Senior Investment Portfolio Specialist, Public Markets

Job Purpose

To assist in the management of OCR and non-OCR funds through External Fund Managers under the supervision of the Lead Public Markets and Manager of External Funds Management (EFM) Divisiont. The Senior Investment Portfolio Specialist, Public Markets will be responsible for complying with the risk parameters and return objectives, contained within the IPSs of the Funds, at the asset-level aggregated portfolios and assist in implementing tactical allocation and rebalancing activities in line with the requirements and stipulations contained in the Funds respective IPSs and to enhance returns. Senior Investment Portfolio Specialist, Public Markets will be part of a team of front office professionals whose responsibilities includes constructing (sub)portfolios for each eligible asset class to meet the Strategic Asset Allocation and research, search, due diligence and select the External Fund Managers to build and manage the target portfolios across all eligible Public asset classes including all Public Markets Asset classes including Public Equity, Sukuk, Money Market, Public Real Estate, Public Infrastructure and Public Commodities. The senior Investment Portfolio Specialist, Public Markets will be responsible for monitoring EFMs ensuring that the managers: 1) adherence to the underlying strategies (risk, compliance, style, exposure, objectives, and guidelines etc.) 2) Managers delivering on their mandates; 3) flag any changes to the strategy, investment team, investment process, the fund management business etc.

Key Accountabilities
**Strategic & Asset Management**:

- Supervise and offer guidance to the team managing the EFM portfolios for OCR and Non-OCR Funds and follow up and monitor the various External Fund Managers.
- Assist in the development of the investment policy statements (IPS) for the Funds under the management of the Division in coordination with the Reporting and Operations Section and other dependency stakeholders.
- Assist in the portfolios construction for each eligible asset class in the investment policy including public equities, private equities, real estate infrastructure, etc. Ensure diversification and manage risk of the portfolios by selecting complementary strategies, EFMs and diversification across geographies, industries etc.
- Assist in Implementing TAA and Rebalancing activities through existing EFMs, ETFs/ETCs and new mandates to ensure compliance with IPS and improve returns. This requires coordinating with internal and external stakeholders.

**Manager search and manager research**:

- Undertake a rigorous manager search process, including qualitative and quantitative due diligence, to select suitable external asset managers to manage the funds within the parameters outlined in the investment policy statement.
- Assist in Setting performance expectations on financial returns based on the relevant benchmarks and closely monitor the performance of the external asset managers.
- Perform ongoing manager research and maintain a list of potential new managers for future manager search. The Division will engage with new managers to assess, structure and source new investment strategies which can enhance the investment returns of the Funds. The Division will also keep updated information and data on new market developments, new ideas and opportunities in the alternative asset space.

**Manager monitoring and evaluation**:

- Monitor EFMs against their mandated guidelines and risk parameters, monitor, evaluate the risk and performance of individual EFMs, including analysis on performance attribution including contributors and detractors to portfolio performance.
- Meet frequently with investment partners and managers to understand fund holdings, investment performance, personnel changes and market conditions.
- Meet with market participants to understand evolving market opportunities and landscape.
- Undertake comprehensive periodic evaluation of the EFMs based on the archived performance record every three years, with a midterm assessment, and submit retain, under watch or dismiss recommendations to Management.

**Leadership Responsibilities**:

- Providing regular feedback on results at a division level, promptly addressing areas of underperformance.
- Determine actions needed to increase the Division's performance and impact.
- Support filling in key capability gaps of teams through capacity development and recruiting efforts.
- Coach, mentor and develop the direct reports and the top talent/high potential staff in the Division.
- Act as a role-model to communicate to the Division's staff, IsDB's values and leadership competencies and provide direction and support in times of change.

Academic and Professional Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in economics/ finance/ Investments or related quantitative discipline.
- Holding CAIAA/CFA/FRM certificates is preferred.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in public equities Investment Management, IPOs, Asset Management/ Invest