Project Management, Director

Job Description

DescriptionAbout this roleAbout BlackRockElevate your career by joining the worlds largest asset manager! Would you thrive in an environment that fosters positive relationships and recognizes outstanding performance We know how important it is to feel valued every single day and be recognized foryour contribution. At BlackRock, we strive to empower our employees and effectively engage your involvement in our success. With over $9 trillion of assets we have an outstanding responsibility: our technology and services empower millions of investors tosave for retirement, pay for college, buy a home and improve their financial well-being. BlackRock is the #1 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) provider globally with over $3 trillion in assets under management. With more than two decades of ETF innovation and expertise behind us, we serve investors of all sorts, all around the world. We offer clientsa comprehensive range of products that provide transparent and cost-efficient access to a full range of asset classes and global markets. Role Description and ResponsibilitiesETF Platform Innovation and Change (EPIC) is a team within BlackRocks Technology & Operations division. We develop strategy and execute initiatives central to our indexing and firm-wide growth aspirations and priorities. In our day-to-day, the team bringstogether change professionals and domain specialists to deliver scale and innovation to some of BlackRocks fastest-growing products. This role sits in our recently formed Virtual ETF Services Team (VEST) which is responsible for building this middle-office function from the ground up. This role will be the EMEA lead and report directly to the head of VEST globally. VEST is responsible forhelping insource and run ETF Servicing for the Mt. Sharp program. If you are the type of person who loves to be challenged and work outside your comfort-zone then this unique opportunity may be for you. In this role, you will straddle both project/change management as well as the BAU. In the initial phase of the engagement, this position is instrumental in helping with the design and roll out of the Aladdin ETF Servicing Platform (ESP) serving as the new servicehub for iShares. Its expected that all VEST team members participate in project initiatives, give thought-leadership, recommend process improvements, conduct trainings, procedure maintenance, provide subject matter expertise, and perform user acceptance testing. In the post-migration phase, you will be responsible for performing daily BAU workflow oversight, data exception monitoring, and inquiry management for specific VEST-owned tasks as part of the ETF order lifecycle. You can expect to deal with internal and externalparties and partners across the ETF ecosystem. Your analytical abilities, problem solving skills and attention to detail will be crucial, while leadership skills and strong client service focus will contribute to your accomplishments in this assignment. ResponsibilitiesShort-term Focus

• Become highly familiar with BlackRocks strategic ETF initiatives around middle and back-office servicing
• Deepen understanding of the Irish iShares range, emphasis on Global Markets and Portfolio Manager operational responsibilities and workflows, as well as services provided by incumbent 3rd parties and their impacts on market participants
• Contribute to target operating model design for EMEA support
• Develop relationship with key 3rd party vendors and partners
• Participate in platform testing, bug identification, and resolution
• Prepare for operational readiness and the creation of an effective oversight layer of 3rd party providers
• Identify, recruit, train, and develop EMEA VEST team

Medium-term

• Implement core objectives of our ETF operating strategy (conversions, day 1 operations, exception management through burn in period)
• Represent ETF Servicing in design and strategy sessions internally with stakeholder teams and externally with key partners and providers
• Define and establish the complete/final suite of responsibilities, skills for team (product, technical). Confirm vision for the EMEA VEST employee profile

Long-term

• Complete implementation of model (operational, interaction, oversight) along with partners in the firm
• Establish EMEA VEST as a globally connected repository of ETF knowledge, function as the nexus for future operational and product requirements as the definitive BlackRock SME on ETF operations, ETF technology and provider capabilities
• Participate in expansion of concepts to other ETF ranges globally

Profile Attributes

• Understanding of BlackRocks ETF product range, familiar with primary and secondary market activities and workflows
• Possess or quickly develop an organizational understanding of BlackRock across its operating units and platform
• Past experience with Agile development process (identifying requirements, working with team, testing process, production release and check out)
• Project management experience
• Familiarity with ETF Servicing and intersections with middle and back-office concepts, applicability to fund structures and services provided via other BlackRock operational units
• People leadership skills including remote team management and matrix management
• Risk awareness (operational, technology, reputation, etc.)

Forecasts

• Role location, close proximity to EMEA Global Markets Team and established Technology & Operations location is preferred
• Role projects to manage between 2-5 people longer term
• Significant interactions with 3rd parties, oversight of providers
• SME skills: ETF technology user, ETF operational design, iShares (structures, behaviors, strengths, opportunities, strategies)

Our benefitsTo 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 tosupport 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