Analyst – Fixed Income and Alpha Strategies

Job Description

About the Foundation:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India.

Summary:

The Investment team is responsible for managing the Foundation’s $10 billion investment portfolio. The capital is managed within a globally diversified, multi-asset class portfolio with the objective of earning a 5% real return annually. This portfolio is the source of funds for the Foundation’s grant making activity and other organizational expenses.

The Analyst will provide analytical, research, and operational support to the Fixed Income team, which manages the Foundation’s Fixed Income and Special Situations portfolios. The Fixed Income portfolios are managed within a portable alpha construct and performance goals are expected to be achieved through the use of a variety of investment strategies, structures, and styles, including long-only and/or hedge fund strategies.  The Analyst is expected to actively provide assistance in the areas of portfolio management decisions, strategy monitoring, sourcing and due diligence on new investments, and various other partnership actions. The Analyst will also take responsibility for department-wide initiatives and special projects as necessary. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Analyst will assist in many facets of the investment process. Typical responsibilities include:

• Assessment of existing investment strategies across a variety of asset classes and vehicles by monitoring their performance, exposures, and characteristics, and assisting with the preparation of investment memos and presentations

• Evaluation of prospective investment strategies with a focus on funds that are managed in a manner that supports and furthers the goals of the Foundation’s grantmaking efforts

• Conduct investment and operational due diligence on prospective managers

• Leverage AI-enabled tools to enhance manager research, due diligence, and portfolio analysis

• Ensure timely collection, analysis, and categorization of portfolio materials and metrics into Investment Department database

• Perform an initial review of incoming investment opportunities, assist in monitoring the current portfolio, maintain benchmarking and comparative statistics, prepare and refine a variety of quantitative analyses, and assist in various other projects including portfolio reviews and overall market research

• Represent the Foundation and its values in meetings and calls with existing and prospective investment managers and when attending conferences to maintain market intelligence and stay abreast of industry trends

• Support quarterly investment committee book production with written portfolio reports and portfolio analyses

• Perform special projects as assigned and actively engage with other asset class teams to gain a thorough understanding of the entire portfolio and ensure consistent and best practices across the department

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; coursework in finance or accounting preferred

• Progress towards, or completion of, Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program preferred

• 3 - 5 years of relevant work experience

• Excellent academic records

• Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills (written and verbal)

• Creativity and analytical ability

• Strong interest in portfolio management and institutional investment issues, along with a willingness and commitment to continually expand knowledge of the investment process, capital markets and all finance and economic related materials

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including advanced Excel skills

• Able to learn various software programs used by the Investment Department

• Able to function effectively as a team member and work independently as needed

• Thorough professionalism in all technical and non-technical aspects of the position

• Able to prioritize, and meet work deadlines consistently

The position is hybrid and based in Chicago, Illinois.

Annual salary for this role will start at $120,000 . This position is also eligible for an incentive bonus of up to 40% of the base salary. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being.

Work Environment and Reasonable Accommodations

The work environment is an office setting.  Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job.  Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process. 

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.