Director, European Operations & Relationship Management (2 year contract)

Joining CPP Investments means joining one of the world’s most admired and respected institutional investors to drive a single mandate: to deliver strong, sustainable returns for generations of Canadians. With a long-term horizon and global reach, we deploy capital at scale across public and private markets. Our size, stability, and disciplined investment philosophy allow us to pursue complex opportunities and build enduring partnerships worldwide. For our people, this means meaningful work with tangible impact, real opportunity, and collaboration with exceptional colleagues who value partnership and performance.

The Role

As the Director you will support the Head of Europe in evolving the regional operating model to fully realize the value of the One Fund strategy. The role will work collaboratively across all Departments within the region, and globally, to build the connectivity and alignment necessary to achieve the Head of Europe’s vision for optimized performance that both leverages and contributes to CPPIB’s advantages. The role will be a key partner to both the Head of Europe and the Head of RM with the candidate acting as a bridge-builder across internal and regional external stakeholders. Internally, the role will drive the integration of the One Fund strategy into the European operating model. The role will serve as the European execution lead for the Global Relationship Management operating model, ensuring that Europe contributes to, and benefits from, a coordinated One Fund approach to strategic external relationships.

Team Accountabilities

• European Operations: You will assist the Head of Europe in developing and executing a regional strategy to maximize the value of acting as One Fund in the region, while also acting as a key stakeholder to the Chief Operating Officer on regional matters.
• Specific operational accountabilities for the European Director include:
• Supporting the Head of Europe in aligning local senior leadership on regional priorities, sourcing ideas and soliciting advice on regional business needs and building the cross-department connectivity needed to achieve the One Fund Strategy.
• Driving the integration of our global strategy into the region and ensuring that regional activities are aligned and nested with the broader enterprise strategy, while enabling the regional departmental strategies.
• Driving the coordinated execution of operational elements within the European region, including the integration of Employee Resource Groups, and representing the Office of the Head of Europe to resolve operational issues.
• Developing a strong understanding of how investment groups operate in the region and using this understanding to tailor a regional operating model to drive better investment outcomes.
• Regular engagement with regional and global Group Heads to understand the context of functional strategies and operations, align regional priorities and execution where appropriate, and help Departments’ strategic and executional effectiveness by sharing regional insights.
• Developing and enhancing processes to facilitate optimal information flow across departments in region and between Europe and Toronto on pertinent operational matters.
• Representing Europe on enterprise initiatives and at times leading complex cross-functional projects and initiatives to either support global strategy and/or drive value in the region.
• Closely collaborating with Corporate Services to create and implement strategies that ensure the full use of all new office space.
• Implementing CPPIB-wide initiatives in coordination with global and local teams.
• Facilitating regional knowledge sharing.

Relationship Management

• You will support the global Relationship Management efforts by helping identify and prioritize key relationships across Europe by gathering relevant market intelligence, internal feedback to ensure that CPPIB is viewing our global partnerships strategically and not as distinct regional elements.
• Specific relationship management accountabilities include:
• Working closely with the Global RM function to map, prioritize, and engage partners at the appropriate level.
• Acting as the local RM lead, partnering with regional Investment Groups to avoid duplication and maximize benefit to the total Fund, especially as it relates to One Fund opportunities in the “grey spaces” between established asset strategies.
• Pro-actively contributing to the CPPIB brand and reputation in Europe as a sophisticated investor and partner.

Culture building and other support for the Head of Europe

• You will support the Head of Europe and partner with local Talent leads in driving culture and employee engagement from a regional point of view.
• Accountabilities include:
• Advising as an honest broker for the Head of Europe.
• Preparing the Head of Europe for select SMT, Board of Director and Investment Strategy and Risk Committee meetings and presentations.
• Continuing to enhance regional culture and engagement by leading the planning and execution of various internal events including regional off‑sites, Inclusion & Diversity, Charity events and Lunch & Learn meetings.
• Assisting the Head of Europe with the adoption and integration of the One Fund Mindsets across the region (Enterprise Mindset, Owner Mindset, Continuous Improvement Mindset).
• Seeking opportunities to position the London office as an innovation and experimentation hub through the running of pilot projects and initiatives.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field
• Demonstrable experience in investment management, operations, or relationship management within a global organization
• Strong understanding of investment platforms and how different asset classes operate within a regional and global context
• Proven ability to build and manage senior stakeholder relationships across geographies and functions
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing without direct authority
• Strong communication and presentation skills, including experience supporting senior executives and leadership forums
• Ability to synthesize complex information and translate global strategy into regional execution
• Experience managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
• Strong judgment, problem-solving capability, and ability to operate as a trusted advisor

Inclusion & Accessibility

CPP Investments is committed to equitable access to employment and building a workforce that reflects diverse talent and perspectives. If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

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About Us

For 25 years, we’ve proudly invested the Canada Pension Plan Fund, helping to secure retirement for more than 22 million Canadians. We invest for the long term — and that includes our people. Here, you’ll work alongside high-calibre colleagues on meaningful challenges that have real-world impact. Our purpose drives us, our performance sets us apart, and our people make it possible.

Our Guiding Principles

Our guiding principles shape our culture. They define how we work and represent the values that guide our behaviours. They are Integrity, Partnership and High Performance.

Our Impact

We invest globally across public and private markets, managing capital on behalf of millions of contributors and beneficiaries. We focus on long-term value creation and responsible investing, with offices in major financial centres around the world.

What You Can Expect

• Meaningful work with measurable impact
• Exposure to complex, global challenges
• Opportunities for learning and growth
• Competitive total rewards and benefits
• Comprehensive wellness programs
• Inclusive and respectful of diverse perspectives

We provide colleagues with cutting-edge AI tools, dedicated learning time, and practical support to help them deliver with greater impact.