Associate, Investment Policy & Process Associate

About this role

Team Overview

BlackRock SMA Solutions helps clients customize portfolios for unique tax, values-alignment, or investment exposures across direct indexing, fixed income, active equity, and multi-asset. We deliver world-class service to all of our clients, from wealth advisors to family offices to endowments and foundations.

About the role

We are seeking an enthusiastic team member to join our Investment Policy & Process team. This team plays a critical role in driving scale across the SMA Solutions investment ecosystem, continually enhancing investment processes. The ideal candidate will help expand the use of automated and quantitative techniques with a focus on Direct Indexing and Tax‑Aware Long‑Short strategies. This role operates in a fast‑paced environment and will make meaningful contributions toward improving the productivity, scalability, and solution set of the SMA Solutions business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a key contributor in designing and implementing scalable processes for the current investment framework and emerging investment solutions.
• Develop and enhance investment policies by conducting quantitative analyses, including backtesting and large‑scale sample testing.
• Partner with portfolio managers to understand investment methodologies, workflows, and decision processes.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and strengthen workflow management across the investment lifecycle.
• Collaborate with SMA Solutions technology teams to support the rollout of new functionality; test and validate enhancements across platforms as required.
• Work cross‑functionally to solve complex issues and deliver high‑quality solutions.
• Produce and maintain clear, accurate documentation for solutions, tools, and services.
• Provide ongoing subject‑matter expertise and support for deployed solutions and services.

Required Knowledge/Experience:

• At least 3 years of experience in portfolio management, financial engineering and/or data engineering.
• Strong quantitative and analytical capabilities, with experience in backtesting, sample testing, and statistical analysis.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as Python, R, SQL, or equivalent quantitative platforms.
• Understanding of investment frameworks, portfolio construction concepts, and tax‑aware or rules‑based investment strategies.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Ability to interpret complex data, diagnose issues, and propose scalable solutions.
• Undergraduate degree is required, and an advanced degree (Masters) is a plus.
• Ability to work and deliver under minimal direction/independently.
• Ability to work efficiently and multi-task in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.
• Strong attention to detail. Strong interpersonal skills (both written and verbal) to work with, train, and support users of platform tools and processes.
• Proven problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot software issues.

Helpful Knowledge/Experience:

• Understanding of SMA structures, direct indexing workflows, or technology‑enabled investment solutions.
• Experience using AI tools.
• Familiarity with workflow automation, platform testing, and validation of investment tools or functionality.
• Work experience with financial markets preferred.

For Sausalito, CA Only the salary range for this position is USD$116,000.00 - USD$155,000.00 . 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 benefits

To 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 model

BlackRock’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.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity to all applicants and existing employees, and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity/expression), sexual orientation, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religion, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. View the EEOC’s Know Your Rights poster and its supplement and the pay transparency statement.

BlackRock is committed to full inclusion of all qualified individuals and to providing reasonable accommodations or job modifications for individuals with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation/adjustments are needed throughout the employment process, please email Disability.Assistance@blackrock.com. All requests are treated in line with our privacy policy.

We recruit, hire, train, promote, pay, and administer all personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), sex stereotyping (including assumptions about a person’s appearance or behavior, gender roles, gender expression, or gender identity), gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, ancestry, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.