We are the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation. We are proud of our purpose: sustainable investment delivering strong returns for all New Zealanders. We invest government contributions to the New Zealand Super Fund, a global investment fund helping to ensure the country can pay for the growing cost of universal superannuation (New Zealand Superannuation) in the future. We also oversee the Elevate Fund, which invests in small, fast-growing New Zealand companies.

At the Guardians there’s an energy, passion and a shared commitment to excellence: in 2024 the New Zealand Super Fund was named the world’s best-performing sovereign wealth fund. The work is complex, innovative and intellectually stimulating.

In keeping with its long-term investment horizon and inter-generational nature, the Fund is growth-oriented and takes a sustainable finance approach. The Fund is invested globally in a wide range of investment strategies across public and private markets.

The opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to lead the team at the heart of the Guardians’ investment strategy. As Head of Portfolio Strategy and Research, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how the Fund allocates capital, balances risk, and delivers on its purpose for future generations. You’ll lead a talented team responsible for integrating top-down asset allocation with bottom-up asset selection, ensuring our portfolio is both innovative and resilient.

You’ll be a key voice at the leadership table, influencing the direction of the Fund and collaborating across teams to deliver world-class investment outcomes. Your work will directly impact the financial security of all New Zealanders, and you’ll have the chance to work on some of the most complex and rewarding investment challenges in the country.

What you'll do

• Lead, coach, and inspire the Portfolio Strategy and Research team, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Drive the integration of portfolio strategy and opportunity research, with a particular focus on bottom-up asset selection and fundamental analysis to inform investment decisions. Collaborate with the Asset Allocation team to ensure active risk is allocated based on deep, asset-level insights.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and the Investment Committee to set and execute the Fund’s investment strategy.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external partners, bringing global best practice and fresh thinking to the Guardians.
• Champion the Total Portfolio Approach by embedding bottom-up research and asset-level conviction into portfolio construction, ensuring alignment with long-term objectives and risk targets.

What you'll bring

• Proven leadership experience in investment strategy or portfolio construction, with a strong track record in bottom-up research and asset-level decision-making.
• Deep expertise in investment research and analysis, ideally across multiple asset classes and markets, with a focus on identifying and evaluating individual investment opportunities.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to present to boards and senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgement, analytical ability, and a passion for sustainable, long-term investing.
• A collaborative, constructive approach and the ability to see both the big picture and the technical detail.

How to apply

This role is being managed directly by the internal team at the Guardians. Please apply directly with your CV and cover letter highlighting your skills, experience and motivation for the role. If you have further questions, you can contact Aaron Gustofson, [email protected].

The Guardians encourages and welcomes applications from people with diverse experience, including applicants with specific disability needs. As a proudly committed equal opportunity employer, we challenge discrimination and actively work to eliminate bias in our hiring practices. Diversity of experience and diversity of background help us to solve complex problems and deliver on our purpose.