Head of Strategy & Research, Middle East, State Street Global Advisors - MD

Head of Strategy & Research, Middle East, SSGA

The Head of Strategy & Research, Middle East (HS&R) is a highly visible role within SSGA's Investment Organization focused on representing our investment views and capabilities to clients and prospects across our Middle Eastern businesses. In this capacity, the HS&R plays an integral role in articulating investment points of view related to broad macro and market themes, portfolio construction implications and recommendations, and specific actionable investment insights to help clients achieve their long-term investment goals. This role will also have broad matrix management responsibilities for other investment capabilities in the region, including the OCIO team, and will collaborate closely with the PM team in Riyadh.

This team works collaboratively with colleagues across the investment team, client-facing teams, and other stakeholders to develop thought leadership, support client requests, engage in research projects, and provide other collateral and services that demonstrate our firm's value as an essential investment partner. The team leader will work closely with the Client Coverage Group and the Chief Business Officer teams to identify investment themes and opportunities that support achievement of our overall business objectives. In addition, as a Team Leader, this role is responsible for developing a high-performing team that can effectively coordinate thought leadership, positioning, collateral development, and other deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

The Head of Strategy & Research, Middle East is a Managing Director who reports directly to the Chief Investment Strategist. Key responsibilities include:

1. Manage a team of Investment Strategy & Research experts who develop themes, investment ideas, collateral, and other deliverables critical to our client engagement efforts.
2. Collaborate closely with Investment and Distribution teams to develop high conviction thought leadership that drives value for our clients and reinforces our position as a critical investment partner.
3. Work collaboratively with distribution channels to identify opportunities to motivate consideration of our product sets and drive business results.
4. Actively participate in key client and prospect meetings.
5. Convey information pertaining to specific recommendations and product ideas and related markets to both internal and external clients; knowledge of ETF benefits and use cases is a plus.
6. Client management and service focusing on sophisticated clients with high-touch non-standard service model and investment content.
7. Provide key inputs into marquis publications such as the firm's Global Market Outlook as well as targeted macroeconomic and portfolio level thematic ideas.
8. Help drive portfolio design in conjunction with research, portfolio management, and product management teams.
9. Extensive travel required, including regular travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Critical Success Factors

These skills will help you succeed in this role:

1. Extensive experience across multi-asset classes, and ability to engage clients in macro portfolio discussions.
2. Strong strategic thinking skills and demonstrated success in driving vision to fruition while managing potential organizational, financial, and technical constraints.
3. Ability to collaborate and motivate highest performance and inspire confidence in the business.
4. Ability to influence the business and counterparts and drive consensus.

Education & Preferred Qualifications

1. Minimum 7-10 years of investment experience; prior experience as a portfolio manager or technical researcher is a plus.
2. Knowledge of analytical platforms, Bloomberg, FactSet, and Morningstar Direct.
3. Critical understanding of financial theory and empirical research.
4. Ability to work with and influence internal and external stakeholders.
5. Positive, collaborative attitude with a strong team orientation.
6. Ability to talk passionately about investment process and markets to sophisticated clients and consultants, and to engage and break down the products to the investors.
7. Experience developing and managing high-performance teams.
8. Ambitious self-starter, able to perform in a team environment.
9. Business development, planning, and implementation skills.
10. Experience in a similar role, academic qualification and/or professional designation essential; CFA preferred.
11. Strong communications skills for frequent external and internal presentations.
12. Dubai location preferred.

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.

Discover more at StateStreet.com/careers

#LI-Hybrid