Head of Product Development & Strategy, BMO Global Asset Management (U.S.)

Bank of Montreal•New York, NY

About The Position

The Head of Product Development & Strategy is accountable for product strategy, pipeline management, product engineering, and commercialization across BMO Global Asset Management's U.S. ETF and SMA platform, with particular responsibility for derivatives-based and systematic investment solutions. This individual will serve as the lead architect of the derivatives-based ETF platform, translating sophisticated investment concepts into scalable products that address investor needs and support the firm’s growth objectives. The role requires deep expertise in derivatives, structured investment solutions, portfolio construction, and ETF product design, combined with strong commercial judgment and disciplined execution. Working across Investments, Sales, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Operations, Risk Management, and external service providers, this leader will set product priorities and drive initiatives from concept and approval through launch, commercialization, and ongoing lifecycle management. As a member of BMO Global Asset Management’s U.S. leadership team, this individual will play a central role in building a differentiated and commercially successful ETF franchise.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in product strategy, ETF or ETN product development, derivatives strategy, structured products, investment structuring, portfolio construction, or related disciplines.
Deep expertise in derivatives, options, volatility products, structured outcomes, and systematic investment strategies.
Demonstrated experience designing, evaluating, structuring, and launching derivatives-based investment products.
Strong understanding of complex options strategies, including exotic options, volatility dynamics, portfolio construction, and risk management.
Experience conducting back-testing, stress testing, scenario analysis, exotic option pricing, and investment strategy evaluation.
Strong understanding of ETF structures, capital markets, asset management, product economics, and advisor distribution channels.
Demonstrated ability to translate complex investment concepts into commercially successful products.
Proven ability to lead complex initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, external providers, and competing priorities.
Experience working across Investments, Sales, Marketing, Legal, Compliance, Operations, and Risk Management functions.
Undergraduate degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Computer Science, Quantitative Finance, Economics, or a related discipline preferred.
Strong quantitative and analytical skills with experience evaluating complex investment strategies and derivatives-based solutions.

Nice To Haves

Experience in ETF product development, equity derivatives structuring, quantitative investment strategies (QIS), structured products, quantitative strategy, portfolio engineering, or related capital markets functions is highly desirable.
Candidates from sell-side structured products, equity derivatives, QIS, exotic options, quantitative structuring, and related capital markets businesses are strongly encouraged to apply.
MBA, CFA, CAIA, FRM, CQF, MFE, or a similar advanced quantitative designation preferred.

Responsibilities

Own and be accountable for ETF product development, including building and maintaining the product pipeline and leading end-to-end launch execution.
Set the long-term product strategy and roadmap for BMO's U.S. ETF and SMA platform.
Establish clear priorities across the product pipeline based on client demand, market opportunity, strategic fit, investment merit, operational feasibility, resource requirements, and expected commercial returns.
Maintain a comprehensive view of ETF industry trends, competitor activity, product flows, pricing, distribution dynamics, and evolving investor needs to inform strategy and pipeline priorities.
Prepare business cases, revenue forecasts, and strategic recommendations for new product opportunities.
Define product economics and success criteria, including pricing, revenue expectations, asset-gathering objectives, launch costs, and assessment against the approved business case.
Lead ongoing product reviews and recommend enhancements, repositioning, pricing changes, mergers, or closures based on investment performance, client adoption, commercial results, and strategic relevance.
Establish and maintain product governance, approval, and lifecycle-management processes.
Serve as the firm's subject matter expert for derivatives-based, systematic, and outcome-oriented investment strategies.
Partner closely with Portfolio Management to identify, design, and evaluate innovative ETF and SMA strategies using options and other derivative instruments.
Assess investment solutions through back-testing, stress testing, scenario analysis, exotic option pricing, and strategy evaluation.
Analyze payoff structures, volatility assumptions, investor outcomes, implementation considerations, and operational feasibility.
Evaluate the risk profile, scalability, and commercial attractiveness of proposed solutions.
Challenge investment assumptions and identify potential investment, operational, and execution risks before launch.
Maintain expertise in derivatives markets, structured products, portfolio construction methodologies, and ETF innovation.
Coordinate product development across Investments, Sales, Marketing, Operations, Legal, Compliance, Risk Management, and external service providers.
Serve as the primary product lead with external platform and service providers, ensuring that requirements, timelines, operating responsibilities, and deliverables are clearly defined and effectively coordinated.
Partner with Distribution to align product priorities with client demand, channel needs, and market opportunities.
Support product positioning, advisor education, and key client, consultant, and platform discussions.
Present product recommendations, business cases, and launch-readiness updates to executive leadership and governance committees.
Build the product development capability as the U.S. platform expands, establishing clear roles, operating disciplines, and standards of execution.