AVP Investment Director

Referral Level: Level 3

 

 

IGM Financial Inc. is a leading wealth and asset management company in Canada, managing approximately $310 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025. It offers financial planning and investment services to over two million Canadians through IG Wealth Management and Mackenzie Investments. 

Mackenzie Investments, founded in 1967, is a key part of IGM's business model, serving as a comprehensive asset-management partner for Canadian financial advisors and their clients. 

 

The Assistant Vice President, Institutional Investment Product Management is a senior investment product leader responsible for the strategy, positioning, commercial effectiveness, and ongoing management of Mackenzie’s institutional investment capabilities. The role combines deep investment knowledge, institutional market insight, and commercial judgment to translate client, consultant, and market needs into differentiated product strategies and solutions.

 

Working closely with Institutional Distribution, Portfolio Management, Product Development, Marketing, and other functional partners, the AVP acts as a senior connector between the market and Mackenzie’s investment capabilities. The role develops a deep understanding of institutional channels, clients, consultants, and competitive dynamics; provides objective feedback to investment and distribution teams; and influences decisions regarding product positioning, development priorities, and the composition of the institutional product shelf.

 

Operating with a high degree of independence, the AVP is expected to anticipate stakeholder needs, establish clear priorities, lead complex cross-functional initiatives, and deliver measurable commercial outcomes. The role represents Mackenzie with clients, prospects, consultants, and gatekeepers and helps ensure institutional product strategy remains relevant as markets, client needs, and competitive conditions evolve.

• Act as a senior strategic partner to Institutional Distribution, bringing product, investment, and market expertise to client acquisition, retention, and growth priorities.

• Possess a deep understanding of institutional channels and client segments and translate their differing needs into appropriate product positioning and growth strategies.

• Gather intelligence from client, prospect, consultant, and gatekeeper interactions and embed those external perspectives into product and investment decision-making.

• Represent Mackenzie in client and prospect meetings, consultant discussions, due diligence reviews, conferences, and presentations where senior product expertise is required.

• Develop proactive insights, perspectives, training, and portfolio updates that strengthen the effectiveness of client-facing teams.

• Partner on complex RFPs, RFIs, DDQs, and other customized institutional opportunities, ensuring responses clearly communicate investment capabilities and differentiation.

• Act as a client advocate within the organization, balancing stakeholder needs with business priorities and long-term enterprise value.

• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of assigned investment philosophies, processes, portfolios, performance, attribution, and research.

• Build trusted partnerships with Portfolio Managers and investment teams and serve as an independent, objective feedback mechanism between Investment, Product, and Distribution.

• Interpret portfolio outcomes and performance drivers and translate complex investment concepts into clear, decision-useful insights for institutional audiences.

• Coordinate with Portfolio Management, Distribution, Marketing, and Product colleagues to ensure consistent and accurate positioning and messaging.

• Share market and client insights across functional teams to improve investment, product development, and commercial outcomes.

• Break down functional silos, clarify roles and decision rights, and bring together the right stakeholders to resolve complex product and client issues.

• Advance product strategy for assigned institutional investment capabilities, aligning client needs, market opportunities, and Mackenzie’s broader business priorities.

• Advocate for product opportunities within the organization and influence decisions regarding focus, investment priorities, and composition of the institutional product shelf.

• Lead competitive analysis across assets, flows, performance, pricing, positioning, and emerging industry trends, translating findings into clear implications and recommendations.

• Define and articulate differentiated value propositions for Mackenzie investment strategies and solutions.

• Monitor product and strategy performance, client demand, and competitive positioning and recommend changes to improve relevance and commercial outcomes.

• Develop analytical tools, frameworks, and insights that strengthen product decision-making and institutional market intelligence.

• Collaborate with Product Development and Portfolio Management to assess opportunities and bring compelling ideas to market.

• Identify and advance new institutional product and solution opportunities based on client needs, consultant perspectives, market trends, and Mackenzie investment capabilities.

• Provide institutional market input into product design, vehicle, pricing, positioning, and commercialization decisions.

• Create client-facing enthusiasm and internal conviction for differentiated new capabilities through clear evidence, positioning, and communication.

• Challenge existing approaches and identify new tools, processes, technologies, and ways of working that improve product management effectiveness and scalability.

• Establish clear objectives and measures of success for key product initiatives and maintain accountability for execution and outcomes.

• Provide leadership across complex, cross-functional initiatives and create alignment among Investment, Distribution, Product, and other partners.

• Influence senior stakeholders through clear analysis, sound judgment, and well-supported recommendations, including when perspectives differ.

• Promote disciplined execution, high standards, and shared accountability for outcomes.

• Coach and develop colleagues through feedback, knowledge sharing, meaningful delegation, and exposure to institutional product and client opportunities.

• Contribute an enterprise perspective to decisions, balancing short- and long-term implications and the needs of clients, teams, and Mackenzie overall.

• Remain agile and future-focused by monitoring changes in institutional markets, client needs, competitors, regulation, technology, and investment practices.

• 15+ years of relevant experience in asset management, institutional investment management, investment product management, institutional distribution, or a related field, with demonstrated leadership capability.

• Strong knowledge of capital markets, asset management, and institutional investment strategies, including investment philosophy and process, portfolio construction, performance, and attribution.

• Demonstrated understanding of institutional clients, consultants, gatekeepers, and distribution channels and the ability to translate their needs into product and commercial strategies.

• Proven client relationship skills and the credibility, poise, judgment, and gravitas to represent Mackenzie with sophisticated clients and prospects.

• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to use data and competitive intelligence to form clear conclusions and recommendations.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex investment concepts clearly and influence senior stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and deliver outcomes across organizational boundaries.

• Creative and pragmatic problem solver with a strong bias toward implementation and measurable results.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and quality.

• MBA/CFA designation preferred.

• The role is primarily in English; French-language skills are highly valued.

• Analytical and strategic thinker

• Client- and stakeholder-focused

• Commercially minded and outcome-oriented

• Intellectually rigorous and curious

• Collaborative and enterprise-minded

• Confident and credible relationship builder

• Comfortable with ambiguity and complexity

• Creative, entrepreneurial, and solutions-oriented

• Able to move from analysis to implementation

• Adaptable and resilient

• High integrity

• Accountable and detail-oriented

• Adaptable and resilient • High integrity • Accountable and detail-oriented

• Able to move from analysis to implementation