ABOUT FORDHAM UNIVERSITY:

Founded in 1841 on the grounds of Rose Hill Manor in the Bronx by Bishop John Hughes, Fordham University opened its doors as St. John’s College. In 1846, the State of New York chartered the College, and Bishop Hughes transferred control of the College to a contingent of French Jesuits. Under a 1907 New York Board of Regents charter amendment, St. John’s College changed its corporate name to Fordham University.

Today, Fordham University stands as an independent, Jesuit, Catholic institution comprising nine schools and colleges across three campuses in New York. The University is dedicated to providing an education that, in the Jesuit tradition, aims for more than the transmission of technical or professional skills. To individuals of all and of no religious persuasion, Fordham encourages the cultivation of the whole person, fosters academic experiences that promote depth of thought and imagination, and promotes the pursuit of justice in accordance with the enduring values of Catholic social thought. Fordham affirms that reason and faith complement each other in the pursuit of wisdom, and encourage the maturation of faith consonant with intellectual and moral development while fostering critical thinking, ethical reflection, and precise expression. Although rooted in a tradition nearly 500 years old, Fordham strives to develop excellent 21st-century leaders who are capable of negotiating both the possibilities and the challenges posed by modern technology in our global society.

More than 16,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students are taught by a full-time faculty of approximately 800 on campuses in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Westchester County in New York. The University has a campus in London and supports programs in China and South Africa. The University has an annual operating budget of approximately $650 million and an endowment of approximately one billion dollars.

The University is committed to the discovery of wisdom and the transmission of learning, through research and through undergraduate, graduate, and professional education of the highest quality. Guided by its Catholic and Jesuit traditions, Fordham fosters the intellectual, moral, and religious development of its students and prepares them for leadership in a global society. 

POSITION SUMMARY:

Fordham University is seeking to recruit an outstanding leader and investor to oversee an investment portfolio totaling approximately $1 billion and an investment team of three (3) professionals. The Chief Investment Officer (CIO), along with being committed to and passionate about the University and its mission, should be an innovative, forward-thinking proven investor who should recognize and be excited about the opportunity to lead and continue to build an innovative and differentiated investment portfolio, while contributing to the growth and mission of the University.

The CIO is a principal member of the University’s executive leadership team responsible for devising the University’s investment strategy. Working in collaboration with the University’s senior leaders in Finance, the Board of Trustees Finance and Investment Committee, and the University’s external investment advisors, the CIO will build on past successes and articulate a vision and roadmap for investment strategy.    

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, the Chief Investment Officer will have overall responsibility for implementing the investment objectives and policies established by the University in consultation with the Board of Trustees Finance and Investment Committee. The CIO will be responsible for the overall management of Fordham’s investment portfolio, Finance and Investment Committee relations pertaining to the portfolio, principal liaison to external investment advisors and investment office personnel. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Investment Management:

• Guiding all aspects of Fordham’s investment objectives, policies, and processes as established by the Finance and Investment Committee.
• Sourcing, evaluating, and executing all investment strategies, including selection and monitoring of external investment managers, and oversight of all investment activities in consultation with the University’s external investment advisors.
• Conducting thorough due diligence on the most compelling prospective opportunities including analysis of investment strategy, process, organization, portfolio positions, and performance.
• Continually exploring, identifying, evaluating, and recommending new investment opportunities.
• Monitoring performance, portfolio positions, current events, and organizational changes of the investment fund managers and completing analytical reviews to evaluate the relative performance of each fund manager on a regular basis.
• Staying abreast of market conditions and developments that may affect Fordham’s investment holdings and strategies and acting proactively and appropriately to protect those interests.
• Negotiating management fees and investment guidelines with fund managers.
• Providing ongoing assessment to the Senior Vice President, CFO, and Treasurer, of the structure of the investment office and/or the use of outside consultants and resources.
• Demonstrating by example high levels of ethics, professionalism, collaboration, and teamwork.

Finance and Investment Committee Relations:

• Managing in close consultation with the Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer, the investment office’s relationship with the Board of Trustees Finance and Investment Committee.
• Seeking the Finance and Investment Committee's advice and counsel with regard to major aspects of investment Activities.
• Leveraging the Committee’s and the University’s networks, when appropriate, to develop and maintain a network with the outside investment community to expand office knowledge regarding investment opportunities.
• Regularly reporting investment results to the Finance and Investment Committee; informing and educating the Committee regarding potential investment strategies and changes in the portfolio. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business, with a minimum of eight years of experience as a senior investor at an endowment, foundation, family office, or related investment platform. Demonstrated record of investment and relevant work experience which includes third-party manager evaluation and direct managerial experience. MBA/CFA is preferred. Additional qualifications include:

• A proven investment track record and commitment to achieving excellence in investment performance, plus a reputation for sound investment judgment and risk management.
• Ability to portray Fordham as the desired investor to top-tier investment managers.
• Capacity to think creatively and explore themes and identify managers which are unique.
• A broad understanding of macroeconomics, portfolio theory, asset allocation, and portfolio construction.
• Ability to access independent network for manager evaluation and reference checking purposes.
• Highly collaborative and team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills.
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively with all constituencies, including investment Committee members, sophisticated investment professionals, and a broad array of other Fordham leadership.
• A patient and disciplined investor who seeks and accepts a high degree of personal responsibility.
• Highest standards of personal and professional ethics and integrity.
• Must be enthusiastic about being part of the University and contributing to its important mission.