Director of Investments (Pasadena)

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Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, with exposure to the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees, the Director of Investments (Director) is a key leadership role in the Investment Office, involved in all aspects of the investment process. The core objective of the Director is to support the Chief Investment Officer in the management of the overall investment program, including manager selection, portfolio strategy, and management of staff in the Investment Office. In addition to the roles and responsibilities of the Associate Director role, the Director also contributes to the development of portfolio-level strategy, and will implement investment strategies more independently. The Director is also expected to lead discussions with the Investment Committee on matters of strategy and participate in the feedback loop between stakeholders and the Investment Office. Finally, Directors are expected to serve on the Internal Investment Committee (IIC) of the Investment Office.

Essential Job Duties

Investment Research (55%)

• Advise the Chief Investment Officer on portfolio needs and propose well-defined investment strategies that can meet those needs. Strategy definition includes the development of return and risk expectations, benchmarking approaches, and the creation of comprehensive market maps highlighting key differences between market participants that drive manager selection decisions.
• Maintain a pipeline of investment opportunities that can meet the portfolios defined needs. Lead primary research efforts to advance ideas through the investment process. Manage the process of collecting feedback from other members of the team and addressing their concerns. Drive the due diligence process forward by developing and adhering to project timelines, organizing materials, and systematically completing necessary research and other action items.
• Lead external meetings with existing and prospective investment managers. Develop quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods, including company-level fundamental research, financial modeling, valuation, and other quantitative analyses.
• Form an independent opinion about the attractiveness of each investment opportunity and effectively communicate that position both verbally and in written form. Support and defend investment views; engage in healthy debate and challenge asset allocation and investment manager decisions to help the team reach high-conviction decisions.
• Prepare investment recommendations for the IIC. Participate in and coordinate internal meetings and workflow processes. Negotiate investment terms and document investment decisions.
• Monitor the progress of portfolio companies, as well as existing strategies and fund managers. Research relevant strategies, sectors, geographies, and individual companies. Identify and monitor key risks, including investment manager behavior and emergent organizational dynamics.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with fund managers to maximize information flow, deal flow, and Caltechs internal influence as a value-added investor. Provide strategic feedback to outside parties that increases Caltechs external influence in the investment community.
• Develop a personal network of peers, intermediaries, and other market participants to source new investments, perform investment diligence, and develop a deeper understanding of existing holdings.
• Build distinct but complementary areas of expertise and influence across multiple areas of the Investment Office, including but not limited to multiple disciplines, asset classes or industry sectors that are important to the success of the investment program.

Portfolio Management & Asset Allocation (25%)

• Analyze and synthesize data relating to general investment concepts, as well as performance and risk exposures of individual managers, asset classes, and the overall portfolio. Offer insights into market opportunities and risks. Articulate key findings to the broader team.
• Create models of returns, liquidity, cash flows, and portfolio management scenarios as needed to recommend specific actions related to portfolio management, risk management, and asset allocation.

Managing Processes & Relationships (20%)

• Lead the preparation of materials for staff meetings, IIC meetings, and meetings of the external Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Complete special research projects as required, including thematic research, risk management and portfolio reviews for the Investment Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Suggest process improvements and new vendors to enhance the organizational effectiveness of the Investment Office.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to staff. Train, coach and mentor other team members to build new skills in them while reinforcing the culture and values of the team through timely performance feedback. Work collaboratively with other members of the Investment Office to advance shared goals.
• Develop and maintain senior relationships across the Caltech community to support synergies between the Investment Office, fund managers, and Caltechs functional areas.
• Contribute to brand-building for the Investment Office and Caltech more broadly by establishing externally recognized expertise in multiple areas of non-profit investment management.

Basic Qualifications

• At least ten years of relevant work experience, likely gained in an endowment, foundation, family office, or direct investment management environment.
• Comfort with fundamental investment concepts, and the ability to assess both quantitative and qualitative inputs to long-term economic value creation.
• Demonstrated investment judgment and perspective on how to manage a dynamic investment portfolio.
• Critical thinking and healthy skepticism that distills large amounts of complex, often-conflicting information into strategic clarity.
• Interpersonal skills and the ability to work closely with a small team. Willingness to be challenged as part of a collegial inter-disciplinary search for superior investment knowledge and outcomes.
• Impeccable honesty, integrity, and an appreciation for high standards of conduct, work product, and ultimate outcomes.
• Some travel (around 25%).
• Ownership mentality, bringing a sense of personal responsibility for the sustained success of the Investment Office. Ability to act independently to achieve a high-quality product. Ability to handle multiple assignments, often with competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Enthusiasm for Caltechs dual institutional missions of conducting groundbreaking scientific research and providing a rigorous education to promising STEM students.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in business administration, finance, economics, or other relevant discipline.
• Direct investing experience in public or private equity, potentially including fundamental investing in public markets, private equity secondaries, private equity co-investments, or related skills.

Required Documents

• Resume.

Hiring Range

Base salary of $258,700 - $293,600 per year plus bonus eligibility.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.

As one of the largest employers in Pasadena, CA, Caltech is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents. Our benefits package includes competitive compensation, health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings plans, generous paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick time, parental leave, bereavement, etc.), tuition reimbursement, and more. Non-benefit eligible employees will have access to some benefits such as onsite counseling and sick time. Learn more about our

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Caltech is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

To read more Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) go to eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf.

Disability Accommodations

Caltech complies with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for eligible applicants and employees to perform the essential functions of a position.

If you would like to request an accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please contact Caltech Recruiting at

Additionally, if you do not meet the basic qualifications of a role but believe you can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation, please reach out to Caltech Recruiting at #J-18808-Ljbffr