Join LGPS Central at a pivotal moment-where investment meets long term impact.
We're recruiting an Investment Director - Local Investments to lead the creation and delivery of LGPS Central's local investment fund(s) and services.
This pivotal role, based in Wolverhampton, will shape how we invest for regional growth, sourcing and managing opportunities across housing, infrastructure, clean energy, venture capital, SME finance, and natural capital.
If you're an experienced investor with a passion for place-based prosperity and the future of UK pooling, we'd love to hear from you.
#LocalInvestment #PrivateMarkets #InstitutionalInvestment #ImpactInvesting #UKPooling #Pensions
What you'll be doing:
* Design and implementation of local investment fund(s) and services, including:
* Ensuring they meet government requirements and legislation.
* Ensuring they meet Partner Fund requirements.
* Assisting with recruitment to build out the team.
* Build & maintain strong relationships with local authorities, combined authorities and other UK and regional stakeholders.
* Build & maintain relationships with appropriate market participants (e.g. fund managers and advisors).
* Ongoing portfolio management of local investment fund(s).
* Source and assessing appropriate investment opportunities.
* Develop a robust decision-making framework for the allocation of assets to the local investment portfolio, including the establishment, oversight and monitoring of all portfolio holdings, keeping the framework and current allocations under review.
* Actively lead on ensuring local investment reporting meets the needs of Partner Funds and other LGPS. Including assessment of local economic, social and environmental impact.
* Actively lead on the integration and maintenance of the house view on local impact.
* Actively support and champion Responsible Investment and the Risk and Compliance Framework into the investment process and culture of the local investment team.
* Keep strategies under review considering market, government and local developments.
* Work with Partner Funds and the Central Advisory/Client team to develop their local strategy, ensuring it meets the needs of the Partner Funds.
* Participate actively in the Investment Committee (IC), overseeing and advising on investment portfolios, contributing to the investment strategy of the pool, devising, and delivering transparent and repeatable investment processes which meet the investment targets of the Partner Funds.
* Deliver value for money for Partner Funds whilst identifying opportunities to improve the investment capacity, capability, and skills of the investment team.
* Be an ambassador for LGPS Central within the investment community, Partner Funds, and with regulators and key stakeholders.
* Provide assurance to the Head of Private Markets & CIO that the local investment fund(s) is/are managed within the parameters set in the respective Prospectus and IMA's.
* Champion a rigorous culture of high performing, collaborative, research-based investing across LGPS Central.
* Line management responsibility and development of the Local Investment team.
About us
LGPS Central (LGPSC) Ltd is the FCA regulated asset manager for eight local authority pension funds across the Midlands. LGPSC is jointly owned on an equal shares basis by those Partner Fund, and it is responsible for managing £45bn+ of their assets. It is one of eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) asset pools in the UK.
LGPS Central's Partner Funds are:
* Cheshire Pension Fund
* Derbyshire Pension Fund
* Leicestershire Pension Fund
* Nottinghamshire Pension Fund
* Shropshire Pension Fund
* Staffordshire Pension Fund
* West Midlands Pension Fund
* Worcestershire Pension Fund
The Company is committed to responsible investment and has made responsible investment a core part of the investment process in every asset class.
LGPS Central offers a friendly and diverse, hybrid working environment with a range of employee benefits. The Company moved to new premises at i9, Wolverhampton Interchange in January 2022, close to local transport links.
Our objective is to be a leading investment management company working with and for our Partner Funds. With a focus on value for money and performance we want to aspire to be one of the best because this is how we will deliver the superior investment returns and low costs for our Partner Funds.
Requirements
* Market acknowledged local private markets investment leader and subject matter expert in the asset class.
* Existing local investment relationships.
* Demonstrates and can articulate local private market portfolio construction and investment selection skills.
* Experience of collaborative investment decision making and portfolio management at a senior level.
* Can evaluate performance and risk of investment portfolios objectively.
* Can assess and communicate local investments economic, social and environmental impact.
* Experience of management and oversight of internal and external investment portfolios across multiple private market asset classes.
* Has successfully built, run, and developed high performing investment teams.
* First class interpersonal, people management and communication skills.
* Well-developed relationship partnering skills, including building and demonstrating personal credibility
* High degree of professional ethics, integrity, and gravitas.
Qualifications:
* CFA or equivalent qualification/ relevant investment experience.
* Preferably degree level or equivalent in relevant discipline.
* Has or can meet all the requirements of being an FCA approved person.
What do we offer?
We are proud to provide our people with a premium and exclusive benefits package and we are continually improving the rewards we offer. Here are a few of the valuable rewards that you will enjoy:
* Competitive salary
* An enhanced and generous Pension Scheme
* 30 days' paid holiday plus bank holidays
* 2 days paid volunteering days
* An extra paid Company Day in addition to paid holidays
* Excellent Learning & Development Opportunities
* Welfare and Familyfriendly policies
* Enhanced pay for new parents
* Access to our Employee Assistance Programme 247 Health & Wellbeing Support
* Vitality Private Medical Insurance
* Hybrid Working
* Company Service Awards
* Cycle to Work Scheme
* Company Electric Vehicle Scheme
* Nominees of the Family Friendly Employer of the Year 2022 Personnel Today Awards 2022
* Winner of the Cultural Awareness Initiative of the Year FT Advisors Diversity in Finance Awards 2023
* Winner of Diversity and Inclusion Award LAPF In Investments Award 2023