Managing Director, Total Portfolio Strategy and Innovation

OPTrust • Toronto, ON

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Consistent with its Total Portfolio Approach, OPTrust is establishing a leadership role within the OCIO to enhance Innovation and Total Portfolio decision making, with a focus on leveraging innovative thinking, strategic partnerships and technology to improve Total Portfolio outcomes. A critical enabler for success will be ensuring we are allocating scarce resources where they can be used most efficiently to support Total Portfolio objectives, amidst the changing geopolitical, technological and macroeconomic landscape. Important to this mandate is leading the management of the CIO’s Strategic Innovation Portfolio, aimed at accelerating internal capability development and identifying areas within the Total Portfolio that are at risk of disruption. By integrating technology, innovation, and advanced analytics with investment strategy, macro insights, and risk factor analysis, the role provides a unified leadership position that serves as a critical enabler for informed, Total Portfolio decision-making. In collaboration with investment teams and internal business partners, the individual will play a critical role in overseeing the design, construction and management of frameworks that will inform investment decision-making within the OCIO and at the Investment Strategy and Planning Committee.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive experience in investment management, portfolio strategy, or adjacent domains, including experience in public, private and venture capital markets
• Experience with external manager selection, strategy development, portfolio management, quantitative analysis, or a related role
• Experience with AI, machine learning, and systematic investing
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail and willingness to take a hands-on approach in research and project management
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with internal and external partners and build strong relationships
• Inquisitive in nature and constantly evaluating new ideas to help drive portfolio innovation over time
• Ability to communicate complex information in a simple, relevant, unbiased and direct manner
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, able to effectively lead a team, communicate complex issues and build key working relationships
• Exemplify OPTrust’s values: collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

• Preferably graduate degree (or equivalent experience) in economics, mathematics, finance, quantitative finance, and/or a related field such as applied mathematics

Responsibilities

• Manage the CIO’s Strategic Innovation Portfolio
• Build and manage a small group of strategic relationships with external partners, including leading asset managers, venture capital firms, financial services firms, technology leaders and peer institutions with the strategic benefits of accelerating internal capability development and access to leading practices
• Manage the Strategic Innovation Portfolio assets to meet portfolio objectives
• Represent OPTrust in innovation and portfolio modernization forums, strengthening OPTrust's external profile as a forward-thinking institutional investor
• Identify areas within the Total Portfolio that are ripe for disruption and could benefit from innovation
• Lead the Identification, evaluation and derivation of strategic value from partners; recognize internal teams that can benefit from interactions with our partners and facilitate the relationship building process; generate and implement ideas on how we can add strategic value to our partners
• Develop future leaders who can bridge the gap between investment expertise, technology capability, and operational excellence
• Lead the development of an integrated framework for portfolio risk identification, measurement, and reporting that enhances the CIO's ability to make informed decisions on Total Portfolio risk and risk factor allocation
• Identify and deploy capabilities that enhance the quality and depth of investment research across asset classes and at the Total Portfolio level
• Utilize AI and advanced analytics to improve investment insights and decision making
• Foster a data-driven and evidence-based culture within the Investment Division
• Lead the development of best-in-class research frameworks to facilitate unbiased quantitative results
• Working with Performance Measurement & Analytics and Investment Risk functions, oversee monitoring of Total Portfolio positions and market movements on a daily basis to understand positions, risk exposures and market impacts on Total Portfolio performance
• Oversee the review of new research, providing a critical external check on proposed strategies and recommendations
• Ensure the Investment Division stays updated on the latest developments in quantitative finance, including new methodologies, tools, and technologies
• Lead by example in supporting and contributing to the work of the Investment Strategy and Planning Committee as well as other Total Portfolio projects and initiatives, including the Investment Planning process
• Collaborate with other investment groups and functions to enhance our investment framework over time
• Ensure the investment teams maintain a thorough understanding of OPTrust’s Member Driven Investing (MDI) strategy, overarching philosophy, and portfolio construction / risk management framework; articulate our Total Fund objectives and contextualize individual strategies to our internal and external partners
• Foster a culture of disciplined innovation, continuous learning, and intellectual rigor
• Manage, mentor, and develop junior resources to build the next generation of investment talent for the organization
• Provide support to the Total Portfolio Management Team, as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Ensure clear understanding and adherence of all OPTrust’s policies, procedures, guidelines as well as living our values and fostering an inclusive culture

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits focused on your health and wellness, including dental, vision and extended health benefits, as well as membership in our world-class defined benefit pension plan.
• A flexible, hybrid work model.
• A dedicated inclusion, diversity and equity strategy with meaningful opportunities to participate, including our employee-led resource groups.
• Extensive professional development opportunities and learning initiatives including access to LinkedIn Learning, guest speakers, tuition reimbursement, professional association memberships, leadership development programs, a mentorship program, monthly professional development time and more.
• A competitive vacation package with additional work-life balance days.

What This Job Offers

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