Head Multi-Asset Manager

Northern Trust • Chicago, IL

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Northern Trust Asset Management is seeking a senior investment leader to serve as Head of Multi-Asset Manager Investments. Reporting to NTAM’s Global Co‑Chief Investment Officers, this role is the senior investment authority for the firm’s multi‑manager platform, with responsibility for external manager selection, portfolio‑alignment assessment, and ongoing oversight across public markets spanning equity, fixed income and real asset strategies. The Multi‑Asset Manager platform supports NTAM’s OCIO and Wealth Management businesses and spans ~300 investment strategies across more than 65 sub‑asset classes, sourced from over 150 specialist asset managers globally. The Head of Multi‑Asset Manager Investments sets research priorities, ensures disciplined and repeatable investment decision‑making, and provides senior investment judgment across the full external‑manager lifecycle—from initial sourcing and approval through implementation and ongoing monitoring.

Requirements

• 15+ years of experience in multi‑manager investing, manager research, OCIO, investment consulting, or institutional asset allocation with senior investment leadership responsibility.
• Deep understanding of public and private markets, portfolio construction, manager evaluation, and risk management across asset classes.
• Demonstrated experience leading disciplined investment governance and committee‑based decision processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior investment committees, boards, and sophisticated clients.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) and CFA charter strongly preferred.
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior investment authority for NTAM’s Multi‑Asset Manager platform, with accountability for external manager selection and oversight.
• Own and govern the end‑to‑end external manager lifecycle, including sourcing, screening, qualitative and quantitative evaluation, investment‑committee recommendations, onboarding, and ongoing monitoring and watchlist management.
• Establish and continuously refine research frameworks covering people, philosophy, process, portfolio construction, performance, risk management, fees, organizational stability, and operational resiliency.
• Oversee a high‑intensity research agenda encompassing more than 750 manager meetings annually, disciplined hiring and termination decisions, and periodic deep‑dive reviews.
• Provide senior oversight of operational due diligence in partnership with dedicated ODD professionals and internal partners (Compliance, Risk, Legal, Operations), ensuring operational risks are appropriately assessed and incorporated into investment decisions.
• Translate manager research into actionable investment guidance for OCIO portfolios, Wealth Management platforms, and multi‑manager funds while maintaining independent, fiduciary‑minded judgment.
• Represent NTAM in senior‑level discussions with external managers, internal investment committees, and key clients; clearly articulate conviction, risks, and implementation considerations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a globally distributed team of investment research and operational due‑diligence professionals, fostering a culture of intellectual rigor, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Remain closely attuned to market structure evolution, regulatory developments, and emerging opportunities—including Active ETFs, custom active and tax‑managed SMAs—to inform future platform positioning.

Benefits

• retirement benefits (401k and pension)
• health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability)
• paid time off
• parental and caregiver leave
• life & accident insurance
• other voluntary and well-being benefits
• discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior