Investment Research Analyst

Summary

The Investment Research Analyst will be primarily responsible for supporting three main functions within the broader Investments Group:

•             Investments Research Team or “IRT” (manager research, manager due diligence)

•             Investments Specialist Team or “IST” (product specialists)

•             Product Strategy & Management Team or “Product” (product management and product development)

The Investment Research Analyst will also informally collaborate with Harbor’s new Multi Asset Solutions Team (MAST), which is initially responsible for constructing Asset Allocation model portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

• General Responsibilities
  • Support the three investment functions listed above (IRT, IST, and Product) through evaluation and application of investment, financial, economic, and/or statistical data
• IRT Specific Responsibilities
  • Quantitative & Qualitative Analyses
    • Produce robust analyses on the investment performance and characteristics of current and prospective subadvisers
  • Due Diligence
    • Aid Senior Analysts and Research Directors in preparation of analyses on prospective subadvisors and underwriting of current subadvisors
    • Participate in due diligence research meetings with current and prospective subadvisers
  • Performance Measurement Tools
    • Using analytical and performance measurement tools to compare portfolios relative to market indices and relevant peer groups
  • Collaboration
    • Work with IST and Distribution teams to produce custom analyses of our funds relative to competitor funds for use in client presentations
    • Produce quarterly reports for use by Financial Performance Reporting team
    • Assist Research Directors in preparation of Themes materials for the Marketing Team
• IST Specific Responsibilities
  • Quantitative & Qualitative Analyses
    • Produce robust analyses on the investment performance and characteristics of current subadvisers to support IST client retention and prospecting calls
  • Collaboration
    • Work with Distribution and IST team to produce custom analyses of our funds relative to competitor funds for use in client presentations
    • Assist IST team with thematic research as well as ad hoc fund specific content in support of marketing / sales / retention campaigns
• Product Specific Responsibilities
  • Work with Product to enhance industry level score cards and help design new product specifications
  • Work to enhance consistent assessments of what products we’re working on and why; maintain the product pipeline
  • Enhance frameworks for determining demand assessments for current and future products
  • Enhance economic models with managers and seek to enhance interactive pricing frameworks for products incorporating forecasting and scenario analysis
  • Assist Executive Committee with strategic plans and building various vehicles
  • Support / help lead Harbor’s “Deal Team” during manager negotiations and develop initial processes to define an eventual Acquisitions & Adoptions team
  • Assist in being the go-to group for management to provide data / insight related to corporate product questions and aide in the decision-making process

Key Behavioral Expectations

Communication & Engagement

• Engages stakeholders through effective communication
• Expresses recommendations with clarity and confidence
• Actively listens and checks for understanding
• Respects expression of diverse ideas and different ways of thinking

Unleashes Innovation

• Ready and willing to explore “out of the box” ideas and pushes own and other’s thinking past the status quo
• Generates new ways of thinking and prioritizes value-adding efforts
• Models curiosity and continuous self-reflection
• Uses probing questions to understand the “why” for decisions, outcomes, and processes

Creates Culture of Collaboration

• Proactively seeks and/or embraces opportunities to work across departments and teams to achieve shared objectives
• Gains trust and support of others throughout the company
• Places company and team contributions before personal objectives

Likely Qualifications

• Strong academic credentials - Bachelor’s Degree or higher required.
• Five or more years of experience in asset management or financial services
• CFA or CFA candidate, preferred

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required

The ideal candidate will be an intelligent, energetic, and outcome-oriented, conceptual thinker with the ability to quickly assess a situation and exercise sound business judgment.  The candidate must possess an innate curiosity to immerse him or herself in all aspects of Harbor Capital’s business and be sufficiently flexible to work on a variety of initiatives in a range of different functions, often at the same time. 

• Good understanding of the asset management industry and intellectual curiosity to continue to build out a deep knowledge of the industry
• Familiarity with research tools such as Barra risk models, Morningstar Direct, FactSet, eVestment, Style Analytics; excellent Excel proficiency a must
• Strong analytics skills a requirement and knowledge of quantitative analysis essential 
• Programming and/or coding proficiency a plus, including Python / R
• Experience with large data sets / big data, machine learning, and/or artificial intelligence beneficial
• Knowledge and familiarity with data visualization tools like Tableau highly desirable
• Exceptional communication skills with an ability to consistently express ideas and develop engagement through various methods (PowerPoint, email, individual conversations, etc.)
• Able to work in a fast paced and constantly changing environment
• Strong attention to detail
• Team oriented
• Strong time management and organizational skills with the ability to handle multiple projects on an ongoing basis in an evolving work environment
• Technologically proficient and knowledgeable