Job Description

About Discovery
Discovery's core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.
Cogence
Cogence is the first truly global discretionary fund manager in South Africa. It marries the expertise of Discovery, whose behaviour-change platform is the largest of its kind, and BlackRock, one of the world's leading asset managers.
Using innovative and globally advanced technology, Cogence is the world's first discretionary fund manager that fully models retirement solutions, taking health experience into account, and is here to elevate the client investment experience to levels that have never been seen or experienced before.
Cogence is a wholly owned subsidiary of Discovery and aims to attract smart, energetic, and dynamic achievers who take initiative and ownership. We are looking for candidates that thrive in an environment of constant challenges and high-speed change
Key Purpose
The Portfolio Specialist role encompasses supporting roles across multiple aspects of the content marketing mix with a focus on investment reporting. The role requires writing, editing and proof-reading investment commentary and finding innovative approaches to responding to the needs of various client segments. From time-to-time the role will require developing marketing positioning and materials for new products or initiatives from scratch
Key Outputs / Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:
A key focus is the development and maintenance of monthly and quarterly investment reporting:
- Strategy level client reporting
- Pitchbooks both standard and bespoke
- Regular performance commentaries and communications
The role will also require contribution to:
- Investment viewpoints and spotlights
- Written support on the broader Cogence value proposition content
- Thought leadership pieces positioning Cogence as a leader in the DFM space
- Strategic marketing campaigns
- Informative discussions on market events

• The Portfolio Specialist role will be aligned with a set of investment capabilities.
• This close alignment is designed to increase depth of knowledge and an understanding of how investment marketing will contribute to the firm's objectives.
• The role requires a candidate who is committed to building a high calibre of investment knowledge to support regular reporting requirements such as the quarterly reports with an understanding of how the firm's range of clients use and interact with the investment strategies.
• In addition, the role requires an understanding of how the investment capability fits into the broader Cogence value proposition and the ability to support the business to position the broader capability to the market in various formats from written to PowerPoint etc.
• The candidate should demonstrate strong writing capabilities and an ability to work efficiently and effectively on presentations.
• The candidate will have an interest in political and economic developments and how they affect markets. He/she should have the ability to write new content or edit existing material for a range of different audiences (institutional, financial advisers and direct investors).
• Writing, editing and proof-reading investment commentary covering various financial periods as required.
• These typically describe the portfolio's performance, the portfolio managers' rationale for investment decisions, ESG integration, portfolio positioning and the macroeconomic environment.
• Creating, updating and preparing pitchbooks are both standardised and bespoke.
• Support the development of relevant and insightful marketing content on the complete Cogence value proposition for different audience types.
• Within the capability alignments, ongoing monitoring of commentary requirements and associated deadlines to ensure expectations are managed and achieved.
• Work closely with the portfolio managers, client group and risk & performance to ensure the smooth implementation and timely production of investment commentary.
• Ensure investment and strategy knowledge is current by attending relevant internal investment team meetings and keeping up to speed with industry news.

• Being proactive in identifying current news stories or issues that could form the basis of updates for clients
• The role requires thoughtful collaboration with the adjoining marketing functions (brand / design / digital) to create impactful campaigns with an optimal plan for dissemination and tracking for each of the investment marketing or broader value proposition campaigns
• Finding innovative approaches to responding to the needs of various client segments and how marketing is relevant to them throughout each stage of the client journey. Investment Writers are tasked to explore and develop the most appropriate application of investment marketing throughout the journey
• From time to time the role will require developing marketing positioning and materials for new products or initiatives from scratch. Working with product specialists/portfolio managers and designated client group champions on key positioning and the investment case for new products and developing appropriate launch packs - particularly core presentations and other marketing collateral (brochures, flyers, thought papers, multi-media)
• Stakeholders include the BlackRock & RisCura investment teams, which form part of an outsourced arrangement with strong support from the Cogence CEO/CIO. In addition, internal stakeholders, more broadly speaking, include the operations, marketing, digital and sales teams.
• Finally, the delivery of a unified and simplified message to market is critical to enable a good client experience, which makes the head of client strategy & solutions a key stakeholder and reporting line manager.

Education and Experience

• Degree educated with an emphasis in communications, English, economics is essential
• CFA qualification or studying towards is desirable.
• Minimum of 7 years' experience in a Technical Marketing role OR Portfolio Specialist with a strong focus on Investment writing.

Personal Attributes and Skills

• Excellent written and editorial skills, appreciation for plain, effective English in marketing materials.
• Good numeracy, awareness of data trends, analytical tools and key industry metrics used in investment marketing.
• Investment writing speed test - Advanced
• Values Driven
• Optimistic
• Learns on the Fly
• Resilient
• Instils Trust
• People Savvy
• Drives Results
• Problem Solver

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY
The Company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.

Skills Required