Vice President, Secondary Product Specialist

HarbourVest Partners•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking. In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences. We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm. HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer. This position will be a hybrid work arrangement, which translates to 3 days minimum per week in the office. There will also be the need for global travel. About the role: Vice President, Secondary Product Specialist will work to drive the growth of the Dover Street program, HarbourVest’s flagship closed-end private equity secondary solution. Responsibilities include working alongside Investor Relations and Consultant Relations to facilitate re-up activity and new business wins, primary in the Americas. This individual will be responsible for educating and engaging with the global Investor Relations and Client Relations teams and other internal partners; making pitches to clients and prospects; responding to inbound questions about our secondary strategy; developing compelling presentation materials and other content to support fundraising; performing in-depth competitive analyses. The ideal candidate is someone who has: A strong understanding of private markets and ideally a deep knowledge of the private equity secondary landscape. Excellent presentation and client engagement skills with the ability to tailor information based on the audience. Strong relationship management skills to partner closely with fellow HarbourVest Investment and Investor Relations professionals, as well as external prospects and clients. Strong investment and analytical competence. Strong written skills. A high level of maturity and ability to multi-task with little supervision. An entrepreneurial approach with an ability to be forward-thinking and work without a playbook. A desire for travel. An understanding of the investment process. A strong understanding of quantitative investment measurements and statistical tools.

Requirements

A strong understanding of private markets and ideally a deep knowledge of the private equity secondary landscape.
Excellent presentation and client engagement skills with the ability to tailor information based on the audience.
Strong relationship management skills to partner closely with fellow HarbourVest Investment and Investor Relations professionals, as well as external prospects and clients.
Strong investment and analytical competence.
Strong written skills.
A high level of maturity and ability to multi-task with little supervision.
An entrepreneurial approach with an ability to be forward-thinking and work without a playbook.
A desire for travel.
An understanding of the investment process.
A strong understanding of quantitative investment measurements and statistical tools.
15+ years of investment or product roles with a client service orientation.
Must have a blend of product leadership, investment capabilities and commercial sense.
Relevant backgrounds include product specialist for private market offerings, investment banking, equity analyst, consulting or transaction-related experience.

Nice To Haves

MBA and / or CFA preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Support Investor Relations and Consultant Relations by bringing in-depth product and market expertise to meetings with clients and prospects.
Demonstrate deep knowledge of HarbourVest’s capabilities, solutions and differentiators.
Take into account the broader picture; engage externally around a broad range of business and investment topics.
Speak with nuance around the investment landscape, client portfolios and market outlook.
Display creativity and problem solving in proposing solutions to client challenges.
Consider the wider business implications and context (complexity, operational impact) in discussions that will result in the optimal outcome for HarbourVest.
Deep understanding of key competitors, fundraising and industry trends.
Engage with Investor Relations and Consultant Relations to collect feedback from the market.
Synthesize market feedback and competitive intelligence and apply it content development.
Project manage the fundraising pipeline and go-to-market strategy.
Organize sales efforts across various regional teams.
Partner with Investor Relations and Consultant Relations to serve as the main point of contact to arrange calls/ meetings, follow-ups, provide comprehensive investment knowledge, identity and address concerns and provide guidance through diligence.
Educate Investor Relations and Consultant Relations on key market themes and competitive dynamics affecting the product and strategy.
Oversee and lead the development and enhancement of product marketing content including presentations, factsheets, webcast materials, client update materials, and written communications.
Be responsible for and own the development and improvement of product RFPs, written collateral, portfolio updates and client responses to ensure the quality of submissions.
Review and sign-off on client reporting.
Lead all aspects of the development and improvement of all internal product materials including competitor analysis, internal talking points and internal fundraising updates.