VP, Product Management (Tactical Products)

About Us:

ProShares now offers one of the largest lineups of ETFs, with over $85 billion in assets. The company is a leader in strategies such as crypto-linked, dividend growth, interest rate hedged bond and geared (leveraged and inverse) ETF investing. ProShares continues to innovate with products that provide strategic and tactical opportunities for investors to manage risk and enhance returns.

Position Summary:

We are hiring a Product Manager who will support our leveraged and inverse (geared),crypto, commodity, and volatility fund lineup, that includes both ETFs, Mutual Funds and VA offerings covering the '40 Act and the '33 Act structures’.

The position can be based in Bethesda, MD or New York, NY and will be part of a broader Product Management team supporting the business.

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful problem solver who brings experience with sophisticated financial products and a strong understanding of the asset management space.

Responsibilities [¹]:

The Product Manager acts as the “hub” for informing and implementing product strategy (including positioning, branding, pricing and efficient distribution support), analyzing market conditions, and identifying competitive gaps / opportunities to maximize commercial success.

In this role you will be responsible for overseeing and guiding the complete lifecycle of some of our most popular and industry-leading fund products, through collaboration and partnership across internal departments and external partners.

Key job functions will include the following, amongst other responsibilities:

• Product Positioning
  • Own strategic product messaging and positioning, including product features, client benefits, investment merit, and competitive differentiation for clients that range from sophisticated financial professionals to self-directed investors.
• Roadmap Planning and Initiative Management
  • Build the business case for product initiatives and campaigns with clear and concise business rationale and data.
  • Drive the execution of cross-functional product initiatives such as go-to-market campaigns, index changes, share price splits, product launches, etc. Do so, in partnership and close collaboration with other stakeholders such as client facing staff (sales, relationship management, client services), marketing, and investment strategy to ensure all contributors are accountable for their deliverables, and escalate, when necessary, to meet milestones.
• Product Quality, Research, and Analytics
  • Create and manage regular processes for monitoring product performance and quality metrics to ensure a "continuous improvement" mindset for commercial success.
  • Create an integrated view of product and competitive opportunities, based on analyses of fund flows and performance, market data, client feedback, competitive intelligence, investment trends, and industry developments.
  • Stay abreast of competitive product information specific to both competitors and sponsor programs.
  • Identify significant product launch, development, or repositioning initiatives and present actionable business plan opportunities in response.
  • Develop recommendations on product gaps, marketing themes, and competitive campaigns.
• Product Rationalization
  • Monitor fund data and recommend rationalization as needed.
  • Continually evaluate the relevance of the existing product set, with a particular focus on positioning, pricing, and efficient support of distribution.
  • Execute a process for rationalization in partnership with internal and external stakeholders with a focus on both profitability and firm reputation and brand.

Education and Experience:

Prospective candidates should have a strong understanding of the asset management ecosystem including how each of the entities (sales, marketing, strategists, etc.) operate to bring commercial success to fund products with a diverse client base including financial professionals and self-directed Investors.

We are looking for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced and data-driven environment. You should be able to manage several projects, build strong internal relationships, and explain ideas clearly to different audiences.

• 7+ years of relevant work experience in the investment management industry, with experience in product management or a related role.
• Experience with ‘40 Act and 33' Act' products, including ETFs and mutual funds.
• Experience in fund product management, including exposure to product development, product launches and product life cycle management.
• Project management skills, including the ability to manage complex business processes through influence when all the resources necessary for a successful outcome are not directly under the individual’s control. A track record of execution success is a key attribute.
• Proven track record of commercial success, including the ability to bring a business mindset to complex issues around opportunity cost tradeoffs and an understanding of product profitability in competitive resource allocation environments, both external with competitors and internally within a multi-line business
• Experience in consulting related to the asset management industry dealing with strategy, corporate development, new product development, sales/distribution efforts is a strong value add.

Skills and Abilities:

• Possession of a blend of quantitative and interpersonal skills, with an evidenced ability to communicate effectively (both orally and written) with senior management and experienced investment professionals.
• Strong conceptual, cognitive, and analytical skills, probably exemplified through an outstanding academic background with an advanced degree in finance or business, such as an MBA, or a professional designation such as a CFA.
• Self-starter with a team-orientation, combined with a proven ability to manage projects across cross-functional teams under demanding deadlines.
• Results-orientation with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in multiple investment or market data applications (e.g. FactSet, Morningstar, Zephyr, Bloomberg, Callan PEP, Pertrac, etc.).

The compensation for this position includes salary and incentive pay. The annual base salary range for this role is $175,000 to $200,000 (USD), which does not include discretionary bonus compensation. Total compensation may vary based on experience, role, location, department, and individual performance.

Our Benefits:

• Competitive pay and discretionary bonus
• Paid time off
• Health care benefits (medical, dental & vision)
• Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, disability and legal benefit
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching contribution
• Spending Accounts (Health Care, Dependent Care, and Transportation)
• Wellness Programs (fitness reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program)
• Education assistance
• Hybrid work schedule
• Additional Programs include peer recognition, corporate matching gift

[1] These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work involved for this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this job. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.