Director of Investments

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA)*, the private fundraising and alumni relations organization for the University of Wisconsin-Madison is recruiting for a Director of Investments. The Director of Investments reports to the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and is responsible for sourcing, researching, onboarding, and monitoring investments across the portfolio within parameters established for the position. Together with the CIO and senior team, the Director of Investments is responsible for the overall management of all public and private investments.

Who is WFAA?
The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is a private, nonprofit corporation that encourages individuals and organizations to make gifts to the university and to connect with the UW. In 2014, the UW Foundation merged with the Wisconsin Alumni Association® to better serve a growing population of UW alumni and donors. We believe that private support grows out of good relationships between campus leaders, faculty and program staff who need support, and the alumni and friends who want to invest in UW–Madison. We provide important engagement opportunities to link UW–Madison alumni to each other and to their alma mater, building a strong community of Badgers.

Diversity and Inclusion:

Just as the university community benefits from differing viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences, inclusion and diversity are imperative for the success of our mission. WFAA values people and the differences that they bring to the organization, and creates an environment in which all staff members and constituents feel respected and have opportunities to thrive. 

Contribute to and manage investment underwriting and monitoring processes, which result in high-quality investment decision-making and reflect well on the professionalism and integrity of WFAA.

• Develop an investment pipeline and perform investment reviews across the WFAA Investment Team.
• Contribute to and shape the development of internal standards for information collection, due diligence, investment monitoring, underwriting, and investment action documentation.
• Maintain internal investment systems and infrastructure to track, monitor, and review investments.
• Recommend and sponsor investments to the CIO and Investment Team.

Work with the CIO and other senior staff on top-down portfolio management functions

• Assist in the creation of asset class target ranges, commitment pacing guidance, and liquidity budgets for consideration by the Investment Committee.
• Monitor and manage total portfolio exposures and liquidity together with the CIO and senior team.
• Contribute to the development of internal tools to assist with overall portfolio monitoring.
• Monitor positioning and performance against benchmarks and investment guidelines.
• Participate in all aspects of asset class and sub-asset class rebalancing activities.

Partner with the CIO, Investment Committee, and WFAA to ensure best-in-class transparency and coordination

• Contribute to the creation of Investment Committee meeting materials to provide an executive-level overview of portfolio performance, positioning, and outlook.
• Assist the WFAA Finance team such that investment-related portfolio monitoring, reporting, and compliance are aligned with best practices.
• Work with the CIO and senior team to help set the agenda for Committee meetings.
• Share investment knowledge and answer market-related questions from WFAA development staff.
• Be an ambassador of WFAA to the greater Madison, Wisconsin investment community.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, or a related field.
• 8 + years of progressively responsible experience in investment related duties for a large institution, foundation, endowment, trust, investment consulting firm, or similar entity.
• Knowledge of laws, rules, regulations, and professional standards regarding assets and investments.
• Knowledge of modern portfolio theory and its application, investment analysis, and a broad understanding of all investment asset classes.
• Skill in gathering, researching, and analyzing financial information, and applying this information to the fund.
• Ability to establish positive working relationships with staff, Board members, consultants, investment professionals, and others.
• Must be able to demonstrate integrity and a high degree of ethics.
• Highly effective communication and presentation skills.

Other Qualifications: 

• Chartered Financial Analyst

At WFAA, we are dedicated to creating an inspiring, creative, and respectful work environment for our employees. We offer competitive pay and an outstanding benefits program, including a generous 10% 401k contribution after just one year of service! Join us and be part of a team that values your growth and well-being. Click here to learn more about our employee benefits! 

The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer *The Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (advanceuw.org) is the “doing business as” name of the merged organization comprising the University of Wisconsin Foundation (supportuw.org) and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (uwalumni.com). Its legal corporate name is registered as the University of Wisconsin Foundation.