Job Details

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private, nonpartisan foundation that provides access to opportunities that help people achieve financial stability, upward mobility, and economic prosperity – regardless of race, gender, or geography. The Foundation uses its grantmaking, research, programs, affiliates, and initiatives to support the start and growth of new businesses, a more prepared workforce, and stronger communities. Our work is grounded in the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and is consistent with the aspirations of our founder, Ewing Marion Kauffman.

Based in Kansas City, Missouri, the Kauffman Foundation is one of the largest foundations in the United States with an asset base of approximately $3 billion. While striving to have national impact and global reach, the Foundation is deeply committed to Kansas City, as evidenced by work on initiatives that reach into neighborhoods and enrich the community and quality of life in the region. For more information about the Foundation, please visit the website at www.kauffman.org. Details below.

The Investments Director, reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, has an important role on the Foundation's small and collaborative Investment Team. The Investment Team's goal is to grow the Foundation's endowment, to maximize capital available for grants and operations, now and in the future. The team develops strategies for allocating capital across a wide range of asset categories and manages a roster of external investment firms that implement specific strategies on our behalf.

The Investment Director has a role in helping to develop asset allocation strategies as well as selecting and monitoring external investment accounts and partnerships. The Investment Director will collaborate across departments, working closely with other Foundation associates including finance staff and legal counsel.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Monitoring existing investment managers across asset categories, including public and private equity, hedge funds, private credit, private real estate, and private energy. Provide updates to the investment team.
• Evaluation of external investment managers including an assessment of staff and resources, investment philosophy and process, compensation structures, operations and control procedures.
• Assess the potential risk and reward of individual investment strategies, and use statistical techniques to determine expectations for the overall portfolio.
• Measure the portfolios exposure to geographic regions, industries and other factors.
• Ongoing due diligence of investments including the validation of asset ownership and valuation, and identification of material changes in organizations or markets that potentially affect the Foundation's assets.
• Reviewing legal documents (in conjunction with legal counsel), financial statements, and manager reports.
• Helping to design and implement efficient systems and strong internal reporting. This will include working with our research management system, Dynamo, and portfolio exposure and analytics system, Caissa.
• Pitching in on administrative activities including the organization of electronic files and documentation, coordination and tracking of cash flows, the establishment of new accounts, management of vendor relationships, etc.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education: An MBA or Master's degree in a related field or a CFA charter required.

Work Experience: Minimum of five years practical experience in an investment-related field.

Travel: This position may require up to 33% business travel.

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates in this position must be highly motivated, capable of self-directed work, detail-oriented and able to work collaboratively across teams and departments. Candidates must exhibit a keen sense of responsibility and enjoy working with multiple demands, shifting priorities and constant change.

• Experience with asset allocation and manager selection in a multi-manager portfolio context.
• Experience investing in managers across an array of asset classes including public and private equity and hedge funds.
• Personal integrity and dedication to ethical conduct.
• Team player mentality and strong interpersonal skills.
• Tenacious work ethic, reliability, and sense of urgency as appropriate; dedication to meeting deadlines, often with time to spare.
• Keen intellectual curiosity and appreciation for the process of research and serendipitous learning.
• Ability to read and understand audited financial statements.
• Ability to read and understand legal documents (in conjunction with legal counsel).
• Experience working with Dynamo or Caissa preferred.
• Exceptional analytical skills.
• Easy facility with performance measurement, complex financial models and computational tools.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to balance independence and self-sufficiency with effective team communication and assimilation of assigned priorities and group goals.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Committed to the values of the Foundation.
• Able to develop a solid understanding of the Foundation's activities and overall objectives in order to act as an ambassador of the Foundation.

All of the statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required. This document describes the position currently available. The organization reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Kauffman Foundation firmly supports the principle and philosophy of equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected category pursuant to applicable federal, state or local law.

TO APPLY

Interested applicants can apply for this position by submitting a cover letter and resume. Job posting will be removed at 12pm CT on Monday, February 10, 2025.

Please note that this role is Kansas City, MO based and associates must reside in the Kansas City metropolitan area.