Senior Portfolio Manager - Real Assets (Real Estate & Infrastructure)

Senior Portfolio Manager – Real Assets (Real Estate & Infrastructure)

Leeds (hybrid working)

Competitive Salary & Benefits

An opportunity to make a difference

At Border to Coast our purpose is to make a difference. As a customer-owned and customer-focused organisation, integrity is one of our values, as is our collaborative and sustainable approach. Our focus is to secure the pensions of over a million people who have provided valuable service to their communities and society. We’re the largest UK asset manager outside London or Edinburgh, and we provide innovative investments that deliver sustainable returns over the long term.

As part of our 2030 Strategic Plan, we’re looking to recruit additional experienced colleagues to our Alternatives team, recognising the increasing scale and scope of our private markets programme.

Senior Portfolio Manager – Real Assets (Real Estate & Infrastructure)

We are looking for a Senior Portfolio Manager to join our Alternatives function, to support the growth of our Global Real Estate, Infrastructure, UK Opportunities, and local investing programmes.

You will be responsible for the oversight and management of multiple investment strategies in accordance with the Border to Coast Investment Policy, investment process, procedures and relevant legal or regulatory documentation. The role also required line management of Portfolio Manager colleagues, in line with SMCR requirements.

We are interested in hearing from highly experienced Portfolio Managers with either generalist experience across alternatives or specialists investing in global Real Estate and/or Infrastructure private market funds (and co-investments), along with good knowledge of strategies focussed on ‘additionality’, which deliver financial returns whilst contributing to the growth of the UK or regional economy. This role would suit those with an interest and ability in managing and leading other Portfolio Managers to be successful.

In the role you will lead the Real Assets portfolio (Real Estate – Global Core & Global Value Add, Infrastructure and UK Opportunities) for Border to Coast.

This will include:

• Providing effective leadership throughout your area of responsibility
• Oversight and management of multiple investment strategies.
• Manage portfolio/sub-fund within defined risk parameters
• Evaluating new investment opportunities (typically fund opportunities and co-investments) and executing investment transactions, regularly reviewing the performance, attribution, exposure and risk metrics of the sub-fund / portfolio.
• Preparation and maintenance of extensive due diligence reports, supporting investment decision making and portfolio construction using internal and external sources of data and research.
• You will also develop strong relationships with external managers and other industry participants.
• In addition, you will participate in investment team meetings, liaise with the research and risk team to ensure an integrated investment approach and provide feedback on the quality, depth and focus of research.
• You will also lead and develop the supporting Portfolio Managers within the team.

Educated to Degree level and with a suitable investment management qualification, you will have relevant experience in investing into Private Market funds, leading due diligence, including reviewing investment, operational and ESG factors. You will also demonstrate clear investment decision making and portfolio and risk management experience.

With a keen interest in and understanding of investment markets, long-term investment, and a commitment to responsible investment and sustainability, you will have experience of using investment management software, problem solving and decision-making capability and strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.

Border to Coast

Border to Coast is the largest LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) pool in the UK. It is owned by 11 Local Government Pension Schemes (‘Partner Funds’). The Partner Funds represent 3,100 employers and over a million members.

The Partner Funds are Bedfordshire, Cumbria, Durham, East Riding, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Surrey, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and Warwickshire.

The Partner Funds have c.£64bn in investments, of which Border to Coast is responsible for managing £47.9bn (as of 31 March 2024). Border to Coast also provides support and advice on a further £8.2bn, primarily invested in index funds, which sit outside of the pool.

Border to Coast offers its 11 Partner Funds investment opportunities across equities, fixed income, private markets, and global and UK real estate.

Our purpose is to make a difference for the LGPS. We seek to do this by providing cost-effective and innovative investment opportunities delivering returns over the long term for our Partner Funds, their employers and over 1.1 million LGPS members.

Since launch, Border to Coast has been awarded many accolades: ‘Best Pool of the Year’ at the LAPF Investment Awards three years out of four, most recently winning ‘Pool Innovation of the Year’, named at the Professional Pensions UK Pensions Awards as ‘Equity’ and ‘Alternatives Manager of the Year’, and our Climate Change report has won Pensions for Purpose awards two years in a row.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We have an open and supportive culture with a commitment to learning and valuing everyone’s skills and contribution.