Senior Director of Investment Operations, Investment Office - UT System
Market Range 17

About the UT System

The University of Tennessee is comprised of campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin, and Pulaski; the Health Science Center at Memphis; the Space Institute at Tullahoma; and the statewide Institute of Agriculture and Institute for Public Service.

The UT System has a presence in each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Through the combined force of education, research and outreach, the University serves students, business and industry, schools, governments, organizations, and citizens statewide.

The University of Tennessee System, through its multiple campuses and institutes, serves the people of Tennessee and beyond through the discovery, communication, and application of knowledge. The System is committed to providing undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs in a diverse learning environment that prepares students to be leaders in a global society. The UT System’s delivery of education, discovery, outreach, and public service contributes to the economic, social, and environmental well-being of all Tennesseans.

About The University of Tennessee Investment Office
Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Investment Office oversees endowed assets invested for the benefit of the University of Tennessee. This capital base of roughly $1.5 billion includes public equity and debt, hedged strategies, private equity, private credit, venture capital, real estate, and natural resources.

Position Overview
The Senior Director of Investment Operations will be a key member of a small team responsible for the day-to-day management of the endowment assets and cover all aspects of the operational function. The role will require regular interaction with numerous top-tier investment firms and provide the successful candidate with an exciting opportunity to build on an already cutting-edge platform. Most importantly, this person will play an essential role in managing systems and data that drive investment decisions and help lay the foundation for future growth.

The position’s responsibilities include the following:

Investment Operations:

• Perform daily cash management functions, including cash sweep/transfers, reconciliations, and settlements with custodian and other external counterparties.
• Prepare detailed cash forecasts, investment trade and rebalancing plans, and other reports necessary to facilitate effective portfolio management.
• Track operational fund balances and maintain bank account structures to maximize liquidity, interest earnings, and operation flexibility.
• Maintain daily, live cash forecast that includes all known cash flows across both public and private assets.
• Ensure capital calls, wire transfers, and investment manager funding/redemptions are executed in a timely, error-free manner.
• Complete documentation for investment subscriptions, trades, custodian account opening/closure, regulatory matters, and know-your-customer and AML inquires.
• Track all liquidity terms and provisions across all portfolio holdings, including share class/tranche information and trading requirements.
• Identify, analyze, and communicate any discrepancies or questions arising from normal operational workflow and recommend solutions to the investment team and/or external counterparties.
• Verify investment managers’ fees, custodian fees, and performance fees.
• Lead/manage investment-operations projects and other ad hoc requests.
• Track and reconcile unfunded commitments for all draw-down investment vehicles.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and settle all future cash flows for redeemed positions, updating cash forecasts accordingly.
• Oversee and manage all corporate actions to completion and troubleshoot any failed transactions/trades across the portfolio holdings.
• Oversee execution of investments, including review of contracts and coordination of subscription documents with the University’s Office of General Counsel.
• Collect and maintain up to date records of valuation, performance, exposure, and attribution reporting provided by investment managers.
• Independently address service problems or shortfalls with custodian and identify potential areas of improvement.
• Review and coordinate ongoing payment of invoices to all endowment service providers.
• Maintain investment document library of all legal documents related to investment positions.
• Ensure the reliability, security, and scalability of all technology platforms and systems.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry best practices to continuously improve the endowment's technology infrastructure and oversee relationships with external technology vendors.

Performance and Benchmarking:

• Assist with the Investment Office’s performance-reporting requirements by providing accurate and timely performance reports for various third parties.
• Oversee performance measurement and verification, including managers, composites, custodian records, and benchmark analysis.

Data Management:

• Manage data input into CRM system and other analytical platforms.
• Perform data-integrity reviews of the above systems to identify and fix possible data-entry errors or omissions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field with a strong academic background.
• Six to ten years of experience in investment operations, preferably with a multi-asset portfolio.
• Collegial, team-player mentality with the ability to stay positive under stressful conditions.
• Outstanding Excel skills and experience.
• Strong analytical skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritize independently and successfully respond to multiple simultaneous requests.
• Experience and sophistication with handling confidential information.
• Superb written and verbal communication skills.

• Desirable Qualifications:
  Prior investment experience with a fund-of-funds, consultant, endowment or family office.
• Strong skills in utilizing VBA Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of financial controls, investment accounting, and investment systems.
• Experience with Backstop Solutions, BNY Mellon’s NEXEN, Venn, Burgiss, and eVestment.
• Interest in/willingness to pursue CIPM and/or CTP designation(s).
• Experience preparing and reviewing reports/presentations for senior personnel.
• Ability to communicate complex financial concepts both orally and in writing.

Application Process:
In order to be considered, you MUST submit the following items:

• Résumé.
• Cover letter.

Skills assessments:
Candidates will be assessed on the following during the interview process:

• Experience in investment operations and transactional processes.
• Knowledge of custodial/banking platforms and procedures.
• Written communication skills
• Excel skills