State Street Global Advisors - Head of Client Coverage - DIFC Branch, MD

About State Street

Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.

Our promise to maintain an environment where every employee feels valued and is given equal opportunities to meet their full potential regardless of their identity, origin or gender infuses our day-to-day efforts. It’s also part of our commitment to inclusion, development and engagement, and corporate social responsibility. Join us.

At State Street Global Advisors, our mission is to invest responsibly to enable economic prosperity and social progress. Our vision is to be the first investment call for every institutional investor and financial intermediary.

In order to achieve SSGA’s Mission and Vision, our Global Institutional Group will drive the sale of a robust mix of innovative solutions to our institutional clients, including active and beta strategies, while delivering a best-in-class service experience within a culture that values diversity, collaboration, and learning.

Job Description

Overview of role:

We are looking for an accomplished client-facing professional to join our dynamic, diverse SSGA Middle East & Africa (MEA) team. Based in our Dubai office, you will be a key member of the MEA team contributing to our client relationship management, sales, and business retention efforts.

You will lead an ambitious and entrepreneurial team of relationship managers and business developers covering a range of client segments in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and South Africa, with a strong focus on Official Institutions, pension funds, and asset gatherers. Your personal focus will be on Tier 1 clients. You will also lead strategic projects and initiatives supporting our business growth and risk excellence efforts in the region.

You will need to collaborate with colleagues in investments, research, sales, and marketing. The role requires energy, flexibility, curiosity, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

We want you to develop a deep understanding of the SSGA franchise in the region to anticipate the needs of our clients, manage business at risk, and actively contribute to the region’s annual net new revenue targets. This role reports to the Senior Managing Director heading up our SSGA MEA franchise and is part of the regional leadership team and the SSGA Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

What we will ask you to do:

• Assume ownership and accountability for managing, growing, and retaining an existing list of clients and prospects of the DIFC Branch
• Work with regional management on annual business strategy and commit to its successful execution
• Work in partnership with the Managing Director of our Saudi Arabia business on regional initiatives
• Oversee onboarding of new clients / new mandates / new distribution partnerships and asset transitions in DIFC Branch
• Take a leading role in retaining existing business by delivering high-quality relationship management and anticipating our clients’ evolving needs
• Focus your efforts on value-added products including quant and fundamental equities, EM debt, fixed income, cash, and alternatives whilst defending our core indexing business
• Lead a growing sales and client relationship management team and ensure they deliver on their individual KPI’s (in addition to yours) and contribute to the region’s Annualized Net New Revenue targets
• Manage relationships with fund distributors/promoters
• Oversee RFP's, product information gathering, and client-centric research origination/dissemination
• Work on strategic initiatives supporting our regional growth efforts as directed by senior management
• Harness the expertise of our internal specialists (e.g. portfolio management, portfolio strategy, research, Cash, SPDR, etc.) in order to deliver a consultative sale to clients
• Monitor key product performance and liaise with portfolio strategists to ensure proactive engagement with our client base
• Build strong, positive relationships with key internal stakeholders
• Maintain the highest possible fiduciary standards and ensure compliance with all internal and external requirements

Qualifications

What we would love you to be:

• Academic background in finance, economics, business, or a related field
• CFA/CAIA charter holder or CFA/CAIA candidate
• Minimum 10 years experience dealing with Middle East clients
• Minimum 10 years experience dealing with Official Institutions clients
• Minimum 10 years experience in sales and relationship management with top-tier international firms
• Minimum 5 years experience in managing a team
• Willing to travel extensively across the region and internationally when required
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Good understanding of DIFC legal/regulatory framework
• A good problem solver and trouble-shooter, with the ability to identify and analyze issues with the creativity and energy to solve them

Who you are:

• You are articulate, curious, and entrepreneurial
• You want to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment
• You are motivated and keen to deliver the best possible result to clients
• You have the patience and resilience to work through lengthy sales conversion cycles
• You are passionate about long-term relationship building and are focused on delivering solutions rather than products
• You understand the importance of risk excellence when representing a global financial services firm in emerging markets

About State Street

What we do. State Street is one of the largest custodian banks, asset managers, and asset intelligence companies in the world. From technology to product innovation, we’re making our mark on the financial services industry. For more than two centuries, we’ve been helping our clients safeguard and steward the investments of millions of people. We provide investment servicing, data & analytics, investment research & trading, and investment management to institutional clients.

Work, Live, and Grow. We make all efforts to create a great work environment. Our benefits packages are competitive and comprehensive. Details vary by location, but you may expect generous medical care, insurance, and savings plans, among other perks. You’ll have access to flexible Work Programs to help you match your needs. And our wealth of development programs and educational support will help you reach your full potential.

Inclusion, Diversity and Social Responsibility. We truly believe our employees’ diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are a powerful contributor to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and reach their maximum potential while adding value to both our organization and our clients. We warmly welcome candidates of diverse origin, background, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and personality. Another fundamental value at State Street is active engagement with our communities around the world, both as a partner and a leader. You will have tools to help balance your professional and personal life, paid volunteer days, matching gift programs, and access to employee networks that help you stay connected to what matters to you.

State Street is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

For further information, and to apply, please visit our website via the “Apply” button below.