Responsibilities
The Product Specialist Group (“PSG”) is a part of Company’s Client Relations organization and is responsible for (i) serving as representatives/spokespeople for Company’s strategies and products to explain strategy positioning and investment theses; (ii) creating and refining content that effectively conveys our strategies’ investment approach, capabilities and portfolio activity; (iii) responding to investor requests for information about their prospective and current investments and meeting with those clients/prospects to deliver portfolio reviews; (iv) delivering marketing programming and thought leadership to raise awareness about Company’s offerings and broad platform capabilities; and (v) assessing and supporting development of new product opportunities.
This Product Specialist position will be aligned to Company’s Special Situations strategy which makes control-oriented debt and equity investments in middle-market companies, focusing on complex situations where companies can’t access traditional capital sources. The strategy has a flexible mandate that utilizes three core investment mechanisms: structured equity, direct equity and distressed debt. It does not require a distressed macro environment to invest successfully, relying instead on “situational” distress that can be uncovered in any industry, sector or individual company at any point in the economic cycle. The candidate will have frequent engagement with senior members of the Special Situations investment team, as well as Company’s Marketing (sales/distribution) department. The position will report to a senior Product Specialist, either a Senior Vice President or Managing Director, in the PSG. From time-to-time the Special Situations Product Specialist may also support product management activities for related Company strategies, where opportunities and investment activities are generally highly aligned and synergic.
Selected responsibilities of the role include:
Product Investor Relations
- Serve as a subject-matter expert for our Special Situations strategy both internally (with Marketing, Client Services and Diligence Services) and externally (with clients or other third parties) on key areas including: (i) investment- and fund-related inquiries, (ii) investment philosophy and approach, (iii) market review/outlook, (iv) portfolio pipeline and capital deployment expectations, and (v) individual-investment theses, outlook and related material events.
- Quarterback technical (portfolio- and investment-related) client requests through resolution, serving as the primary liaison between clients or Marketing Representatives/Client Services and the investment teams managing fund assets.
- Manage fund-related investor calls, meetings and committees – including select portfolio reviews, fund webcasts, Investors Committee meetings, etc. – in collaboration with Client Services, Marketing, and Corporate Communications and Branding teams.
- Produce aspects of qualitative product reporting including, but not limited to, drafting portfolio, performance and investment commentary; quarterly letters; other investor communications; and select content posted to our public and client-0nly websites.
- Collaborate with other product specialists and other Company departments to identify/drive improvements to product reporting, while ensuring consistency in the client experience across strategy lines.
Product Marketing/Fundraising
- Support fundraising initiatives by (i) partnering with our Marketing and investment teams on strategic planning, including research on LPs, allocators and peers in the alternative private equity and credit space; (ii) building relationships with our Marketing team and driving follow-up where relevant and appropriate; (iii) understanding/gathering intel on the market reaction to our product set and refining messaging in response; (iv) creating and maintaining talking points about the portfolio and individual investments, including case studies used in marketing materials; (v) supporting and/or conducting Marketing Rep education throughout a fundraising campaign; and (vi) meeting with select prospective clients to explain the strategy/product in greater detail.
- Create and maintain certain strategy/product content including, but not limited to, pitch books, custom presentations, case studies, due diligence responses, thought leadership (“Insights”) pieces, internal research and other strategy communications.
- Work with Company’s Corporate Communications & Branding team to identify and deliver relevant programming initiatives that help raise brand awareness for Company’s private equity and credit capabilities through key conferences and events including Company’s bi-annual client conference.
- Learn/master compliance and related industry rules to ensure the creation of compliant content (may include creation of supporting documentation in partnership with other Company departments including, for example, the firm’s Portfolio Analytics Risk & Reporting (“PARR”) department).
Product Development
- Partner with Marketing Representatives, investment professionals and other internal stakeholders to research, propose and implement new product ideas, bespoke client solutions or new investor channels for product distribution.
- Research and prepare analyses regarding competitive landscape or precedent case studies
Qualifications
- 7+ years of relevant experience in a product specialist, sales or client-facing investment role;
- Expertise in private equity and credit markets and/or investment banking experience;
- Proven ability to interact directly with clients, portfolio managers and senior leadership; must demonstrate a high service orientation and superior communication/presentation skills (both written and verbal);
- Highly resourceful; ability to exercise superior judgment regarding investor requests: to interpret them, ask appropriate questions and only expend other internal resources when necessary;
- Ability to acquire thorough knowledge of the legal, accounting, compliance and investment aspects of Company’s investment products; and
- FINRA licenses (Series 7 and 63) or ability to acquire licenses in a compressed timeframe.
Personal Attributes
The successful candidate should:
- Be highly motivated to succeed and foster the success of Company’s Special Situation strategy, as well as its teammates and colleagues;
- Demonstrate the poise, confidence and professionalism needed to establish relationships, garner support and engage team members to ensure successful completion of projects;
- Be a self-starter and creative who originates ideas, and identifies and captures opportunities;
- Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal and written) – must show aptitude for explaining technical concepts clearly and simply to clients;
- Possess outstanding attention to detail and superior organizational skills;
- Have strong integrity and dedication to excellence;
- Value differences and uphold all other Company core values;
- Excel in a demanding, fast-paced environment while maintaining the highest quality standards; and
- Be a natural problem solver who can independently identify and recommend improvements to enhance productivity and efficiency.
Education
Bachelor’s degree (major in Finance, Business, Marketing, Communications or related field preferred). MBA or CFA strongly preferred.