Career Center

THE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1948, Brandeis University is named for the late Louis Dembitz Brandeis, the distinguished associate justice of the United States Supreme Court and reflects the ideals of academic excellence and social justice he personified. Brandeis is one of the worldâ™s youngest pre-eminent private research universities, as well as the only secular Jewish-sponsored institution of higher learning in the United States. In 1985, Brandeis was elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), which represents the 66 leading research universities in the United States and Canada. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Brandeis among the top 42 universities nationwide every year since the rankingsâ™ inception.

Brandeis is the academic home to 542 faculty members and 1,146 staff members and serves 3,639 undergraduate students and 2,161 graduate students. Nationally and internationally renowned for teaching, learning, and research,
Brandeisâ™ investment in and commitment to the highest quality undergraduate and graduate education is demonstrated in the distinction of its four schools as well as its robust continuing education programs. As of June 2022, the endowment had an approximate value of $1.2 billion. Over the past five years, the investment office has achieved annualized returns of 8.5 percent. In U.S. News & World Reportâ™s 2021 rankings, Brandeis is ranked 42 in the country in terms of alumni giving rate. With nearly 60,000 members, a number that increases annually by approximately 900, the Brandeis University Alumni Association (BUAA) offers lifelong opportunities for alumni to stay connected to each other and to the University. The University counts among its alumni three Pulitzer Prize winners, a Nobel laureate, and several Emmy Award-winning actors, broadcasters, and producers.

THE POSITION

Reporting administratively to the Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration, Stewart Uretsky, and working very closely with the Chair of the Investment Committee, Dan Jick, Brandeis University is seeking to recruit an accomplished leader and investor to oversee their $1.2 million endowment. The Chief Investment Officer will be a proven investor and strategic player/coach with excellent judgment who can combine top-down thematic thinking with high quality bottoms-up manager selection and manager oversight. S/he should be committed to and passionate about the University and its mission and should be an innovative, forward-thinking proven investor with a history of leading others in a collaborative style. The successful candidate should recognize and be excited about the opportunity to continue to build a differentiated and successful investment portfolio, while contributing to the growth and mission of the University.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Chief Investment Officer will be responsible and accountable for the overall management of the investment portfolio and leadership of the investment office staff to ensure sound implementation of the Universityâ™s investment policy. S/he will be responsible for the overall management of Brandeisâ™ investment portfolio, Investment Committee relations, and investment office personnel. Additional responsibilities include:

Investment Management:

• Guiding all aspects of the Universityâ™s investment objectives, policies, and processes as established by the
• Investment Committee
• Sourcing, evaluating and executing all investment strategies, including selection and monitoring of external
• investment managers, and oversight of all investment activities
• Conducting thorough due diligence 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 invested fund managers and completing analytical reviews to evaluate the relative performance of each fund manager on a regular basis
• Staying abreast of market conditions and developments that may affect investment holdings and strategies, and acting proactively and appropriately to protect those interests

Investment Committee Relations:

• Managing the investment officeâ™s relationship with the nine-person Investment Committee, including leading at least four in-person meetings each year
• Seeking the Investment Committee's advice with regards to major aspects of investment activities
• Regularly reporting investment results to the Investment Committee; informing and educating the Investment
• Committee regarding potential investment strategies and changes in the portfolio; presenting and discussing performance, strategies and risks openly and transparently

Staff Leadership:

• Leading, supporting, and mentoring Brandeis Universityâ™s investment office staff and promoting a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth. Further developing a diverse and high-caliber staff that is well prepared to meet the ongoing challenges and opportunities of a first-rate investment office program.
• Setting expectations and measurable goals clearly; rewarding and promoting high standards of performance; teaching, coaching, evaluating and providing feedback to improve performance and develop employees' potential
• Demonstrating, by example, high levels of ethics, professionalism, collaboration, communication and teamwork with all the administrative and investment staff
• Actively and meaningfully promoting a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recruiting and retaining top talent in Greater Boston and establishing the university as a broadly viewed employer of choice.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will possess a minimum of 12 years as a senior investor with an institutional asset management platform, including, but not limited to, an endowment, foundation, family office, outsourced CIO, or
other sophisticated investment platform. Additional qualifications include:

• A proven investment track record and commitment to achieving excellence in investment performance, plus a reputation for sound investment judgment and risk management
• Significant investment experience across asset classes, including public, privates and alternatives
• A broad understanding of macroeconomics, portfolio theory, asset allocation and portfolio construction
• Ability to access independent network for manager evaluation and reference checking purposes
• Highly collaborative and team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with all constituencies, including Investment Committee members and a broad array of other Brandeis leadership
• Highest standards of personal and professional ethics and integrity
• S/he must be enthusiastic about being part of the University and contributing to its important mission
• Strong academic credentials; an MBA/CFA or other advanced degree is preferred

Brandeis University has retained David Barrett Partners to assist in this search. Please contact them at

About Brandeis University

As a medium-sized private research university with global reach, we are dedicated to first-rate undergraduate education while making groundbreaking discoveries. Four major academic units with 3,600 undergraduates and 2,050 graduate students comprise the University: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, the International Business School, and the Rabb School of Continuing Studies. In 1985, Brandeis was elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), which represents the 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada. Brandeis has been ranked among the top 35 national universities by U.S. News & World Report every year since the rankings’ inception. Our 235-acre campus is located in the suburbs of Boston, a global hub for higher education and innovation. Our faculty are leaders in their fields, as passionate about teaching and mentorship as they are about pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Our students are motivated, compassionate, curious and open to exploring new and challenging experiences. Brandeis was founded in 1948 as a nonsectarian university under the sponsorship of th...e American Jewish community to embody its highest ethical and cultural values and to express its gratitude to the United States through the traditional Jewish commitment to education. By being a nonsectarian university that welcomes students, teachers and staff of every nationality, religion and orientation, Brandeis renews the American heritage of cultural diversity, equal access to opportunity and freedom of expression.

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