Assistant Director – Investment Strategy

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in becoming South Yorkshire Pensions Authority’s next Assistant Director- Investment Strategy.
We are proud of the track record that South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA) has achieved over a long period. As we progress, we are seeking to build on this, whilst preserving the long-term stability of our pension fund. That is where you come in……
We are looking forward to recruiting an Assistant Director for Investment Strategy who will further develop our thinking and help us realise our ambitions.
You will be joining us as our current incumbent is retiring after a sterling service of more than 30 years, and who has been instrumental in shaping our approach to investment throughout our existence.
Like all Local Government Pension funds, we have a big agenda for the services for which you will be responsible over the next few years. This includes completion of the pooling process working with our partners within the Border to Coast Pensions Partnership, driving our Net Zero ambitions in a way which delivers real world impact, taking forward the delivery of our Place Based Impact strategy with its focus on South Yorkshire and delivering the regular reviews of our Investment Strategy which gives us pause to reflect on our overall approach and investment beliefs.
This is a vital role leading the Authority’s investment function the success of which is crucial to ensuring we have the money necessary to pay pensions when they are due and just as importantly contributing to the overall management of a unique organisation within the Local Government Pension Scheme. While your team is small it is talented, committed and highly motivated to deliver and has risen to every challenge it has been presented with. You will also be working with extremely talented and supportive independent advisers who provide a priceless source of knowledge and advice and an incredibly supportive Pensions Authority who have clear views on how they want to invest and what they are looking to achieve and have been prepared where necessary to back this commitment with investment in strengthening the organisation.
We are looking for a strategic leader with experience in setting, directing and implementing a successful Investment Strategy. As you will also be managing a team, it is vitally important that you have good people management skills and can work with a variety of stakeholders, tailoring your communication style to different audiences in a way that the information can be fully understood. Building good working relationships is crucial for this role. Beyond this we are looking for someone who is able to contribute to the overall management of the organisation as part of our Senior Management Team.
The strength of our investment function has in recent years been recognised with various awards:

• Pensions for Purpose – Place Based Impact Investment 2023
• LAPF Investment Awards - LGPS Fund of the Year (Assets over £2.5bn) 2022
• Pensions for Purpose – Impact Investing Adopters Award 2021

It really is an exciting time to be joining us as we look to build on the strengths that have been recognised in the awards success and on the strong funding position we have achieved.
Qualifications and experience you will bring to the role:

• Degree or equivalent, or significant vocational experience showing development in a series of progressively more demanding relevant work/ roles either within the financial services / investment management industry or the pensions industry / local government pension scheme.
• An investment related qualification such as the IMC or CFA is essential, while an additional pension qualification such as PMI or the CFA ESG certificate is desirable.
• Experience of working within the investment management industry and of the management of investments on behalf of pension funds is essential, while experience of doing this in a public sector scheme such as the Local Government Pension Scheme is desirable.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computerised business systems in terms of functionality and capability.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, policies and procedures relating to business planning and financial and organisational management.
• Proven written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with internal and external partners/ professionals.
• Ability to analyse complex information and draw conclusions.
• Problem solving skills with the ability to exercise high levels of initiative to devise and implement workable solutions.
• Aptitude and willingness to manage a range of projects through to completion.

Our newly refurbished Barnsley office provides a state-of-the-art working environment, we have free on-site parking and are located within 10 minutes’ walk of both the train and bus stations, which makes us easily accessible. At SYPA we are big on your professional development, you’ll have a learning and development plan, and we’ll support you to keep your CPD updated. Perhaps most importantly you will be welcomed by talented teams.
If you are interested in joining our team and are inspired to help lead the next phase of our journey, we look forward to your application.
We encourage you to click the below link to visit our campaign website which includes more information on SYPA, the role, key useful documents and how to apply:

https://nyresourcing.co.uk/south-yorkshire-pensions-authority-assistant-director-investment-strategy/

Closing date: Midnight Wednesday 29 May 2024