Dubai based, Head of Public Markets Investments, 300bn Sovereign Fund

Position Title: Head of Public Markets

Organization Type: Sovereign Wealth Fund

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Reports To: Chief Investment Officer

Assets Under Management: USD 300 billion

Position Summary

A leading $300bn sovereign wealth fund based in Dubai is seeking an experienced and visionary investment professional to join its team as Principal or Senior Principal – Public Markets . This newly created role offers the opportunity to build and lead the institution’s public markets platform, with responsibility for asset allocation, manager selection, and overall strategic direction across listed asset classes.

This is a rare opportunity to shape and scale a global public market investment program from within one of the world’s most prominent institutional investors.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the sovereign fund’s public markets investment strategy, aligned with long-term objectives and risk appetite.
• Collaborate with the CIO and senior leadership to integrate public markets into the broader portfolio, complementing private market exposures.
• Design and implement best-practice governance, policies, and operational procedures for the public market program.

Portfolio Design & Allocation

• Formulate a global asset allocation strategy across listed equities, fixed income, commodities, and liquid alternatives.
• Continuously assess macroeconomic and geopolitical developments to inform allocation decisions.
• Establish performance benchmarks and risk parameters.

External Manager Selection

• Identify and engage leading external fund managers across asset classes and geographies.
• Lead mandate negotiations, ensuring strategic alignment and cost-efficiency.
• Monitor manager performance and oversee regular due diligence processes.

Team Building & Leadership

• Build and lead a lean, high-caliber investment team focused on public markets.
• Foster a culture of analytical excellence, collaboration, and accountability.
• Mentor junior professionals and promote talent development.

Risk Management & Oversight

• Collaborate with internal risk and analytics teams to ensure comprehensive risk identification and mitigation.
• Ensure compliance with internal guidelines and external regulatory standards.

Reporting & Stakeholder Communication

• Provide regular updates to senior management and board-level stakeholders on portfolio performance, market dynamics, and strategic positioning.
• Represent the public markets vertical in discussions with external partners, regulators, and institutional peers.

Candidate Profile

Essential Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of experience in public market investing, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within a sovereign fund, pension, endowment, or institutional asset manager.
• Deep knowledge of public market strategies, asset allocation, and portfolio construction.
• Proven experience managing external managers and building scalable investment frameworks.
• Advanced degree (MBA, CFA, or equivalent) in finance, economics, or a related field.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and leadership skills.

Preferred Attributes

• Global investment perspective with experience across developed and emerging markets.
• Ability to operate in a dynamic, build-out environment with a strategic and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong communication skills and stakeholder management capability.
• Arabic language skills a plus, but not required.