Investment Officer - Public Equity

This recruitment will remain open until filled. The WSIB may make a hiring decision at any time. It is in the candidate’s best interest to apply early.

The Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) is a dedicated global investment management organization with over $186.1 billion in assets under management. The WSIB's globally diversified portfolios are comprised of more than 17,000 holdings across 93 countries on 6 continents and in 52 currencies. The WSIB's central mandate is to maximize return at a prudent level of risk.

The WSIB manages investments for 17 retirement plans for public employees, teachers, school employees, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and judges. We also manage investments for several other important public funds that benefit Washington’s industrial insurance program, colleges and universities, and developmental disability programs. The WSIB’s excellent investment performance dramatically contributes to the state’s bottom line by earning the lion’s share of money needed to cover state pension benefits.

To learn more about the WSIB, please visit our website at sib.wa.gov and follow us on LinkedIn.

The WSIB operates in a hybrid work environment and this position should anticipate 60% of their time in the office.

The WSIB is seeking a qualified candidate to join our team as an Investment Officer (IO) on the Public Equity Team. This is a unique opportunity to join a globally recognized investment management organization. The primary objective of the IO – Public Equity is ongoing selection, due diligence, and monitoring of public equity investments, while ensuring consistency with the State of Washington’s statutes and regulations, and the WSIB’s policies.

The WSIB’s public equity unit manages the investment of the public equity allocation of the defined benefit assets. The public equity unit also takes the lead overseeing the management of the options for the retirement funds’ defined contribution plans and for the state’s Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP). Public equity is further utilized in the Labor and Industries’ funds, the Guaranteed Education Tuition program, the Developmental Disability Endowment Fund, the Permanent Funds, and other programs as needed. At the current time, all of the WSIB’s public equity allocations are managed through external investment managers.

The IO will be expected to work with the highest standard of professional and ethical conduct, and for the exclusive benefit of WSIB beneficiaries. The position will participate in all aspects of public equity investment management including searches, monitoring, research, analysis, development of recommendations, and risk management, with the goal of contributing to the public equity unit meeting or exceeding its investment return objectives.

Duties

We are looking for a skilled investment professional with knowledge of public equity and a blend of enthusiasm and humility. We are looking for someone who is adaptable and trustworthy; values teamwork and relationships with others; and values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’re looking for someone with intellectual curiosity, a desire to learn, someone who is perceptive and insightful. This position requires a self-starting, critical-thinking investor interested in work/life balance while taking on the opportunities and challenges associated with working for one of the world’s leading asset allocators.

If selected for this opportunity you will actively participate in the development, recommendation, implementation, and monitoring of investments in the Public Equity portfolio. Some of these duties include:

• Participate in, and eventually lead, investment manager monitoring and searches as assigned by the Senior Investment Officer (SIO) and/or their supervisor.
• Research recommended enhancements for varying types of public equity investments, allocations, and structures.
• Coordinate with compliance on all issues involving public equity managers on matters related to guideline warnings or breaches, contract changes, and other items as necessary.
• Execute trading or rebalancing activities as required.

Qualifications

Competitive applicants will have:

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, mathematics, economics, finance, statistics, or closely related field.
• Knowledge of capital markets and macroeconomics.
• Intellectual curiosity.
• Analytical, critical, original, and creative thought.
• Integrity, honesty, and sound ethical judgment.

The strongest applicants will have:

• CFA or progress towards that designation.
• Equity research experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of investment concepts, principles and current practices for defined benefit and defined contribution plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop and deliver presentations to various audiences including Board members, stakeholders, and/or their representatives.
• Ability to process and evaluate large quantities of complex information to systematically assess and document the merits and risks of investment opportunities; ability to discern skill in public equity managers.
• Collaborative mindset and working methods.
• Ability to plan, organize and complete multiple projects in a timely manner.
• Strong computer skills including use of Microsoft Office, manager databases, risk systems.
• Knowledge of investment management (e.g., portfolio construction), public equity, capital markets and macroeconomics.
• Ability to work with different clients, different programs (defined benefit, defined contribution, insurance funds, etc.), and stakeholders.
• Research, analysis, negotiation, relationship management, and strategic thinking skills.
• Willing and able to travel.

In addition to a complete profile, please include: 

• A cover letter specifying why this position is of interest to you and how you meet the qualifications listed above.  This letter should be no more than one page.
• A current chronological resume.
• A list of at least three professional references under the profile section. References will not be contacted without the written consent of the applicant but must be submitted at the time of application.

If your experience or qualifications look a little different from what we’ve identified and you think you can be successful in this position, please address this in your cover letter.

Supplemental Information

BACKGROUND CHECK:

Prior to a new hire, a background check including education verification, credit check, and criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

AT THE WSIB...

You’ll work with talented, passionate co-workers focused on maximizing the investment returns for the exclusive benefit of the beneficiaries. The WSIB is a respected institutional investor and thought leader in its industry and we value diverse perspectives and life experiences. The WSIB is supportive of an H1B Sponsorship. 

The WSIB is an equal opportunity employer. Women, people of color and those representing diverse ethnicities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. 

Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:

Medical, Dental, and Vision for employee & dependents, Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays and 1 Personal Holiday per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives, professional development opportunities, flexible work schedules, and participation in the Combined Fund Drive and SmartHealth.

An overview of benefits of state employment and WSIB specifically can also be found on our website.

The WSIB is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the WSIB will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@sib.wa.gov.