Position Title: Vice President/Managing Director, Research
Location: Washington, D.C. (Hybrid)
Reports to: Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Head of Global External Affairs
Company Background: The Managed Funds Association, based in Washington, DC, New York, and Brussels, represents the global alternative asset management industry. MFA’s mission is to advance the ability of alternative asset managers to raise capital, invest, and generate returns for their beneficiaries. MFA advocates on behalf of its membership and convenes stakeholders to address global regulatory, operational, and business issues. MFA’s more than 160 member firms collectively manage nearly $2 trillion across a diverse group of investment strategies.
Position Summary: The Vice President/Managing Director, Research is responsible for executing the overall research strategy through in-depth research and complex analysis of policy issues affecting MFA’s membership and the industry’s impact on the economic wellbeing of individuals who benefit from pensions, foundations, and endowments. The MFA research department is responsible for providing the internal MFA team with current market information, compiling existing academic research relevant to MFA’s advocacy and working with academics to help identify and develop research in support of public policy that fosters a robust alternative asset management ecosystem, and help compile data on the industry’s benefits to the pension, foundations, and endowments that invest with the industry.
Essential Responsibilities: The position will report directly to the Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Head of Global External Affairs and will perform the following responsibilities:
- Under the direction of the Executive Vice President & Managing Director, Head of Global External Affairs, develop, execute, and measure a strategic long-term research strategy for the organization.
- Analyze industry and academic research, as well as economic and financial data to support policy positions.
- Prepare research products on trends and policy issues currently defining the hedge fund industry. Conceive of and direct original research.
- Analyze the institutional investor community and its relationship to the alternative investment industry to identify areas of opportunities.
- Coordinate with MFA members, including investment funds, banks, and other market participants to support research efforts.
- Develop and compose materials related to industry, macroeconomic, and regulatory trends.
- Publish and develop white papers and other thought pieces around key topics and issues independently and/or in partnership with service providers.
- Work cross-functionally to advance MFA advocacy before global regulators and legislative bodies.
- Collaborate across all departments within the Association to lead and support special research projects.
- Liaise with academics and think tanks on a regular basis to gain and share market commentary.
- Be entrepreneurial and identify resources to advance MFA’s goals; and
- Perform other duties, as assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree preferred. Concentration in economic policy, business, economics, finance, or statistics is preferred.
- A minimum of 10 years of strong experience in a finance-oriented or economic policy research research/writing role is required.
- Proven experience conducting various research methodologies (including both qualitative and quantitative), statistical analysis, specifically, multivariate regression, and translation and dissemination of research findings.
- Solid understanding of private credit, including direct lending and structured credit strategies highly desirable.
- Knowledge of current academic research in finance and financial economics;
- Ability to generate ideas in support MFA’s business and policy objectives.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a highly collaborative manner with tact and ability to creatively solve problems and manage multiple and changing priorities.
- Excellent Microsoft Office Skills, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
- A creative, constructive, and resourceful collaborator is required.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; and
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Note: Position title and compensation is commensurate with experience.