Director, Equity Strategies

First Western•Quinte West, ON

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Equity Strategies is responsible for the design, implementation, and ongoing management of a proprietary equity sleeve within First Western Trust’s investment platform. This role serves as the firm’s in-house equity subject-matter expert, owning the investment philosophy, portfolio construction, risk framework, and performance narrative for the assigned strategy. In addition to portfolio management, the role plays a key leadership function—educating advisors, supporting Investment Policy Committee discussions, and serving as a senior client-facing resource. This position bridges investment research, product strategy, advisor enablement, and client engagement to ensure equity solutions are well-governed, scalable, and clearly communicated.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, or related field (required).
Master’s degree in Finance, Business, or related field (required).
10–15 years of relevant equity investment experience (required).
Deep knowledge of equity markets, portfolio construction, and risk management.
Strong understanding of fiduciary standards and investment governance.
Excellent communication and storytelling skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading or mentoring investment professionals (preferred).
CFA or CPA designation (preferred).

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end design, implementation, and ongoing management of a proprietary equity sleeve aligned with First Western’s investment philosophy and Rocky Mountain–inspired values, including security selection, portfolio construction, risk management, rebalancing, and tax-aware decision-making.
Serve as the firm’s in-house equity subject matter expert, defining and articulating the investment philosophy, research framework, risk parameters, and performance narrative for the strategy.
Provide guidance, mentoring, and technical training to less experienced analysts and investment team members.
Educate and support advisors through training sessions, portfolio commentary, positioning guidance, and written insights, empowering them to confidently communicate equity strategy intent, performance, and risk considerations to clients.
Act as a senior, client-facing resource for complex equity discussions, manager transitions, and portfolio customization, supporting advisors in high-impact client and prospect meetings with clear, compelling investment expertise.
Partner cross-functionally with operations, research, portfolio administration, and leadership teams to ensure the equity strategy is operationally sound, scalable, well-governed, and integrated within First Western’s broader investment platform.
Provide investment commentary and thought leadership in assigned forums; represent First Western with professionalism and credibility while consistently embracing and modeling the firm’s core values in all interactions and decisions.