Investment Analyst (Real Estate)

Utah Retirement Systems•Salt Lake City, UT

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Investments Team is responsible for implementing the investment program of the URS Defined Benefit plan. The Investments Team manages investments internally and partners with external investment firms to manage a globally diversified portfolio. The teams’ efforts have a strong emphasis on Absolute Return, Real Assets, and Private Equity investments. Defined Benefit assets were $53 billion as of 12/31/2025. POSITION SUMMARY Collaborates with the Investment Team in the ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and selection of external managers and/or direct investments. Provides research, analysis, and recommendations to Senior Investment Professionals on risk, performance, and portfolio fit. Gathers data for Risk Management Systems. Provides support for decisions regarding asset allocation, Board communication, and reporting. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Conducts analysis and due diligence on real estate investments. Assists with acquisition, oversight, and disposition of direct internally-managed investments. Evaluates, monitors, and makes recommendations in the context of portfolio objectives, market conditions, performance, and other considerations. May perform similar functions related to externally-managed investments. Develops and demonstrates competence in specific strategy area(s), sector(s), and/or asset class(es). Assists senior URS investment professionals and other personnel as needed. Prepares investment recommendations based on strategic and tactical asset allocation decisions. Corresponds frequently with partners, investment managers, external service providers, and industry experts to formulate market opinions, identify investment opportunities, and gauge investment trends. Contributes to ongoing process improvement for investment decisions, analyst workflow, strategy modeling, etc. Attends professional seminars and conferences; establishes professional relationships with institutional investor peers and with tenured industry professionals. Promotes internal cooperation among the Investment Team and with external service providers. Promotes organizational efficiency through high professional standards. Demonstrates a high level of intellectual curiosity. Maintains regular and reliable attendance. Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to URS Ethics and Compliance policies. Other related duties as required.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of one (1) year directly related professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Applicable degrees include; investment management, business administration, accounting, financial management, real estate, agriculture, economics, mathematics, statistics, physics, chemistry, law, humanities, or related field.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced capabilities in Excel.
Working knowledge of Advanced mathematical concepts including correlations, factor analysis, and statistics.
Working knowledge of Purposes, principles and theory of finance, institutional portfolio management, and statistical analysis.
Working knowledge of Business, monetary, and economic trends and practices.
Working knowledge of Security analysis and financial forecasting.
Working knowledge of Risk analysis, sensitivity analysis, and scenario testing.
Working knowledge of Investment performance measurement and attribution analysis.
Demonstrates knowledge of relevant asset class, investment strategies, and instruments.
Excellent communication skills: Distill analysis into original reports and recommendations.
Demonstrate excellent written and oral communication skills.
Establish and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues and industry investment professionals.
Present information on complex topics to top management, peers, and occasionally the URS board.
Ability to demonstrate that URS’ beneficiaries are a top priority.
Ability to attend to detail.
Ability to display autonomy and leadership in performing job functions.
Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
Ability to prioritize work.
Ability to perform within deadlines.
Ability to work well in a team environment as well as independently.
Ability to multi-task by handling a variety of duties in a timely and efficient manner.
Ability to follow through with assignments.
Ability to deal effectively with stress caused by workload and time deadlines.
Must always demonstrate judgment, high integrity, and personal values consistent with the values of URS.
Employee will submit to the URS Investment Compliance Officer a record of trade confirmations or monthly transaction summaries, as they become available, of all security transactions (excluding mutual funds), in any account under the employee’s control and direction, or under the control and direction of the employee’s spouse.
Physically capable of safely operating a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and have an acceptable driving record based upon data provided by a current Department of Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).

Nice To Haves

Progress toward Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), or other related designations is preferred.
Member of Appraisal Institute (MAI), Counselors of Real Estate (CRE), and/or Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designations are also preferred.
Investment research experience in an institutional investment setting (pension, endowment, foundation, asset management company, insurance company, etc.) is preferred.
Direct property underwriting, and due diligence is preferred.
MBA or related Master’s Degree is preferred.
Experience with Bloomberg, Microsoft Access, Visual Basic, and SQL is preferred.

Responsibilities

Conducts analysis and due diligence on real estate investments.
Assists with acquisition, oversight, and disposition of direct internally-managed investments.
Evaluates, monitors, and makes recommendations in the context of portfolio objectives, market conditions, performance, and other considerations.
May perform similar functions related to externally-managed investments.
Develops and demonstrates competence in specific strategy area(s), sector(s), and/or asset class(es).
Assists senior URS investment professionals and other personnel as needed.
Prepares investment recommendations based on strategic and tactical asset allocation decisions.
Corresponds frequently with partners, investment managers, external service providers, and industry experts to formulate market opinions, identify investment opportunities, and gauge investment trends.
Contributes to ongoing process improvement for investment decisions, analyst workflow, strategy modeling, etc.
Attends professional seminars and conferences; establishes professional relationships with institutional investor peers and with tenured industry professionals.
Promotes internal cooperation among the Investment Team and with external service providers.
Promotes organizational efficiency through high professional standards.
Demonstrates a high level of intellectual curiosity.
Maintains regular and reliable attendance.
Maintains strict confidentiality and adheres to URS Ethics and Compliance policies.