Portfolio Manager, Small Cap Core

Thrivent Financial, a Fortune 500 (#343) organization, is the nation’s largest fraternal benefit society with over 2 million members and over $160 billion in assets under management/advisory as of year-end 2022. Represented by total surplus, Thrivent has one of the strongest capital positions in the industry. The organization’s members join together for insurance, financial and retirement needs, as well as education and volunteer opportunities. The faith-based membership organization provides unparalleled solutions that focus on security, wellness and caring for others.

Thrivent Investments provides investment management services to Thrivent Financial and its affiliates to enable members to achieve their financial goals. Thrivent Investments manages in excess of $138 billion of assets for the insurance company General Account, Thrivent’s family of Mutual Funds, and various separate account assets consisting of public and private investments in equities, fixed income, sector specific, hybrid-asset allocation funds, real estate and alternative investments.

For more information about Thrivent Financial, visit our website at www.thrivent.com; click on What We Offer, then Mutual Funds or Investments.

Job Summary

The Portfolio Manager role provides the opportunity to contribute to the performance of specific portfolios by assessing new ideas and often providing company specific research for the small cap strategy, while working in conjunction with the broader equity research team.

Analyze and recommend investments for the Small Cap Core portfolios (approximately $3.4 billion as of 1/31/2023). Requires strong fundamental research skills and a passion for stock picking. Follow and understand drivers of the competitive position of small cap companies assigned by portfolio managers. Identify sources and sustainability of competitive advantage. Assess the strategies of company management and the implications for stock price performance. Evaluate the impact of external forces on specific industries as assigned – regulation, economic activity, raw materials, labor, technological changes, etc.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

• Work with Equity Research Analysts to identify and weigh the importance of key factors relating to valuation, operating performance, and sentiment/catalyst for change. Develop analytical frameworks designed to systematically identify risks and opportunities.  
• Assess and communicate concisely the critical variables that will determine a company’s success or failure, in a manner that stimulates action. 
• Assist the Portfolio Managers in maintaining investment style consistency and ensuring compliance with investment policies and regulatory guidelines. 
• Initiate and conduct research relating to investment suitability by developing a network of contacts within industry in addition to Wall Street analysts.  
• Travel to companies, conferences, and industry events as necessary. 
• Work with the equity research analyst team to project financial statements and valuation targets. Monitor companies in the portfolio and continually reassess investment merits.  

Job Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of buy-side portfolio manager experience or a combination of 5 years of buy and sell side research and/or portfolio management experience in the public equity markets. Consideration will also be given to candidates with corporate M&A, private equity or other research driven financial consulting experience. 
• Working experience aligned with competitive investment performance, investment process development and implementation skills utilizing a fundamental investment approach.  
• Previous experience and grounding in fundamental analysis including proprietary modeling in a process driven environment is preferred.  
• Comprehensive understanding of risk management.  
• Prior experience dedicated to small cap investing is preferred.  
• A solid understanding of financial markets (stocks, bonds, etc.), current economic events and trends and their interrelationship.  
• Above average communication skills and a professional, confident business style.  
• Willingness to utilize a team-oriented investment process.  
• Undergraduate degree is required; an MBA and/or CFA are strongly preferred.  

Attributes for Success

• Stock selection decisions that consistently add value versus benchmarks and quantitative models.  
• Having a passion for excellence, an ability to admit mistakes and learn from them, and modify framework to avoid them in the future.   
• Comfortable with thinking creatively – confident enough to develop, propose and defend outside-the-box or contrarian viewpoints.  
• Willingness to provide feedback to investment staff on ways to improve processes.  
• Utilization of all available technology resources to maximize efficiency.  

Additional Information

• This position is eligible for relocation.  
• This position requires you to work in the Minneapolis, MN area. 

Thrivent provides Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable local, state, or federal law. This policy applies to all employees and job applicants.

Thrivent is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please let us know by sending an email to  human.resources@thrivent.com  or call 800-847-4836 and request Human Resources.