Director, Product Development

Acadian Asset Management LLC is a Boston-headquartered investment management firm with wholly owned affiliates located in Singapore, London, and Sydney. As of September 30, 2024 the firm managed approximately US$120 billion on behalf of major pension funds, endowments, foundations, governments, and other investors based in the U.S. and abroad.

Position Overview: 

The Director, Product Development will play a critical role in leading and overseeing Acadian’s global funds strategy, ensuring alignment with financial, operational, and legal standards while supporting business growth. This leader will serve as a subject matter expert, engaging with clients, managing service providers, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive strategic initiatives and innovation. Additionally, the Director will manage and develop the funds team to achieve excellence in fund management and commercialization.

Acadian supports a hybrid work environment, employees are on-site in the Boston office 3 days a week.

What You’ll Do:

• Direct the strategic development of Acadian’s global fund range, positioning them as a key component of the organization’s client strategy ensuring competitiveness and operational efficiency across vehicles.
• Engage with clients as a fund-related subject matter expert on structures, policies, market trends and regulatory developments to enhancing their understanding and engagement with Acadian’s funds.
• Commercialize investment strategies working closely with client and investment teams to prioritize and rationalize Acadian funds offering in a competitive institutional investment market.
• Drive effective project management for fund launches applying a structured process and collaborating with legal, operations, investments, finance and client colleagues.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the funds team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture focused on excellence in fund management.
• Analyze key fund financial metrics regarding revenue and costs in evaluation of management fees, operational expenses, rebates, performance fees and distribution related service payments to ensure market alignment.
• Manage fund service providers through management of board relations, fund administration, alignment with support of product and distribution objectives, oversight of service providers, and management of fund expenses.

We’re Looking for Teammates With:

• Bachelors degree with a strong academic record in engineering, mathematics, finance, economics, or a related discipline. CFA preferred.
• 12+ years of relevant work experience within asset management product development, management consulting, internal strategy and strategic projects, analytics, or equivalent.
• Knowledge and expertise with global institutional investors and global investment vehicles (UCITS, mutual funds, Cayman / Delaware private funds, collective investment trusts)
• Experience managing a global fund range and knowledge of associated regional requirements and governance expectations – and will be able to lead and support the Funds Management teams in all regions.
• Excellent analytical / conceptual problem-solving skills with ability to leverage quantitative and qualitative approaches to develop actionable recommendations.
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills, including experience with presentation development and delivery and project management.
• Prior experience leading and mentoring teams.
• Demonstration of high intellectual capacity and curiosity. Strong work ethic (takes ownership), self-starter and quick-study mentality; ability to work independently yet also lead and inspire cross-functional teams.