Director of Investments

If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at recruiting-u@smith.edu .

Investments Office Job Description

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, the Director of Investments will oversee primarily the private portfolio of Smith’s $2.7 billion endowment. As Smith’s third investment hire, this individual will play an instrumental role in building the college’s portfolio and investment team as Smith in-sources its endowment from the outsourced-CIO model. This individual will play an active role in developing Smith’s leveraged buyout, venture capital, and real asset portfolios. In addition, they will assist in recruiting, training, and mentoring the investment team. The successful candidate should be committed to and passionate about the college and its mission and should be motivated by the opportunity to build an innovative, high-performing investment portfolio and a world-class investment office.

The successful candidate will take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partnering closely with the CIO to manage Smith’s private investment portfolio, across leveraged buyout, venture capital, and real asset investments
• Sourcing and maintaining a robust and creative pipeline of investment opportunities for potential inclusion in the college’s investment portfolio
• Portraying Smith as a desired investor to top-tier investment managers
• Conducting due diligence on prospective opportunities, including analysis of investment strategy, process, organization, portfolio positions, and performance
• Monitoring and evaluating portfolio positions, organizational changes, performance, and risks of the invested fund managers
• Completing analytical reviews of managers, strategies, and asset classes
• Staying abreast of market conditions and developments that may affect Smith College’s investment holdings and strategies, and acting proactively and appropriately to protect those interests
• Recommending investment manager hiring, termination, and capital allocation decisions
• Preparing and presenting recommendations regarding investment decisions and asset class updates to the investment team and the Investment Committee
• Collaborating and engaging with colleagues across the portfolio; assisting in evaluating marketable investments, as part of the office’s senior investment team
• Partnering closely with the CIO to establish asset allocation and risk management policies
• Participating in recruitment, training, mentorship, and leadership of the investment team
• Assisting in building the team’s reputation for professional excellence and credibility both inside the college and throughout the investment management community
• Demonstrating by example high levels of ethics, professionalism, and teamwork

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will possess a minimum of eight years of experience as an investor covering leveraged buyout, venture capital, and real assets strategies within a high-performing organization, including endowments, foundations, family offices, private investment firms, and other asset managers. Additional qualifications include:

• A proven investment track record and commitment to achieving excellence in investment performance
• Sound investment judgment and risk management
• Significant investment experience across a range of private asset classes
• Ability to incorporate rigorous qualitative and quantitative analyses in the evaluation of investment strategies, processes, organizations, and teams
• Patient and disciplined investor who seeks and accepts a high degree of personal responsibility
• A broad understanding of portfolio theory, asset allocation, portfolio construction, and economics
• Ability to access independent network for manager evaluation and due diligence purposes
• Highly collaborative and team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with all constituencies, including investment and administrative staff, Investment Committee members, and the college community
• Self-confident individual who is able to evaluate all sides of an issue, engage in interactive discourse, and provide objective advice and recommendations with conviction to support sound decisions
• Demonstrated quantitative and analytical skills
• Strong communicator, both written and verbal
• Nimble thinker and creative problem-solver
• Flexible, adaptive, and proactive with a “roll up your sleeves” mentality
• Results- and performance-oriented, but comfortable working in a small, collaborative team environment
• The highest level of integrity, intellectual capability, honesty, and ethics
• Humble and kind
• Willing to travel
• MBA or CFA preferred

LOCATION

Boston

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application. You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin

February 7, 2022

Compensation Grade:

Grade X Exempt

Position Type:

Regular

About Smith College

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is one of the largest women’s colleges in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 151B, it is the policy of Smith College to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact our recruiting team at recruiting-u@smith.edu .

Diversity and a culture of inclusion among students, staff, faculty, and administration are crucial to the mission and values of Smith College. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, color, religions, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or veteran status in the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, and the operation of any of its programs and activities, as specified by all applicable laws and regulations. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.