Investment Director or Managing Director

The organization is seeking to recruit an Investment Director or Managing Director, depending on relevant experience, to focus on the Public Equities portfolio within our Marketables team. The incumbent will initially focus on the global Public Equities portfolios and yet will have generalist breadth and the potential to work on investment opportunities across the entire portfolio. This individual will work closely with the other senior team members to develop, refine, and execute an investment strategy that will achieve the objectives set forth in the YRF’s Investment Policy Statement. The investment team functions collaboratively and seeks to derive the best of specialist and generalist approaches. 

The Director / MD will have primary responsibility for sourcing, evaluating, and recommending investment opportunities for the ~$2.5 billion Public Equities portfolio, including global, regional, country-specific, sector-specific, and activist strategies. Monitoring the existing portfolio and manager line-up will be an important responsibility.

•  In addition, the Director / MD will work with team members in building and managing other public strategies, which together with Public Equities represent approximately two-thirds of the total ~ $9 billion portfolio. These include: 
  • All types of Hedge and other Alternatives Strategies, including those that are Directional Strategies (e.g., Long-Short, Event Driven) and Diversifying Strategies (e.g., Macro, Relative Value, Multi-Strategy, Trend-Following, Equity Market Neutral, Multi-Manager platforms). These include liquid, semi-liquid, or even private structures. 
  • Credit, including liquid and illiquid strategies; performing and stressed / distressed globally
  • Defensive Fixed Income, currently, entirely U.S. Treasuries – Nominal and TIPS 
  • Commodities related investments, including Precious Metals, Commodity Futures, and Commodity Equities 
• Mentorship and development of junior resources is an important responsibility for our senior team members. 

In addition, the Director / MD will provide support to the Chief Investment Officer and Deputy Chief Investment Officer to optimize the overall investment return and risk profile of the YMCA Retirement Fund in fulfillment of its investment objectives and fiduciary obligations in service of its liabilities / pension benefits. The Director / MD will be expected to take a leadership role in a broad range of activities, including interacting with the Investment Committee. 

The successful candidate will possess a minimum of 10 years of investment experience, ideally much of it involved in managing Public Equities and similar strategies and will include having spent time in manager selection and portfolio construction within an endowment, foundation, pension fund, family office, or institutional asset manager. In addition, experience in markets and/or experience investing directly in securities is preferred – both because it can aid in effectively evaluating strategies/managers and because we may grow our activities in co-investing/direct investing. Additional qualifications include:

Investment-Related

• Balanced investment judgment. Examines investments from multiple perspectives and through multiple lenses, weighing all aspects of an investment. Open-minded, receptive to input, and a good listener. Recognizes that an investment process may be iterative. 
• Experience. Considerable experience researching, selecting managers, and investing in long-only equity strategies. Additional experience in hedge funds, credit, and special situations is additive, but not necessary. 
• Analytical. Must have the ability to incorporate strong qualitative and quantitative analyses in the evaluation of investment strategies, human and organizational dynamics, investment processes, investment performance and, of course, new investment opportunities.
• Performance. A strong track record of investing successfully through cycles.
• Appreciates the investment environment. Ability to use macroeconomic and marketplace factors to formulate views of ongoing and future investment opportunities.

Candidate Characteristics

• Appreciates the Mission. Has and/or can develop an appreciation of the goals, liabilities / benefits, values, and culture of the YMCA Retirement Fund organization and how they impact the investment strategy.
• Collaborative team player. Should be open to receiving input from colleagues, including alternate viewpoints, and willing and able to contribute effectively to the team’s success by communicating effectively and working collaboratively with fellow team members. Experience debating investment ideas in an objective, data-driven, and effective manner. 
• Excellent communicator. Must listen well as well as present recommendations, both verbally and in writing, in a balanced manner that is clear and logical.
• Character. The highest level of integrity, intellectual capability, honesty, and loyalty.
• Solution-oriented. Demonstrated aptitude for resolving challenges and solving problems.
• Self-starter. A resourceful, proactive self-starter who can work autonomously yet also collaboratively.
• Presentation. Ability to portray the YRF as a desired investor to top-tier investment managers.
• Credentials. Strong academic credentials expected; an MBA/CFA or other advanced degree is preferred.

SALARY DESCRIPTION

The position may offer a base salary range of $250,000 to $500,000 depending upon the depth of experience and qualifications. In addition, the Fund compensates investment professionals with an annual short-term incentive payment (cash bonus) and participation in the YMCA Retirement Fund pension plan. 

LOCATION

New York (Midtown); with some Work-From-Home 

OTHER

The YMCA Retirement Fund is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. The YRF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.