Vice President, Institutional Client SolutionsSpiderRock Advisors, a BlackRock company
About this roleSpiderRock Advisors (SRA) is a Chicago-based asset manager specializing in listed derivatives, options overlay strategies, and separately managed accounts. We have built our platform serving RIAs, private wealth platforms, and family offices, and that foundation is now extending into the institutional market, where we are expanding our presence with asset owners, consultants, and platform partners.
We are seeking a Vice President, Institutional Client Solutions to lead client engagement across our institutional effort and act as the connective tissue between clients, portfolio management, sales, trading, and operations. This is a commercial, client-facing investment seat: the person in this role will help shape how SRA shows up institutionally, grow assets in a segment we are actively building, support and defend relationships across our wealth channel, and serve as a credible investment voice with CIOs, consultants, and platform partners.
Job PurposeThe successful candidate will own clients across the full relationship lifecycle: new business support and diligence, implementation, ongoing portfolio reviews, performance and attribution analysis, and strategic relationship management. They will develop into the firm's subject matter expert on SRA strategies for recurring client and consultant engagement, creating leverage for portfolio managers and senior business development professionals.
This role sits within a growing function. As the Institutional Client Solutions team scales, we anticipate supervisory and team-building responsibilities for the right candidate, including mentoring junior strategists and eventually managing analysts supporting the platform.
Key ResponsibilitiesAsset Growth and Retention- Drive growth and defense of assets under management across assigned institutional relationships, consultants, and platform partners.
- Identify and articulate what differentiates SRA's derivatives and overlay solutions relative to competing approaches, tailoring positioning across product types and client archetypes.
- Partner with business development to convert prospects, expand existing mandates, and protect at-risk assets through proactive engagement.
- Lead the development of investment commentary, competitive comparisons, and educational content that increases adoption of SRA strategies.
Client Ownership- Own day-to-day relationships with institutional clients, consultants, and internal stakeholders, resolving questions independently and escalating only where warranted.
- Lead client review meetings, portfolio discussions, and diligence sessions alongside portfolio management, and independently where appropriate.
- Develop a thorough understanding of each client's objectives, constraints, and decision-making process, and position SRA within the client's broader portfolio.
Investment Analysis and Portfolio Expertise- Serve as a subject matter expert across SRA investment strategies, options overlay solutions, portfolio construction methodologies, and implementation considerations.
- Analyze and explain portfolio performance, attribution, exposures, and trade activity, connecting outcomes to market developments and the portfolio management team's active views.
- Produce client-ready investment commentary, portfolio analytics, and performance materials.
Diligence and New Business Support- Own responses to RFPs, DDQs, consultant questionnaires, and platform diligence requests, supervising junior contributors as the team grows.
- Maintain and continually improve standard diligence content, investment messaging, and supporting materials.
Implementation and Process- Partner with the onboarding team to shepherd new mandates and platform launches from signed agreement through trading readiness, maintaining client-facing visibility on status and open items.
- Anticipate and resolve implementation issues before they affect clients or launch timelines.
- Drive improvements to reporting, workflow, and automation that increase scalability across the client lifecycle.
Required Qualifications- 5-8 years of experience in asset management, institutional investment consulting, portfolio analytics, product strategy, or a related client-facing investment role.
- BA/BS degree required.
- Demonstrated commercial instincts and a track record of contributing to asset growth or client retention.
- Strong command of financial markets, portfolio construction, and investment management.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex topics clearly to sophisticated audiences.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
- Proven ability to work across functions and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience serving institutional investors, consultants, OCIOs, pension plans, endowments, foundations, RIAs, or wealth management platforms.
- Familiarity with equity, options, derivatives, overlay, or alternative investment strategies.
- Experience with portfolio analytics, attribution, performance reporting, or portfolio implementation.
- Prior experience mentoring or supervising junior team members.
- Knowledge of Python, SQL, Power BI, Excel, or other data and analytics tools.
- CFA designation or progress toward the CFA.
Additional Information- Series 7 and 63 required within six months of start date.
- Periodic travel required.
For Chicago, IL Only the salary range for this position is USD$127,500.00 - USD$185,000.00 . Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, and benefits including healthcare, leave benefits, and retirement benefits. BlackRock operates a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy and your total compensation may vary based on role, location, and firm, department and individual performance.
Our benefitsTo help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.
Our hybrid work modelBlackRock's hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person - aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.
Guidance on AI use for candidatesAt BlackRock, AI has long been part of how we work - enhancing decision-making, improving operations, and helping us deliver better outcomes for clients. We encourage candidates to use AI thoughtfully to learn, prepare, and work more effectively; but during our interview process, we want to focus on getting to know you through your own experiences, thinking, and judgment. To support you, we've provided
guidance on when and how to use AI during our hiring process so you can approach each step with confidence and showcase your best self.