Director - ETF Operational Strategy and Design Lead

BlackRock is seeking a Director for the ETF Operational Strategy and Design Lead role within the EPIC Team. This role involves driving strategy, implementation, and transformation projects for global ETF growth. The successful candidate will leverage financial markets and investment management knowledge to collaborate with business, technology, product, and operational leaders, focusing on designing and implementing scalable solutions across the ETF ecosystem to support aggressive growth.

Must Have

• Design, innovate, and implement ETF operating models, technology solutions and commercial opportunities.
• Operate horizontally at the intersection of capital markets, investments, ETF servicing, post trade processing, technology, and core services.
• Lead and drive ETF platform change both internally at BlackRock and externally across Service Providers.
• Become the “go-to” platform specialists connecting the ETF Ecosystem, ETF Servicing Platform (ESP) & Aladdin.
• Develop a solutions capability for tactical and strategic needs referencing API’s and data.
• Partner with the firm’s leadership to help shape BlackRock’s ETF platform strategy.
• Develop project objectives with measurable goals, drive consensus and communicate plans and results.
• Establish, oversee and execute complex multi-faceted testing strategies to deliver change.
• Maintain a One BlackRock perspective driving positive and impactful outcomes for the firm.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the team’s overall development.
• Simplify complex topics and create innovative solutions for issues.
• Engage and maintains relationships with stakeholders across the firm.
• 10-15+ years of experience in the ETF industry.
• Background including leadership roles and/or exposure to ETF operations, client service, fund accounting, custody/banking.
• Experience engaging with leadership executives and successfully driving strategic change programs.
• Ability to define holistic business requirements and communicate the needs of the team effectively.
• Experience in platform design and system integration.
• Outstanding leadership experience with a track record of successful people management outcomes.
• Detailed knowledge of investment management products and asset types (ETFs, Mutual Funds, Fixed Income, Equities, Derivatives, and Alternatives).
• Significant and successful track record in driving and delivering complex and impactful strategic change programs.
• Experience navigating a complex matrix of accountability and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Results driven individual with a high level of attention to detail and intellectual curiosity.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects at the same time.
• Technical aptitude, understanding how technology drives scale.
• Ability to gather and analyze facts, analyze big data, define problems, and suggest solutions.
• Prior experience or interest in data analysis including python, SQL, API’s and Power B.

Perks & Benefits

• Retirement investment and tools designed to help in building a sound financial future
• Access to education reimbursement
• Comprehensive resources to support physical health and emotional well-being
• Family support programs
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)

About this role

BlackRock is the #1 Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) provider globally with over $5 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 clients a comprehensive range of products that provide transparent and cost-efficient access to a full range of asset classes and global markets.

Team

The EPIC Team (ETF Platform Innovation and Change) is a group of change experts within Technology & Operations that drive strategy, implementation, and transformation projects central to our global ETF growth objectives. We represent a unified platform team that connects the firm and platform horizontally to achieve best-in-class ETF operating models and results for our clients. We are a versatile team composed of individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds who enjoy the opportunity of leading high impact cross-functional projects across our fastest-growing ETF products, optimising processes, and using technology to increase efficiency and reduce complexity across the ETF ecosystem. In order to accomplish its mission, EPIC puts great emphasis on developing its people, enhancing their leadership and delivery skills and expanding their firm and industry knowledge.

The Role

You will gain an understanding of how the firm and ETF ecosystem functions and leverage your ETF financial markets / investment management industry knowledge and your technical abilities to collaborate with business, technology, product and operational leaders in delivering the firm’s most critical and valuable ETF projects. This is not a typical change management role where you only handle project coordination / facilitation. We are looking for top-level subject matter experts and problem solvers who like getting into the details and are actively engaged (i.e., roll up your sleeves) in creating and implementing scalable solutions that usually involve process, technology, and organizational change. You can expect a significant, varied role that will help ensure BlackRock’s businesses have the necessary capabilities to support an aggressive growth agenda. A successful candidate will have experience working across functions, setting and driving a strategic agenda, being involved in high profile projects, and achieving positive results through diligent and relentless execution.

Responsibilities

• Design, innovate, and implement ETF operating models, technology solutions and commercial opportunities
• Operate horizontally at the intersection of capital markets, investments, ETF servicing, post trade processing, technology, and core services
• Lead and drive ETF platform change both internally at BlackRock and externally across Service Providers partnering with business leaders
• Become the “go-to” platform specialists connecting the ETF Ecosystem, ETF Servicing Platform (ESP) & Aladdin
• Develop a solutions capability for tactical and strategic needs referencing API’s and data across the ETF and Investment book for record
• Partner with the firm’s leadership to help shape BlackRock’s ETF platform strategy to maximize growth, scale, and consistency
• Develop project objectives with measurable goals, drive consensus and communicate plans and results to stakeholders and management throughout
• Establish, oversee and execute complex multi-faceted testing strategies to deliver change
• Maintain a One BlackRock perspective driving positive and impactful outcomes for the firm
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the team’s overall development.
• Simplify complex topics and create innovative solutions for issues
• Engage and maintains relationships with stakeholders across the firm to effectively navigate our global organisation

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of experience in the ETF industry
• A background that includes a combination of leadership roles and/or exposure to ETF operations, client service, fund accounting, custody/banking, including experience engaging with leadership executives and successfully driving and delivering complex and impactful strategic change programs
• Ability to define holistic business requirements and communicate the needs of the team effectively
• Experience in platform design and system integration
• Outstanding leadership experience with a track record of successful people management outcomes
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of investment management products and asset types, including but not limited to ETFs, Mutual Funds, Fixed Income, Equities, Derivatives, and Alternatives.
• Significant and successful track record in driving and delivering complex and impactful strategic change programs
• Experience navigating a complex matrix of accountability and stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills: ability to clearly articulate objectives and influence outcomes
• Results driven individual with a high level of attention to detail and intellectual curiosity
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects at the same time
• Technical aptitude, understanding how technology drives scale and the ability to sit at the intersection of business subject matter experts, product management and engineers
• Ability to gather and analyze facts, analyze big data, define problems, and suggest solutions
• Prior experience or interest in data analysis including python, SQL, API’s and Power B

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.