Investment Associate

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand.

Position Details
The Wesleyan Investments Office is charged with the day to day management of Wesleyan’s $1.6 billion endowment . The primary objective of the endowment is to provide enduring support for the academic mission of the University by releasing a sustainable and reliable flow of funds to the operating budget, thereby enhancing Wesleyan’s long-term financial stability and supporting excellence in programs, personnel, and facilities.

Reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, the Investment Associate will be a key member of a small investment team. The Investments Office is organized as a generalist team with every investment professional capable of working effectively in more than one asset class and ideally across a diversified, global portfolio.

The Investment Associate will play a critical role in sourcing investment opportunities across asset classes and perform rigorous due diligence to develop a pipeline of potential managers and strategies for recommendation.

The Investment Associate will also monitor and assess existing portfolio investments through manager meetings, performance and risk analysis and industry diligence. The Investment Associate will spearhead research projects on asset classes, industries and emerging investment opportunities.

The Investment Associate will travel internationally and domestically to meet investment managers and attend investment conferences.

The Investment Associate will serve as a representative of the University throughout the investment community and will be an active participant in Investment Committee meetings with the Board of Trustees.

The Investment Associate will also have exposure to the inner workings of the University financial system, from spending to budgeting and beyond for a deeper understanding of the endowment’s position within the greater Wesleyan ecosystem.

Responsibilities Include:

• Monitoring of endowment investments through quantitative and qualitative analysis of existing portfolio managers.
• Managing internal databases and research management systems.
• Sourcing, screening and monitoring of potential investment managers through background research, manager meetings and portfolio analyses.
• Monitoring and analyzing investment objectives, capital allocation decisions, investment performance and investment policies.
• Portfolio analysis – performance analytics including return attribution, exposure analysis, value creation attribution and measurement of risks.
• Leading research projects on a variety of topics relating to the current endowment and emerging investment opportunities.
• Articulating investment theses and research through presentations to the investment team and Investment Committee.
• Actively participating in manager meetings with responsibility for notes, memos and other follow-up analysis.
• Manager interaction including travel across the United States and world.
• Preparing materials for the Investment Committee and Board of Trustees.
• Serving as a representative of the University throughout the investment community.
• Managing the Investments Office’s internship program and coordinating recruiting initiatives. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two years of experience in institutional investment management, investment banking and/or management consulting or an equivalent combination of education training and experience.
Advanced knowledge of investment concepts and capital markets.
Strong knowledge of quantitative techniques and performance tracking; able to contribute to the manager selection process and overall assessment of portfolio risk and return.
Demonstrated desire to be part of a collaborative, problem-solving investment team.
High level of intellectual curiosity.
Strong quantitative skills.
Excellent communication skills.
Ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently with accuracy and attention to detail.
Computer savvy with advanced knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint.
A strong desire to support the University’s academic mission.
Adherence to a strict code of ethics and conflict of interest policy.
Ability to travel domestically regularly and internationally as needed.
Demonstrated commitment to work within a diverse environment and work collegially with individuals of different backgrounds.
Preferred Qualifications
MBA / CFA or progress towards, and desire to purse, the CFA designation.
Experienced with Morningstar, Caissa and/or Bloomberg.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Application close date is August 11, 2021
Additional Information
Any and all offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504, or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to: Alison Williams, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion/ Title IX Officer, 860-685-3927, awilliams@wesleyan.edu.