Retirement Investment Officer - Compliance

State of Iowa•Des Moines - 50321 - Polk County, IA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) is seeking a highly motivated, experienced professional to join our private markets team as a Retirement Investment Officer. In this role, you will drive critical investment operations and perform high-level portfolio analysis. You will directly manage and evaluate private market assets to secure and optimize long-term financial returns for our members. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the financial security of thousands of public servants.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in finance, economics, business administration, or a quantitative field (e.g., mathematics, engineering, computational finance, physics, etc.), and experience equal to three years of full-time work in investment portfolio management or research for a stock exchange, investment or banking firm, public or private pension system, or treasurer's office.
Three years of full-time work experience in investment portfolio management or research for a stock exchange, investment or banking firm, public or private pension system, or treasurer's office; and a total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in finance, economics, business administration, or a quantitative field (e.g., mathematics, engineering, computational finance, physics, etc.) equals one year of full-time experience.

Nice To Haves

Direct private market investment experience
Strong analytical skills for evaluating complex alternative asset metrics
Excellent communication abilities
Collaborative approach to low-hierarchy environments
Advanced degrees or professional designations such as CFA or CAIA
Hands-on experience or structural knowledge regarding alternative investments, specifically targeting private credit, real assets, private equity, and co-investments.
Advanced capabilities to forecast asset metrics, execute cost-benefit analyses, and validate performance fees.
Proficiency in maintaining specialized investment software and leveraging quantitative metrics to build actionable investment summaries.
Aptitude for reviewing and structuring complex business terms, making formal pitches, and monitoring institutional accounts.
Adaptability to work fluidly within a flat corporate environment, actively leading peer-driven due diligence and cross-team projects.
Skills to synthesize complicated financial data into polished presentations for high-level brief sessions with executive leadership and the Investment Board.
Commitment to pursuing or maintaining elite professional credentials (such as CFA or CAIA) and advanced market research trends.

Responsibilities

Manage Portfolio Assets: Assist in overseeing IPERS’ $14B+ private markets portfolio across private credit, real assets, private equity, and co-investments.
Sourced New Opportunities: Research emerging investment themes and identify high-potential primary investments and co-investments.
Conduct Deep Analysis: Develop precise financial forecasts, execute cost-benefit analyses, and draft comprehensive investment memos and presentations.
Evaluate Performance Metrics: Analyze private market returns, rigorously validate management fees, and maintain specialized investment software.
Lead Deal Execution: Collaborate on deal underwriting, select investments, and negotiate strategic business terms.
Represent the System: Monitor assigned investment accounts and actively participate on external Advisory Boards.
Optimize Portfolio Strategy: Contribute directly to asset allocation, portfolio construction, risk management, and annual investment planning.
Brief Executive Leadership: Prepare and present detailed, high-level portfolio performance updates directly to the IPERS Investment Board.