Chief Investment Officer

The Role

Reporting into the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), we are seeking a Chief Investment Officer (CIO) that will be strategically responsible for driving investment performance, setting and embedding a successful investment vison and philosophy, whilst developing the strategy and a diverse range of high quality, investment capabilities to enable the growth of assets (currently c.£30bn under stewardship). These assets are invested across both internal and external investment strategies in both public and private markets.

As a member of the Executive Committee, the CIO will significantly contribute to the wider business strategy, culture and philosophy of LGPS Central. The CIO will specifically lead and inspire a c.40 strong investment management function, accountable for the full breadth of LGPS Central’s investment activities. This will include supporting a high performing, collaborative and customer centric investment function, and defining and evolving investment capabilities that ensure a robust and credible investment proposition.

The CIO will also have a high-profile external role representing LGPS Central from an investment perspective, developing confidence and trusted relationships with Partner Funds and acting as the investment leadership ambassador externally.

We are seeking an individual with a genuine motivation to lead and evolve the investment capability within a purpose led public pension pool. Providing our Partner Funds with an increasingly capable platform to improve returns on their combined £56bn of assets. The outcome of your investment performance will have a direct, tangible impact on the livelihoods and retirements of c.1 million local government pension scheme members.

The Person

We are seeking an accomplished investment executive who can showcase relevant investment expertise alongside highly developed business and people leadership skills. In addition, the successful candidate will have a genuine interest in joining a purpose led organisation with a tangible public benefit.

Executive ability is essential, contributing to the broader business strategy and establishing the right vision, culture and capabilities for the investment management function.

You will have a keen interest and ability in inspiring, developing and leading high performing teams, along with specifically nurturing and coaching the investment leadership talent of the future.

Proven ability to develop investment capabilities across multiple asset classes using internally and externally managed strategies and across both Private and Public markets.

A genuine interest in responsible and sustainable investment is important along with the experience of successfully embedding this in investment culture and decision making.

An interest and ability to be an external spokesperson and specifically develop constructive Partner Funds relationships as the key investment representative.

Local candidates or experience operating as a CIO for an in-house DB pension scheme, Pool or Institutional Asset Manager are desirable.

LGPS Central

LGPS Central Ltd (LGPSC / ’the Company’) is the FCA-regulated asset manager for eight local authority pension funds across the Midlands, with combined assets of approximately £56bn, and representing the retirement savings of around 1 million scheme members across over 2,000 employers. Our Partner Funds are the Cheshire Pension Fund, Derbyshire Pension Fund, Leicestershire Pension Fund, Nottinghamshire Pension Fund, Shropshire Pension Fund, Staffordshire Pension Fund, the West Midlands Pension Fund and the Worcestershire Pension Fund. LGPS Central is jointly owned on an equal shares’ basis by all of its Partner Funds and we are one of eight Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) asset pools in England and Wales.

The aim of LGPS Central is to utilise the combined buying power of its Partner Funds to reduce costs, improve investment returns and widen the range of available asset classes for investment – all for the benefit of local government pensioners, employees and employers.

As of March 2024, LGPS Central is directly responsible for around £30bn of assets across multiple asset classes, including £20bn within Public Markets (Active & Passive, Equity & Fixed Income), £5bn within Private Markets (Private Equity, Property, Infrastructure & Private Credit) and £5bn within a range of Advisory Mandates. The volume of assets is expected to continue to grow, and over the next few years LGPS Central will continue to expand the Private Markets offering.

LGPS Central is passionate about and committed to responsible investment (RI) and believe that the integration of responsible investment factors supports long-term, risk-adjusted returns. We have made responsible investment a core part of the investment process in every asset class and in every investment mandate held and have the objective to be an exemplar for RI within the financial services industry.

LGPS Central Limited provides an exciting, supportive and family-friendly working environment, and we are committed to helping our people achieve their full potential and a healthy work-life balance. We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership, status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.

This is a unique opportunity for an investment leader to provide a tangible public benefit within the Midlands region, for further information, please reach out to John Rainsbury: John.Rainsbury@sandersonplc.com

Closing date: 31^st May