Head of Digital Asset Product Strategy
Franklin Templeton · New York City · $220,000–$260,000 (stated in the posting)
At Franklin Templeton, we believe success is built through powerful partnerships. As a forward thinking asset manager, we build dynamic relationships with clients, understand their goals, and navigate complex markets together. We leverage cutting edge strategies and deep insights to unlock opportunities for long term wealth creation. Our talented, global teams bring expertise that is both broad and unique.
From our welcoming, inclusive, and supportive culture to our globally diverse business, we offer opportunities not only to help you reach your potential, but also to contribute to our clients’ success.
What is the Head of Digital Asset Product Strategy role responsible for?
The Head of Digital Asset Product Strategy is a senior product leader who will oversee the prioritization, development, and commercialization of our global digital asset product lineup. This would include a clear roadmap and holistic view on all digital asset investment products including ETFs that hold cryptocurrencies, on-chain funds, tokenization initiatives, and emerging digital distribution channels. The role will operate as a matrixed leadership function that connects the broader Franklin Global Product infrastructure with Franklin’s FIRST Digital Asset investment teams, Global Client Group distribution, digital asset technology, legal, compliance, operations, marketing, and the emerging capital markets ecosystem to bring our best capabilities to market.
What are the ongoing responsibilities of the Head of Digital Asset Product Strategy?
Digital Asset ETF and Investment Product Strategy
- Serve as the connective tissue between the FIRST team and the broader regional ETF product teams to assess opportunities across single- and multi-asset crypto ETFs (both index and active), staking and yield-oriented strategies, and other emerging exposures including the combination of traditional and digital assets.
- Define a clear framework for prioritizing these opportunities based on the addressable market, investor need, differentiation, initial seed, distribution potential, operational feasibility, and regulatory complexity.
- Work closely with legal and compliance to monitor the regulatory and market structure landscape that could enable new product solutions.
On-Chain/Benji Product Expansion
- Determine what blockchain infrastructure investment products should follow our money market funds including ultra-short/short-duration fixed income as well as tokenized yield strategies designed for DeFi.
- Partner with the Capital Markets/Market Structure team to ensure that the ecosystem (blockchains, wallets, trading venues, stablecoins, market makers, transfer agents, and cash/collateral systems) exists to handle the next wave of investment products.
- Work with the Franklin Templeton technology and Digital Assets team to identify other commercial applications for our tech stack.
Tokenization Strategy
- Lead the overall tokenization strategy for Franklin Templeton’s investment capabilities across both internally developed and third-party platforms.
- Identify the strategies that could most benefit from tokenization based on investor demand, liquidity, distribution reach, and strategic importance.
- Evaluate the tradeoffs among the different tokenization models including native issuance, DTC tokens, digital share classes, tokenized wrappers, and third-party solutions.
Digital Asset Market Intelligence
- Develop metrics and dashboards that help identify product activity trends within crypto exchanges, fintech platforms, digital brokerages, blockchain ecosystems, and third-party digital wallets.
- Assist in the distribution of our digital asset offerings by identifying which digital wallet holders are investing outside of the traditional financial brokerage infrastructure and in which blockchain networks and platforms.
- Translate the insights and market intelligence into actionable recommendations regarding product structure, distribution partnerships, technology priorities, and marketing strategy.
What ideal qualifications, skills, and experience would help someone to be successful?
- Significant experience in asset management, investment product strategy, product development, capital markets, or financial technology, including demonstrated leadership of complex product initiatives.
- Demonstrated success developing and commercializing regulated investment products, such as ETFs, registered funds, alternative strategies, or digitally enabled investment solutions.
- Strong knowledge of digital assets and blockchain-enabled financial products, including cryptocurrency investment vehicles, tokenization, on-chain funds, stablecoins, custody, and digital distribution models.
- Proven ability to create and execute multiyear product roadmaps, prioritize opportunities, and assess investor demand, differentiation, economics, distribution potential, operational feasibility, and regulatory complexity.
- Experience leading complex, global, cross-functional initiatives across investments, product, distribution, technology, operations, legal, compliance, marketing, and capital markets.
- Executive-level communication and influencing skills, with demonstrated success building alignment and driving decisions in a highly matrixed, regulated organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- Direct experience launching or managing cryptocurrency ETFs, tokenized funds, blockchain-enabled share classes, or other on-chain investment products.
- MBA, CFA, CAIA, or another relevant advanced degree or professional designation.
Franklin Templeton offers employees a competitive and valuable range of total rewards—monetary and non-monetary—designed to support their well-being and recognize their time, talents, and results. Along with base compensation, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, a 401(k) plan with a generous match, and recognition rewards. We also offer a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a range of competitive healthcare options, insurance, and disability benefits, employee stock investment program, learning resources, career development programs, reimbursement for certain education expenses, paid time off (vacation / holidays / sick / leave / parental & caregiving leave / bereavement / volunteering / floating holidays) and a motivational wellbeing program. We expect the base salary for this position to range between $220,000 - $260,000, depending on level of relevant experience, plus discretionary bonus.
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At Franklin Templeton, we believe your benefits should support your life, your goals, and your future. That’s why we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to help you thrive both personally and professionally.
Highlights of our benefits include:
- Paid Time Off: Three weeks of PTO in your first year
- Health Coverage: Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance to support your well-being
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with an 85% company match on pre-tax and/or Roth contributions, up to IRS limits
- Equity & Investing: Employee Stock Investment Plan (ESIP) with discounted share purchase opportunities
- Learning Education Assistance Program (LEAP): To support your ongoing growth and career advancement
- Employee Investment Benefits: Opportunity to purchase company funds with no sales charge
Franklin Templeton is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, or gender expression, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation.
Artificial intelligence or automated tools may be used to assist in the screening, assessment, or selection of applicants for this position.