Associate Director - Fund Design

We are looking for an experienced fund design and product development specialist with a strong track record in developing complex investment products from initial concept through to regulatory approval, operational setup and launch. The ideal candidate will have experience working with major asset managers, institutional investors, pension providers, wealth platforms and service providers. They will be comfortable acting as a trusted advisor to clients, supporting consultative sales discussions, shaping product strategies and driving successful implementation across internal and external stakeholder groups. The role will support revenue generation by working closely with Business Development, Client Relationship Management and Client Solutions teams to convert client needs into commercially viable, operationally robust and regulatory-compliant fund solutions. The successful candidate will combine deep technical product expertise with strong commercial acumen, supporting client acquisition, product innovation, fund launches and long-term revenue growth.

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years’ experience in fund development, including leading end-to-end fund design from concept and structuring through regulatory approval and launch.
• 10–15 years’ experience in asset management, asset servicing or related fund services, ideally with exposure to both technical product development and client-facing commercial activity.
• Strong private markets experience, particularly closed-ended and semi-liquid structures across a broad range of private market asset classes.
• Authorised fund expertise, including the design and launch of regulated fund structures and a strong understanding of product governance and regulatory expectations across UCITS, AIFs, ELTIFs, UCI Part II funds, LTAFs and related European fund regimes.
• Product governance experience, with a clear understanding of good product governance and investor protection expectations.
• Institutional client coverage experience, including working with asset managers, platforms, pension providers, wealth channels and investors.
• End-to-end product lifecycle management experience, including early-stage concept discussions, fund structuring, operational setup, transition of assets and post-launch growth support.
• Cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to work across business development, operations, legal, regulatory, compliance, onboarding and external service provider teams.
• Strong client management skills, including acting as a primary client contact throughout fund design, development and implementation.

Preferred Experience

• Experience launching liquid and alternative fund structures, including UCITS, AIFs, UK authorised funds, Irish funds, Luxembourg funds or other cross-border vehicles.
• Established relationships with key service providers, including fund administrators, transfer agents, depositaries, legal counsel, auditors and consultants.
• Experience supporting teams working across different jurisdictions or remotely.
• Knowledge of platforms, pension providers, wealth distribution channels and life company requirements.
• Ability to use AI tools, including Microsoft Copilot, to improve efficiency, automation and scalability of fund design and implementation processes.

Role and Responsibilities

• Client Advisory & Business Development: Partner with Business Development teams and clients to shape fund structures and deliver commercially viable product solutions. Support pitches, RFPs, client meetings and strategic opportunities through technical product expertise and market insight.
• Fund Design & Product Development: Lead the design and structuring of new investment products across multiple asset classes, domiciles and fund vehicles. Prepare product proposals, term sheets and supporting documentation for internal governance approval.
• Fund Launch & Implementation: Act as the primary client contact throughout the fund launch process, from concept through to regulatory approval and launch. Coordinate internal teams, external counsel, regulators and service providers to ensure successful implementation.
• Stakeholder Management & Product Governance: Lead cross-functional engagement across business development, onboarding, operations, compliance, legal and regulatory teams. Ensure product structures are operationally robust, compliant with regulatory requirements and aligned with client objectives.
• Market Leadership & Innovation: Maintain expertise on evolving fund structures, market trends and regulatory developments across key jurisdictions. Contribute to Carne's platform strategy, thought leadership initiatives and the development of scalable product solutions.

Competencies

• Teamwork: Builds strong partnerships across the business, regulators and providers; aligns stakeholders to shared outcomes and resolves complex issues through collaborative leadership.
• Developing Others: Supports and develops colleagues through knowledge-sharing, coaching and peer review; may provide day-to-day guidance to junior team members and contribute to a positive team culture.
• Leading and Influencing: Builds credibility with internal stakeholders and providers; uses influence and evidence-based recommendations to drive timely decisions and follow-through in regulated and delegated environments.
• Effective Communication: Communicates with clarity and impact at all levels, producing concise executive-level reporting; presents complex risks and options in a way that enables timely decisions.
• Planning and Organising: Plans and organises work effectively, managing competing priorities and timelines; maintains trackers and governance calendars to ensure oversight activity is delivered on time and risks are escalated appropriately.
• Analytical: Applies strong analytical judgement to complex MI and control evidence; identifies themes, assesses materiality, and drives action to improve risk and control outcomes.
• Strategic Focus: Thinks strategically and drives continuous improvement; anticipates regulatory and operational change, designing scalable solutions that improve controls, efficiency and client outcomes.
• Adaptability: Leads effectively through ambiguity and change; adjusts approach to different stakeholders and market/regulatory developments while maintaining clear direction and standards.
• Resilience: Maintains composure under pressure and supports consistent delivery during incidents, audits or regulatory scrutiny; escalates appropriately and helps drive issues to resolution.
• Drive and Motivation: Takes ownership for high-quality delivery; follows through on actions with providers and internal stakeholders, helping ensure commitments are met and control outcomes are improved.
• Client-centric focus: Balances regulatory obligations with client outcomes; builds trusted relationships and ensures the oversight function delivers a consistent, high-quality service model.
• Learning Mindset: Keeps current on regulatory and market developments; seeks better ways of working, champions modern tooling and data-driven oversight, and embeds learning across the team.

About Carne Group

Carne Group has established itself in the funds industry with $2tn in AUM supported by 600+ staff and four regulated management companies. Together with a large team of industry specialists, Carne serves more than 650+ traditional and alternative asset management clients from key fund jurisdictions and financial hubs including Ireland, Luxembourg, Zurich, Lisbon, London, New York, Cayman and Channel Islands. Excellence and innovation are central to Carne’s work and we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent to deliver an unrivalled service to our clients. Whilst working with Carne, you will be provided with opportunities to develop your skills and experience by working in a dynamic, innovative, and multicultural environment where exciting careers are built. We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the asset management industry. Not sure if you meet all the requirements? Let us decide! Research shows that members of other under-represented groups tend not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when in fact, they do! At Carne we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.