Head of Strategic Business Partners & Initiatives, Managing Director - State Street Global Advisors

Why this role is important to us

• State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is a global leader in asset management, entrusted with over $4.7 trillion in assets. For more than three decades, investors worldwide have benefited from our disciplined, precise investment process and powerful global platform offering access to every major asset class, capitalization range and style across the indexing and active spectrums. SSGA is the investment management arm of State Street Corporation, one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutions.
• The Strategic Business Partners & Initiatives teams sits within our Innovation team and its mission is to align, leverage and bring to bear the full capabilities of the firm to develop and maximize the commercial value derived from strategic business partnerships, as well as, to oversee and drive complex product and partner initiatives. These strategically important business to business relationships are multi-faceted, can be global in nature, and cut across many aspects of our business and organization.

What you will be responsible for

As the Global Head of Strategic Business Partners & Initiatives, you will lead a team of Relationship Managers and Product Specialists responsible for managing SSGA’s key business relationships and complex initiatives across the Innovation Hub.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and executing a partnership strategy to accelerate product ideation and maximize commercial outcomes, which involves working alongside Product Pillar Heads to identify the highest priority opportunities to pursue, developing go-to-market commercial plans, negotiating strategic alliance agreements, and ongoing relationship management.
• Maintaining and cultivating active relationships with executive partners internally and externally, driving end to end relationship ownership across index and sub-advisors, serving as a thought partner and escalation point, and steering C-level engagements.
• Overseeing high-impact partnership and/or product initiatives, working cross-functionally with key stakeholders including product, investments, legal, marketing, client coverage, funds management and finance.
• Growing, nurturing, and maintaining a high-performing team providing coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities.
• Setting and driving the appropriate operating model across business relationships within a complex matrixed environment.
• Creating enhancements of our existing processes to drive continuous improvements and more impactful outcomes.

What we value

• Minimum 12 years of experience in the financial services industry, ideally within asset management.
• BA/BS or equivalent degree, preferably with a financial or business discipline; completion of CFA is a plus.
• Proven experience in developing and leveraging relationships across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong ability to motivate, mentor, and engage a high-performing team.
• Ability to orchestrate a complex and evolving strategic agenda, aligning senior leadership and driving execution across a matrixed organization.
• Gravitas to engage and drive C-suite level engagements with credibility.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage expectations in a fast-paced, complex environment.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and comfort with ambiguity.
• Ability to work as part of a team, creating an environment of cohesion and engagement.
• Strong active listening skills, highly collaborative, and transparent.

Are you the right candidate? Yes!

We truly believe in the power that comes from the diverse backgrounds and experiences our employees bring with them. Although each vacancy details what we are looking for, we don’t necessarily need you to fulfil all of them when applying. If you like change and innovation, seek to see the bigger picture, make data driven decisions and are a good team player, you could be a great fit.

About State Street Global Advisors

What We Do. As the asset management arm of State Street Corporation, State Street Global Advisors has served the world’s governments, institutions and financial advisors for over four decades. With a rigorous, risk-aware approach built on research, analysis and market-tested experience, we build from a breadth of active and index strategies to create cost-effective solutions. As stewards, we help portfolio companies see that what is fair for people and sustainable for the planet can deliver long-term performance. And, as pioneers in index, ETF, and ESG investing, we are always inven