Investments, Private Credit; Managing Director, Private Placements

Position: Investments, Private Credit; Managing Director, Private Placements

Job Location: Whippany, NJ

Department: MetLife Investment Management’s (“MIM”) Global Private Credit Team is responsible for approximately $100 billion in total assets under management as of March 31, 2023 and collectively brings over 100 years of investing experience in this asset class. MIM offers exceptional access to investments across the private credit universe due to its significant scale, long-standing market relationships, and sector expertise. MIM was named a “2022 Best Place to Work in Money Management” by Pensions & Investments. Visit us at www.metlife.com/investments  to learn more about MIM.    

The Role:

Developing and growing MIM’s private credit platform by leading a U.S.-based team of credit professionals who originate and underwrite new transactions and manage a portfolio of corporate credits and private structured credits for MIM clients.

The role comprises leading and guiding a team of senior and more junior credit analysts that assess new transaction opportunities and who make recommendations regarding amendments or waivers requested by existing portfolio names. New transactions include mainly investment grade as well as below investment grade corporate private placements and private structured credit or private ABS opportunities, predominantly across North America and Australasia. This entails leading or participating in credit committees for new transactions and assessing recommendations for amendments / waivers.

With a view to expanding the playing field and increasing the number of investment opportunities for MIM to consider, work with the entire team to explore new verticals, new private asset sectors and new geographies.

The role also involves presenting to existing and prospective MIM clients to maintain and grow investment mandates for unaffiliated accounts, representing MIM at conferences and industry events and building strategic relationships with key market participants from both the issuer and the investor community and among intermediaries. Successfully fulfilling this part of the role requires a combination of strong commercial skills and solid credit knowledge, based on a proven track record in private debt markets.

Key responsibilities:

• Manage a team of credit professionals from the U.S. Corporate Private Placement team, and from the Private Structured Credit team.
• Provide strategic guidance to the team in terms of deal origination and portfolio monitoring, including setting of annual goals and reviewing employee performance.
• Pitch MIM’s private credit platform, together with MIM’s Institutional Client Group, to prospective clients and consultants across the U.S. to support capital raising from third-party clients by providing product and market specialist knowledge.
• As required, participate in regular portfolio reviews for existing MIM clients.
• Drive the team to explore new verticals and innovative structures to expand the investable universe of assets for MIM and its clients, thereby increasing allocations and return opportunities while managing credit risk to set parameters based on client demand.
• Promote MIM in general and its private credit business by participating in industry conferences, seminars and networking events for institutional investors and for issuers.
• Establish and maintain relationships, at decision-making levels, with a select number of key borrowers across the U.S. and Australasia.
• Establish and maintain relationships with financial intermediaries such as bank agents and (debt) advisors to facilitate deal flow.
• Ensure the team is adequately resourced and fit for purpose to facilitate continued growth of the platform and career progression of team members. Create a strong team spirit and coach, motivate and mentor team members.
• Chair and/or be a member of credit committees, as appropriate, for new transaction opportunities and oversee amendments and waivers across the U.S. private placements portfolio.
• Help improve, develop and implement policies and procedures for the wider team.
• Participate in all processes set by the Workout Unit and ensure analysts escalate any underperforming credits to the Workout Unit and to the Global Head of Private Credit.
• Establish a strong and constructive working relationships with peers within the Private Placements team in the U.S. and Europe and participate in team leadership meetings.
• Work with senior leadership team and the team overall to develop, refine, and execute on MIM’s investment strategy, working to stay ahead of industry themes, market dynamics, and competitor news.
• In conjunction with Compliance and Legal, ensure the team is following relevant compliance protocols and internal policies.

Key Relationships:

Reports to:  Global Head of Private Credit

Key Stakeholders:  Internal and external clients, Institutional Client Group, Client Portfolio Management

Candidate Qualifications:

Essential Business Experience and Technical Skills:

• 15+ years of credit experience including a background of relationship management, deal sourcing, underwriting and diligence of private debt transactions, including more esoteric sectors
• Existing, productive relationships with companies or sponsors, structured finance issuers and intermediaries
• Strong teamwork-driven attitude and a proven ability to provide leadership to a large and diverse team and to coordinate across broad, interdisciplinary teams
• Experience driving investments and strategy at a large financial institution
• Effective commercial, communication and presentation skills
• Strong knowledge of insurance capital, accounting and investment guidelines is preferred
• BA required and MBA strongly preferred

MetLife Success Principles

• Experiment with Confidence – Courageously learn and test new ideas without fear of failure
• Act with Urgency – Demonstrate speed to action with agility and determination
• Seek Diverse Perspectives – Source ideas and feedback to expand thinking and make informed decisions
• Seize Opportunity – Drive responsible growth and identify areas for continuous improvement
• Champion Inclusion – Foster an environment where everyone is valued, heard, and can speak up
• Create Alignment – Partner with others across the organization with candor and transparency
• Take Responsibility – Be accountable and act in pursuit of the right outcomes
• Enable Solutions – Anticipate and address obstacles while managing risk
• Deliver What Matters – Execute meaningful priorities and follow through on commitments

MetLife:

MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

We are one of the largest institutional investors in the U.S. with $592.6 billion of total assets under management as of March 31, 2023. We are ranked #50 on the Fortune 500 list for 2022. In 2022, we were named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the seventh year in a row. DJSI is a global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies. We are proud to have been named to Fortune magazine’s 2022 list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.”        

MetLife is committed to building a purpose-driven and inclusive culture that energizes our people. Our employees work every day to help build a more confident future for people around the world. Visit us at www.metlife.com to learn more about our brand, history, and values. 

We want to make it simple for all interested and qualified candidates to apply for employment opportunities with MetLife.  If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to accommodations@metlife.com or call our Employee Relations Department at 1-877-843-3711.

MetLife is a proud Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer dedicated to attracting, retaining, and developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment at MetLife without regards to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.

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