Job Abstract

Cornell’s Chief Investment Officer is recruiting an outstanding, seasoned investment professional for the University’s Investment Office in New York City.

DO NOT APPLY ONLINE FOR THIS POSITION, SUBMIT MATERIALS TO THE CONTACT INFORMATION LISTED BELOW.

Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to the professional search firm managing this search, BraddockMatthewsBarrett - margaret@bmbllc.com.

This position is located in New York City.

THE UNIVERSITY

Cornell University was founded in 1865 and is located in Ithaca, New York. Both a private university and the land-grant institution of New York State, Cornell University is the largest and one of the most socioeconomically and educationally diverse members of the Ivy League and is administered by partnerships between central administration and the colleges and schools. On the Ithaca campus, nearly 14,000 undergraduate and more than 6,000 graduate and professional students are served by more than 1,600 faculty in eleven distinct colleges and schools, seven that admit into undergraduate programs, each boasting a world-renowned academic curriculum and faculty. Many undergraduates participate in a wide range of interdisciplinary programs, play meaningful roles in original research, and study in Cornell programs in Washington, New York City, and the world over.

Cornell’s Office of University Investments directs the University’s approximately $10.7 billion long-term investment fund under the oversight of the University Board of Trustees, which is responsible for strategic management of all investable funds and implements policy through the Investment Committee of the Board.

The Investment Office, led by Ken Miranda and supported by 23 team members, oversees the University’s investment programs with a goal to ensure that endowment contributions fulfill and sustain their intended purposes in perpetuity. The model asset allocation of the Long-Term Portfolio, which is the investment vehicle for the University’s endowment, is allocated across all major asset classes with target allocations of 29 percent to public equities, 27 percent to private equity and venture capital, 17 percent to real assets, 14 percent to absolute return, and 10 percent to fixed income, other, and cash.

THE POSITION

Reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, the Senior Investment Officer will lead the identification, evaluation, recommendation, and monitoring of investment opportunities for the private equity portfolio. Although the breadth of private equity, including buyout, venture capital and growth equity, will be the main focus, the successful candidate will work closely with the rest of the investment team and contribute to all other areas of portfolio management, in addition to the recruitment and mentorship of junior colleagues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will play a significant role in the management of the endowment portfolio. This individual will primarily focus on the private equity portfolio; however they will be assigned to manage other asset classes based on his/her experience and desire. Additional responsibilities include:

• Sourcing and maintaining a pipeline of investment opportunities and funds that will provide a strategic advantage to the University’s investment portfolio.

• Conducting thorough due diligence (both investment and operational) on the most compelling prospective opportunities including analysis of investment strategy, process, organization, portfolio positions and performance.

• Monitoring performance, portfolio positions, current events and organizational changes of the University’s existing fund managers and completing analytical reviews to evaluate the relative performance of each fund manager on a regular basis.

• Preparing and presenting recommendations regarding new investment opportunities to the Investment Office Staff and the Investment Committee for approval.

• Maintaining the team’s reputation for professional excellence and credibility both inside the University and throughout the investment management community.

• Recruiting, training and supervising internal investment professionals; fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor and innovation.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate must have the vision, creativity, a minimum of ten years of relevant investment experience from an endowment, foundation, pension fund, investment management firm, or fund-of-funds. They must have experience investing in private equity strategies and should possess the investment credibility, confidence and communication skills to interact with the CIO, the Board and various constituents.

Additional qualifications include:

• Expertise in private equity strategies including buyout, venture capital and growth equity.

• Must integrate strong analytics in his/her quantitative and qualitative investment evaluations.

• Established network of investment contacts and GP relationships; ability to access independent network for manager evaluation and reference checking purposes.

• A true team player with a strong collaborative style and an ability to work well with others.

• Strong communication and presentation skills, both spoken and written; the ability to influence and negotiate effectively.

• Strong planning and organizational skills and a proven ability to work independently and under pressure.

• A patient and disciplined investor who seeks and accepts a high degree of personal responsibility.

• The highest level of integrity, intellectual capability, honesty and loyalty; excellent judgment.

• Willingness to travel.

• Must be enthusiastic about being part of the University and contributing to its mission.

• Strong academic credentials are required: A Bachelor’s degree is required; an MBA, MS, PhD, coupled with a CFA (or willingness to complete such credential) is strongly preferred.

Rewards and Benefits

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.

• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, vacation and paid holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.

• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.

DO NOT APPLY ONLINE FOR THIS POSITION.

Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to the professional search firm managing this search, BraddockMatthewsBarrett - margaret@bmbllc.com.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

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