Canada Alternatives Investment Leader

Mercer•Montreal, QC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Canadian Alternatives Investment Leader (AIL) is a senior investment professional who will report to the Regional CIO of Investments and provide leadership for the Alternatives Investment Directors in the region. The AIL is responsible for developing the investment strategy and investment value proposition by client segment to support MGI’s business objectives through alternatives solutions and services delivery. This role involves mentoring and managing the Alternatives team and representing Mercer’s Alternatives capabilities both externally and internally.

Requirements

BA/BS in finance, economics, or related field; advanced degree preferred
CFA and CAIA preferred
15+ years of experience specifically in alternatives investing, portfolio construction, and advising institutional/large discretionary clients on sophisticated mandates
Experience in alternative product development strongly preferred
Registration as a Canadian Portfolio Manager, with Derivatives licensing strongly preferred
Demonstrated track record of business development, commercial strategy, and delivering AUM/revenue growth
Strong relationship building, influencing, and stakeholder management skills across investment, sales, and client teams
Excellent communication and presentation skills; advanced Excel and PowerPoint proficiency
Strong analytical skills, project management capability, and attention to detail
Excellent communication and presentation skills in French and English, as the position requires regular interaction with clients outside of Quebec, as well as collaboration with other members of the Mercer team outside of Canada.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the MGI leadership team to develop the investment value proposition in alternative assets by client segment, covering private equity, private debt, real estate, infrastructure, hedge funds, and more
Represent Canada alongside the Canadian Regional CIO in various Alternatives Committees
Lead, mentor, and manage Alternative Investment Directors and specialists; set clear objectives, aligned incentives, and ensure timely, high-quality client deliverables
Coordinate with Alternative Investment Leaders in other geographies to deliver a consistent global capability
Act as portfolio manager on multi-asset, fund-of-fund alternative strategies developed and implemented locally; advise on portfolio construction, asset allocation, manager selection, structuring, and governance for advisory, Core+/premium, and discretionary/OCIO mandates
Lead product development activities and Know-Your-Product initiatives when importing or repackaging investment solutions developed globally
Provide subject matter expertise across alternative asset classes, with deeper knowledge in selected areas
Serve as a bridge to asset class specialists and partner with Canadian Regional CIOs and intellectual capital leads to evolve the investment process and contribute to research and thought leadership
Jointly manage advisory and EOS service offerings to control scope and protect profitability
Help drive new business and retention by supporting portfolio construction and implementation across vehicles such as PIPs, SMAs, Funds of One, and commingled vehicles
Participate in client and prospect meetings as the Alternatives specialist, contributing to pitches, RFPs, and commercial positioning
Promote Mercer Alternatives through thought leadership, PR/marketing, and client channels; leverage enablement tools and training to win profitable business and exceed financial targets
Design and implement scalable solutions focused on profitability (NOI), efficiency, and risk management
Translate Mercer’s alternative service offerings into client solutions, balancing customization and scale
Maintain an actionable pipeline of commercially attractive opportunities and monitor performance against growth targets