Product Director/Associate Director

Reports to Head of Product and Propositions

The purpose of this role is to deliver Aztec's growth strategy through developing Private Equity, Private Credit, Real Estate or Fund of Fund products that capture prospective clients or broaden the relationship and services provided to existing clients. The Product Director will be accountable for the 3-year product roadmap for the asset class, the positioning of the products as best in class with clients and Aztec leaders, as well as creating new product offerings.

Accountabilities: 

Product Vision and Strategy

• Define and communicate a clear product vision (for their products) aligned to Aztec's Ambition 30 goals working with Head of Products
• Drive creation and adoption of new products through new idea discovery
• Build detailed business cases, that deliver commercially viable products
• Horizon scanning for emerging trends, new developments and disruptive technology, alongside analysing competitor products

Product Development

• Translate product strategy into detailed requirements work and write user stories with story-level acceptance criteria
• Maintain product road maps, documenting requirements, executing proof of concepts, overseeing and managing implementations via vendors, Technology and service delivery
• Ensure products are commercially viable, exploring pricing options with the Commercial Team
• Collaborate with the other product teams on prioritisation and reuse of functionality

Change Management

• Lead product delivery and adoption of new products with clients and internal stakeholders
• Define and guide product driven changes to standard operating models
• Develop product definitions

Sales and Relationship Management Support

• Interact with clients/prospects to understand their problems and processes
• Collaborate with Asset Class client relationship management and service delivery teams to gather requirements, share insights and gain alignment
• Play an active role in client pitches and conduct product demos

Marketing

• Act as SME to enhance client relationships and attract new clients by participating and attend industry forum events
• Develop product marketing materials and work with Marketing to ensure effective go to market strategy and product positioning 
• Provide SME content to marketing events and programmes

Coaching

• Mentor and train own team and develop product knowledge across Aztec's organisation

Group / Service Projects

• Dependant on product workload, take on service initiatives that are across Asset Class to enhance client experience

Leadership Requirements:

• Client-Centric Mindset: Listen to clients and build deep understanding of their needs to develop products that solve their problems and deliver value
• Stakeholder Influencing: Strong stakeholder management skills able to clearly communicate Aztec's products and opportunities to influence Aztec and client decision making
• Data-Informed Decision-Making: Leverage client insights and performance data to inform product strategy and stakeholder engagement
• Capability Development: Coach people from across Aztec on the product life-cycle and value to build trust in how it can enhance client outcomes and experience of Aztec

Technical Skills:

• High technical literacy and understanding of development processes
• Familiar with Agile / Scrum methodologies
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

People Skills:

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Collaborate to build Aztec's overall knowledge of product management and its benefits

Experience & Qualifications:

• Record of delivering business/technology development initiatives managing all aspects of a successful product lifecycle
• 8-10 years of product development experience in a fund services environment with a clear understanding of the commercial proposition
• Experience working within agile environments
• Project management skills

Key Internal Interfaces:

• CCO: global and regional sales leadership; global and regional Heads of Client Relationship / Directors / ADs [asset class], Commercial Director, Head of Marketing
• CCSO: Global Head of [Asset Class], Client Service Delivery Leads [Asset Class], Head of Data and Delivery Operations
• Group: POD, Technology, Finance

Key External Interfaces:

• Clients (economic buyers)