Director, Credit Portfolio Manager
Description About this role
About this Role The successful candidate will initially support the management of quantitative portfolio strategies investing in European credit fixed income assets. The role is expected to develop to involve primary responsibility for some of these strategies. Investment decisions will be based on the output of investment models but also incorporate factors outside of the models' scope.
The focus will be on a number of systematic Long-Short trading strategies where trading dimensions will largely be market neutral. Additionally, you would be working closely with portfolio managers from our Core Fixed Income business to help them position the long only portfolios.
Individually, your focus would be on the European High Yield market. Over time you would also be expected to familiarise yourself with the Investment Grade names in our portfolios in order to provide secondary coverage of those.
Responsibilities will include:
- Utilising trade insights derived from quant models, and leveraging market knowledge to apply a fundamental overlay to those trade insights, in order to determine where to invest;
- Interacting with the market and the BlackRock trading desk to get trades executed;
- Working closely with researchers to improve investment performance through fine-tuning existing models and providing new market insights that can be used systematically within a modelling framework;
- Interfacing with Product Strategists to facilitate the marketing of the product set and providing regular feedback that can be used in client communications;
- Managing and using derivatives to hedge out the team's FX and interest rate risk across all strategies managed by the team.
What we are looking for: We tend to hire portfolio managers who come from a research background and who can demonstrate deep sector and market knowledge. We will also consider analysts with little to no portfolio management experience, so long as they show the motivation and aptitude to transition and learn. Additionally, whilst some grounding in quantitative concepts is highly preferable, we also hire from fundamental backgrounds. All our portfolio managers must have the ability to apply a fundamental overlay to their investment process.
Ideally we are looking for:
- 5-10 years' investment experience, with some buyside experience preferable;
- Deep credit sector and market knowledge, with thorough understanding of the European High Yield sector in particular;
- Ability and willingness to work within a systematic and quantitative investment process (if not doing so already);
- Strong computing and quantitative modelling skills would be a distinct advantage;
- The desire and ability to work in a in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment, with a willingness to challenge others' views and be challenged without being confrontational;
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
This is role is within the scope of the Senior Manager and Certification Regime(SMCR).
Key Regulatory Obligations
The successful candidate will be subject to both the Individual Conduct Rules and the Fitness and Propriety Rules of the FCA. As long as they remain a Certified Person it is their responsibility to continue to meet the required standards of fitness and propriety for their role.
About BlackRock
BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of June 30, 2020, the firm managed approximately $7.32 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide.
For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @blackrock | Blog: www.blackrockblog.com | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock
BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.
