Senior Research Specialist

The Role
This is a Senior role in the team and as the subject matter expert, you will be responsible for investment manager research, selection and investment performance oversight as well as delivery of investment projects with key financial objectives in the Policyholder Investment Office. 

Key Responsibilities
Managing Internal and External Stakeholders

• Assist Head of Manager Research and Selection in liaising with external investment management partners in implementing the policyholder investment strategy
• Foster and nurture existing Asset Management Partnerships
• Working with the Sustainability team, developing and evolving our framework and coordinating with our Asset Managers to embed sustainability requirements into mandates
• Working with wider Policyholder Investment Office sub-teams such as the Portfolio Management Team, Investment Strategy, Investment Solutions team and Phoenix Unit Trust Managers (PUTM) to maintain manager adherence to investment management agreements
• Working with the operational due diligence, Asset Management Operations, Compliance and Line 2, as required

Manager Selection Research and Review Process

• Working with and supporting Portfolio Managers and the Portfolio Management in delivering financial risk return objectives for the policyholder portfolio
• Document existing selection and oversight frameworks and improve processes and controls to ensure robustness in the Target Operating Model of the team; bring in industry best practice and knowledge for enhancing frameworks and processes
• Engaging with existing Asset Management partners to build strong relationships, to support delivery of investment strategy and reporting of investment performance, as well as adherence to operational requirements
• Leading Manager Investment performance quarterly and annual reviews, both from a sustainability perspective but also from a broader oversight perspective.
• Ensuring the assessment and write up of these meetings is completed in line with the required schedules and compliance requirements
• Contributing to the manager selection process as it relates to investment and sustainability aspects, and more broadly as specific RFP requires
• Compiling and coordinating updates on asset management partners to local, enterprise and board governance
• Leading and Managing Key Projects by interfacing with stakeholders outside of the Policyholder Investment Office, as it relates to Investment Managers, including those within Pensions & Savings, Finance, Compliance, Investment Operations, Risk and Audit as part of the review, search and selection processes

What we're looking for:
Minimum Requirements (Essential)
Experience

• Significant industry experience(7-10 years), ability to operate autonomously
• Understanding of the insurance market, complexities of new asset classes and sustainability
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of how to manage complex relationships across multiple external stakeholder groups, as well as internal stakeholders; Actuarial, Finance, Operations and Risk.
• Knowledge and experience across investment markets, investment strategy and portfolio management and performance measurement, across multiple asset classes with a focus on equities
• Broad understanding of legal, tax and regulatory environment, as it applies to Asset Management

Qualifications

• CFA/MBA (desirable, but not essential)

Personal Attributes

• Acts on own initiative, with strong sense of ownership, contributes new ideas, able to make logical decisions and formulate judgements
• Ability to communicate effectively, build key relationships and influence internal and external stakeholders
• Proactively keeps abreast with market trends to develop holistic financial thinking
• Strong relation management skills

We want to hire the whole version of you.
We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we've advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we'd love to hear from you.
If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.

Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group STEM Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.