Job description
Role Overview
Business Development Associate at AQR Capital Management, based in Dubai. This is a full-time position within the EMEA Business Development group.
Company Overview
AQR is a global investment firm built at the intersection of financial theory and practical application, operating as a leader in alternative strategies and an innovator in traditional portfolio management since 1998. The firm works with clients across Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. AQR clients include public and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, foundations and endowments, as well as the private-wealth community including independent wealth managers, family offices, and private and locally based banks. The organization is built on a common spirit of academic excellence, intellectual honesty and an unwavering commitment to seeking the truth, with recognition of the power of collaboration and belief that transparency and openness to new ideas leads to innovation.
Role Purpose
To provide support to senior Business Development team members in building and deepening relationships with investors, while developing strong AQR product and asset class knowledge and ensuring the completion of high-quality client deliverables in a timely manner.
Key Responsibilities
Client & Investor Relations
- Provide support to senior members of the Business Development team whose objective is to build and deepen relationships with investors.
- Act as a point of contact for existing investors and be responsible for marshaling the full resources of the firm to coordinate responses to all investor inquiries.
- Coordinate client meetings and conference calls with investors.
- Cover a meaningful amount of the Tier 2 and 3 client base within the first 18 months.
Product Knowledge & Marketing
- Develop strong AQR product and asset class knowledge and demonstrate interest in the industry.
- Liaise with other members of Business Development to update marketing materials and leverage the firm's intellectual capital, including coordinating the distribution of AQR white papers, webinars and analysis.
- Interact with portfolio managers to help create and maintain up-to-date, high quality presentation materials.
Proposals & Due Diligence
- Ensure the completion of Requests for Proposal/Information and Due Diligence Questionnaires to a high standard in a timely fashion, coordinating with other parts of the business.
Sustainability & Special Projects
- Act as a central point of contact internally for sustainability related projects and investor inquiries.
Business Development Strategy
- Assist the MD in the development and execution of a broader and deeper sales strategy in the Middle East and across Sovereign Wealth Funds Globally.
- Raise the profile of AQR by proactively taking on opportunities to represent the organization at conferences, seminars and in due course road shows.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Business or a Science, Quantitative, or Engineering Program from a top university is preferred.
- MBA or Master's Degree is a plus.
- 3+ years of relevant post-undergraduate experience within a professional services environment; financial services, investment management and management consultant backgrounds are a plus.
Skills & Competencies
- High degree of intellectual curiosity.
- High proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel is required.
- Exceptional analytical and problem solving skills.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of finance and the investment management industry.
- Hard working and eager to learn in a highly intellectual, collaborative environment.
- Well-organized and detail-oriented with an ability to project manage and execute effectively with minimal supervision.
- Enthusiastic about developing and implementing ideas.
- Self-starter, able to work independently as well as within a team.
- Arabic speaker preferred.