Senior Investment Strategist, Portfolio Strategy and Research

We are the Kaitiaki / Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation. We are proud of our Te Whāinga / Our purpose: Sustainable investment delivering strong returns for all New Zealanders. We invest government contributions to the NZ 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 NZ Super Fund was named the world’s best-performing sovereign wealth fund. The work is complex, innovative and intellectually stimulating. Sustainable finance, including a commitment to being net zero by 2050, is core to our Mātāpono / way of working.


The Role
The Portfolio Strategy and Research team connects the Fund’s Asset Allocation function and its asset class and Portfolio Completion teams. It is responsible for researching investment opportunities and developing investment strategies that align with the Fund’s investment objectives.

The Senior Investment Strategist leads opportunity research and idea generation, acts as strategy lead for implementation, and owns the ongoing post-implementation appraisal. This entails ownerships of a set of opportunities from end to end, including the research and investment strategy for how each one is accessed and paced, and then working alongside Portfolio Managers to make sure individual deals fit the thesis and the total portfolio. As opportunities compete for capital, the role carries responsibility for forming, and maintaining, a clear view of relative attractiveness across the portfolio.The role is market-facing, with regular engagement with peers, external managers and partners through manager reviews, portfolio calls and offshore manager/peer visits.

• Integrate Asset Allocation views with bottom-up asset selection insights to support total portfolio construction and recommend which opportunities the Fund should or should not invest in.

• Leading opportunity research and idea generation. Develop opportunity investment strategies and act as strategy lead for implementation.

• Reviewing proposed transactions through a total portfolio lens, testing whether return expectations are reasonable and risks properly priced.
• Forecasting returns and keeping an up-to-date view of market pricing for opportunities.
• Building and maintaining investment frameworks, models and tools, and providing fast, high-quality analysis on specific assets.
• Contributing to total portfolio reporting and Investment Committee papers and discussions.
• Coaching others to strengthen total portfolio thinking across the Investments team.
• Building external networks with peers, managers and advisers to bring market insight into the Guardians.

• A strong grounding in portfolio construction, asset allocation or multi-asset strategy.
• Substantial investment research experience, ideally across multiple asset classes, with a track record of making clear recommendations and following them through.
• Experience with transactions, either direct or through external managers, is highly regarded.
• Private markets and alternatives experience is helpful, as many of the Fund’s active investments sit in this space.
• Experience with financial modelling, valuation and scenario analysis.
• Confident and constructive with an inherent orientation towards collaboration. You can defend a position under pressure from both sides, but you’re just as willing to change your mind when the evidence says so.

• A genuine whole-of-portfolio role at one of the world’s leading Sovereign Wealth Funds, with a meaningful contribution to the Fund’s allocation of capital.
• Exposure to the full investment process, from the generation of research ideas through to Investment Committee approval and implementation.
• A small, experienced and diverse team that works with a high level of trust, transparency and autonomy.
• Regular contact with external managers and global markets.
• A competitive remuneration package including base salary, a discretionary bonus programme and up to 8% KiwiSaver matching.
• World-class professional development, career pathways and job rotation opportunities.
• A comprehensive leave and benefits programme, including a strong parental leave package and insurance cover.
• A flexible and accessible work environment that reflects the Guardians’ commitment to equity and inclusion.

How to apply:
We encourage and welcome applications from people with diverse experience, including applicants interested in discussing flexible work options and those 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.

We recognise the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and invest in partnership with a range of Iwi/Māori organisations. We warmly welcome and value Mana Whenua who wish to work with us. We are committed to understanding Te Ao Māori and integrating it into our workplace culture, for the benefit of all future generations in Aotearoa.

To be considered for this position, please contact Dave Rees – Managing Partner at Convergence Partners on 021 511 466 or email [email protected]

We are partnering with Convergence Partners for this role so please apply as above, we will not be reviewing direct applications.