Dubai based, Director – Public Markets Investment Allocation - Sovereign Fund

Director – Public Markets Investment Allocation

Location: Dubai, UAE

Seniority: Director

Experience: 10+ years

About the Role

A sovereign-backed investment platform in Dubai is seeking a seasoned Director – Public Markets Investment Allocation to lead the deployment and ongoing management of a public markets portfolio. The initial allocation will be $100 million, with a long-term mandate to grow the portfolio to $1.5 billion across multiple asset classes.

This is a high-impact, strategic role that requires deep understanding of public markets, portfolio construction, and institutional risk frameworks. The successful candidate will shape investment policy, select external managers, and directly influence long-term capital allocation decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic allocation and portfolio construction for an institutional public markets portfolio
• Oversee the deployment of the initial $100 million allocation, with clear planning for scale-up to $1.5 billion over time
• Design and manage the investment governance framework including benchmarks, limits, and liquidity parameters
• Evaluate and select external fund managers across asset classes (equities, fixed income, hedge funds, etc.)
• Monitor portfolio performance, exposures, and compliance with risk and return objectives
• Present portfolio insights, performance updates, and recommendations to the investment committee and executive leadership
• Stay informed on global macro trends, capital markets activity, and peer practices
• Collaborate with internal risk, compliance, and operations teams to ensure robust oversight

Candidate Profile

• 10+ years of experience in public markets investing, manager selection, asset allocation, or OCIO/advisory roles
• Deep knowledge of global equity and fixed income markets, fund structures, and institutional-grade portfolio design
• Strong command of investment risk frameworks, performance attribution, and governance principles
• Demonstrated experience in scaling and managing institutional portfolios
• Experience interacting with investment committees, senior stakeholders, and external managers
• Strong analytical, presentation, and decision-making skills
• CFA charterholder or equivalent professional qualification preferred
• Previous experience in a sovereign wealth fund, pension, family office, or endowment is highly regarded