Product Strategy & Development Specialist, APAC – Japan Team Head

Primary Objectives:

• Support short to long-term product strategic plans
• Manage and develop local Product Strategy & Development team
• Monitor industry and regulatory trends, anticipate business impacts/identify opportunities
• Support development of new products for Japanese clients, across asset classes, wrappers, and channels
• Execute product development initiatives on local ITM platform for retail and Institutional channels, support execution activities for Japan client sponsored launches in other domiciles
• Review profitability, adequacy and strategic fit of existing and future products
• Keep local teams appraised of progress on PS&D initiatives
• Support/maintain reports and analysis showing industry trends and AB’s products positioning

Principal Responsibilities:

• Own, maintain, syndicate mid to long term product strategy for Japan
• Lead execution of product launches, liquidations and changes/restructuring
• Communicate with key stakeholders re various initiatives’ progress
• Capture various product ideas and maintaining PS&D pipeline database
• Support and manage local PS&D team
• Build and maintain data/reports to support decisions for PS&D

Main Stakeholders:

• Senior Management of AB Japan (daily/weekly)
• Client teams (daily)
• Investment team: product specialists, portfolio managers, Heads (daily/weekly)
• Legal for product launch and reengineering (daily)
• Control Functions: Risk Management, Compliance and Audit (weekly)
• Finance Teams (weekly)
• Operations and Fund Administration (daily)
• Local Regulators (as needed)
• Clients and Consultants (as needed)
• Auditors (As needed)
• Regional/Global PS&D team stakeholders (daily)

Key Skill Areas & knowledge Required:

• Successful exposure asset management products for 8+ years, in banks or asset managers
• Successful track record in supporting investment products launches in Japan
• Perfect knowledge on Japanese Asset Management industry and regulatory framework
• Fluent in English and in Japanese
• Knowledgeable about Japanese retail distribution. Preferably, wholesale experience in Japan
• Knowledgeable on Japanese regulations and customs
• Knowledge of global asset management business and non-Japan domiciles
• Capability and desire to drive strategic product discussions and decisions
• Past exposure to ETFs/Alts products a plus

Alliance Bernstein Leadership Framework

• Performance Leadership – Executes against job responsibilities to help the team, strategic business unit and the Firm successfully meet its goals
• Commercial Leadership – Creates opportunities for commercial impact, client relationships and cost reduction, while coaching others to do the same
• People Leadership – Displays clear leadership and grows talent
• Thought Leadership – Actively influences strategy by sharing innovative ideas and perspectives
• Cultural Leadership – Influences the environment, co-leads cultural initiatives and enforces inclusivity