurance Solutions (including Rated Note Feeders / A-B Notes), Barings Capital Solutions products and Multi-Private Asset products. The candidate will serve as an expert within the broader Product Team and be relied on for technical knowledge related to products as well as functional knowledge of their areas.
Key areas of focus include:
Product Strategy
*Actively research the market across all Private/Alternative asset classes – understanding current market trends and activity. Summarising this into tailored output(s) for the relevant internal teams at Barings.
*Closely collaborate across the Product team, Client Portfolio Managers, Sales and other key functions to contributed into the firm’s strategic plans for relevant asset classes, distribution channels or otherwise.
*Coordinate across various internal teams on product proposals for new product ideas and communicate these as relevant.
Product Development and Launch
*Project manage and socialise fund launches with all relevant stakeholders across Barings.
*Assist with the structuring, documentation and financial modelling of new and existing funds.
*Be subject matter expert of fund commercial terms and mechanics (investor subscription, redemption, and other liquidity terms, ESG guidelines, etc.)
*Maintenance of technical expertise and understanding of evolving regulatory framework, proactively considering efficient responses to change requirements.
*Shepherd all product launches through Barings governance process.
*Build strong relationships with and work alongside firm’s Client Portfolio Managers, Legal, Compliance, Sales, Operations, Investment, Finance and Risk teams, as well as external legal counsel, fund administrators, service providers and investors to championing cross-team collaboration and ensure effective co-ordination across wide range of stakeholders.
*Design and establish currency hedging strategies for new and existing European and Global funds.
Product Maintenance
*Serve as the primary investment team representative to internal business partners related to product level activity (including fund economics and investment restrictions).
*Research and socialisation of product trends and innovations, with a specific focus on fund economics and mechanics.
Qualifications
*Ideally combined with some or all of the below:
*Experience of working with or on investment funds.
*Practical knowledge of AIFMD, UCITS, European fund range product strategy, development and management.
*Practical experience of working with currency markets, FX derivatives and hedging strategies.
*Practical experience of private assets investment strategies.
*Highly organised, numerate with strong attention to detail and excellent project management skills.
*Accounting qualification (ACA), CFA or other equivalent qualification preferred.
*Advanced Excel skills.
*Clear communicator, both verbally and written for both internal and external audiences or stakeholders and ranges of seniority.