Managing Director, External Relationship Management

Job Description

Description About this role About BlackRock: BlackRock is one of the worlds preeminent asset management firms and a premier provider of global investment management, risk management and advisory services to institutional, intermediary and individual investorsaround 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 worlds capitalmarkets. 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. BusinessUnit Overview: BlackRocks 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 institutionalclients 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 bettermeet 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 successfulcandidate will be responsible for taking a leading role in the continued growth of our OCIO business. In particular this role will focus on a key segment of the market for BlackRock, large full OCIO mandates. In addition to leading on new business we willexpect the successful person to manage a small portfolio of Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO, or fiduciary) client relationships. Ongoing relationship management will typically be as a result of new business wins. The successful person will be involvedin 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 overseeing new business proposals. They will then oversee theonboarding process and be responsible for leading the ongoing relationship with new and existing clients. The candidate will drive BlackRocks engagement with the UK pensions industry, covering marketing and interaction with third party evaluators, professionaltrustees and sponsoring employers. The focus will predominantly be on large multi billion pound pension schemes. Many of these will involve working closely with in house executive teams to create bespoke solutions and services. In addition some opportunitieswill be multi country. These will involve working with BlackRock colleagues from around the globe to present global multinational solutions where the successful candidate will be representing the UK. The successful candidate will need the ability to operateat C-suite both inside and outside of BlackRock. The successful person can also expect to be heavily involved in setting the short, medium and long term strategic direction for BlackRocks OCIO business. There are likely to be various leadership opportunitiesto drive new initiatives. 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 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 clientsegment. Key Responsibilities: The role is expected to be split into three key areas: sales/prospecting, relationship management and industry engagement. There will also be additional responsibilities such as people management, internal networking and propositionimprovement. Sales and prospecting Help develop BlackRocks strategic business plan for the OCIO market and own their individual plan. Ownership of full sales process from opportunity identification through the RFP and tendering process and on to pitchingand successful completion. It will involve: Working with junior and senior sales colleagues to identify and target prospective OCIO clients; Responsibility for and oversight of the new business process - working with the RFP team, investment team and juniorsales colleagues; Review and ownership 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; Feedbackof success stories and learning points for future meetings. Client relationship management Own and develop strategic client plans for a small number of key relationships. Lead client relationship manager for 5-10 key OCIO clients, responsible for: Primaryclient contact for ongoing relationships with existing clients. Attendance at client meetings, providing funding and portfolio updates, as well as investment training as required (e.g. on ESG, LDI, Alternatives). Generally in these meetings you will work alongsidea member of the investment team who is responsible for clients investment strategies. Review of client materials for meetings and portfolio updates, in conjunction with junior client relationship managers and the investment team. Updating of CRM system pipelineand meeting activities for existing and new clients and prospects Wider industry engagement Working with Marketing, Corporate Comms, investment, institutional and consultant relations colleagues to promote our brand within the industry, such that BlackRockis 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; Networkingwithin 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 OCIOinvestment team and other BlackRock product areas to integrate BlackRock offerings into solutions as appropriate. Key Requirements: The candidate is expected to have the following: 10 years UK pensions industry experience CFA/FIA qualification prefer