Description:
The team work as a strategic partner to UK Sales and the wider product team to ensure that the organization excels in providing competitive, profitable and complete product solutions that meet the varied and changing needs of our investors; also helping to ensure the organization excels in providing top quality sales and client service by thorough research and product development efforts, product positioning, and product placement across UK Market.
You will require a solid understanding of retail and institutional knowledge and expertise within UK, specifically in determining product gaps, researching and analyzing new and innovative products, pricing strategies, product positioning as well as new product design. You will also take ownership of Franklin Templeton’s (FT) product range and will take responsibility for managing the UK product lifecycle including ensuring that governance standards are in line with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
What are the ongoing responsibilities of the UK Product Strategy & Development Director?
- Own governance of UK products and ensure that products meet regulatory requirements and FT’s governance standards.
- Lead initiatives to create UK Assessment of Value and Consumer Duty reporting documentation. This will include significant coordination, data analysis, writing/reporting and senior leader/board presentations.
- Develop new products, identify and research new product opportunities, and provide ongoing research and analytical support to capture product and market opportunities.
- Analyze, evaluate, and identify innovative product ideas for senior management consideration and evaluation.
- Identify market, regulatory, industry, competitor and investment trends and assess and/or communicate how they impact our UK products
- Conduct market competitiveness analysis relative to local competitors, identify opportunities and recommend product ideas or focuses suitable for retail clients
- Recommend changes to existing products, closures and new product ideas
- Oversight of UK product initiatives & lifecycle.
- Has regional responsibility for all product initiatives, and partners with peers across regions to support common initiatives.
- Play an integral role in managing the impact of regulatory changes. Interpret and drive FT’s response to changes in regulations.
- Lead complex product initiatives, including those for new product lines.
- Is a key presenter at UK Board of Director meetings related to Assessment of Value, Consumer Duty and product development and implementation.
- Collaborate with Product Strategy, Sales and Portfolio teams to develop new products beyond ideation and ensure that product structures work from a legal, compliance, tax and operations perspective, by working with business partners.
- Ensure products are well defined and in state of readiness for implementation, including preparing materials and securing the necessary approvals, sign-offs and resource.
What ideal qualifications, skills and experience would help someone to be successful?
- Industry experience with solid understanding of the investment management and financial services industry
- Extensive understanding of the UK regulatory framework with experience of leading Assessment of Value and Consumer Duty Initiatives
- Experience leading and managing projects with excellent project management skills
- Proven experience presenting to boards and building strong, collaborative relationships with senior leadership
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- Strong understanding of a variety of investment product types. Knowledge of FT’s investment products a bonus.
- Good understanding of differing distribution channels and their needs
- Good understanding of operations and service departments
- Knowledge of regulatory, industry rules, guidelines, and standards
- Excellent time management and follow through skills
- Excellent organizational, planning and project management skills
- Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to interact across all levels
- Ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Excellent facilitation, mediation, negotiation, and persuasion skills
- Strong client service and customer focus
- Business software: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)