Senior Portfolio Manager | Emerging Market Bond | SAM UK | London

Santander Asset Management (SAM) is a €280bn global asset manager operating across 10 countries and with more than 50 years of experience. SAM combines the best of complementary worlds, technology and expertise, to provide optimal solutions for clients. We deliver a simple, innovative and transparent service with a sole objective: offer our clients a comprehensive range of products with the right balance between risk and return.

As SAM UK, we are building a more commercially focussed, customer first, growth asset manager to serve the local market, providing solutions to meet UK customers and institutions. Our behaviours underpin everything we do; we think clients, embrace change, act now, move together and speak up.

The Senior Portfolio Manager, Emerging Market Corporate Bond Fund will lead the build-out and management of a new EM corporate bond fund, established from scratch with the potential support of internal seeding. The role is based in London with a UK and global remit. This is a senior, entrepreneurial role with a high degree of autonomy possible. In addition to leading portfolio management and credit analysis, you will be central to building the fund from the ground up, shaping the strategy, establishing the investment process, and growing assets across retail and institutional channels.

You will leverage the firm’s strong fixed income capabilities in LATAM and our global credit and macro teams, positioning the strategy within a genuinely global EM platform. The role is integral to our ambition to become a leading name in EM fixed income globally.

To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

• Lead the design, launch and ongoing management of a new Emerging Market Corporate Bond Fund, taking full responsibility for portfolio construction, performance and risk management.
• Develop and implement the fund's investment philosophy, process and governance framework, ensuring a disciplined and repeatable approach to portfolio management.
• Conduct fundamental credit research and security selection across the EM corporate bond universe, leveraging internal macro, sovereign and regional fixed income expertise.
• Build and establish the strategy as a market-leading EM corporate bond franchise, driving innovation and identifying new investment opportunities.
• Partner closely with distribution teams to raise assets across institutional and retail channels, actively supporting client engagement, presentations and business development initiatives.
• Represent the strategy internally and externally as the lead portfolio manager, contributing thought leadership and enhancing the firm's profile in Emerging Market fixed income.
• Collaborate with global investment teams, particularly LATAM fixed income, global credit and macro specialists, to generate differentiated investment insights and portfolio outcomes.
• Establish robust portfolio monitoring, risk management and performance attribution processes, ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal investment guidelines.
• Contribute to the strategic growth of the firm's Emerging Markets fixed income platform, helping position the business as a leading global provider of EM investment solutions.
• Mentor and develop investment talent as the strategy grows, fostering a collaborative, high-performance investment culture.

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role:

• Extensive portfolio management experience in Emerging Market corporate debt, with a strong, demonstrable investment track record and deep knowledge of EM credit markets.
• Strong credit analysis, portfolio construction and risk management expertise, with the ability to develop and execute successful investment strategies.
• Commercially astute with experience supporting asset growth through client engagement, business development and presenting to institutional and retail investors.
• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated and able to operate autonomously, with the capability to build and grow an investment strategy from inception.
• Excellent collaboration, communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across global investment teams and represent the strategy credibly both internally and externally.

Whilst a degree is not essential for the role provided there is a strong professional track record in Emerging Market corporate bond portfolios, it is considered advantageous for the role holder to have a master’s degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Business Administration, Economics, Mathematics, or related disciplines. Professional certifications such as CFA, CAIA, or equivalent will be considered highly desirable.

At Santander Asset Management, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you make for our clients, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally.

As well as a competitive salary, we offer a wide range of benefits that you can choose from and tailor to your needs:

• Eligible for a competitive discretionary performance-related annual bonus
• Hybrid ways of working providing flexibility to work from home 2 days per week (on average)
• We put 8% of salary into your pension even if you don’t contribute yourself, and up to 12.5% if you do
• 30 days’ holiday plus