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Open Position

Investment Associate

Title: Investment Associate
Location: 444 Madison Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 
Reports to: Chief Investment Officer
Status: Full time, exempt (must have ability to be in-person)

The mission of the Doris Duke Foundation (DDF) is to improve the quality of people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties. DDF’s activities are guided by the will of Doris Duke, who endowed the foundation with financial assets that currently total over $2 billion.

As a member of the investments team, the investment associate will directly contribute to the foundation’s charitable purpose. Through responsible management of the endowment, the investments team’s mission is to enable the continuation and expansion of the foundation’s grantmaking capacity.

JOB SUMMARY
The investment associate will join a small, dynamic team that aims to generate strong, riskadjusted returns for the foundation’s $2 billion-plus endowment. The portfolio has been allocated to top tier, global fund managers across public and private strategies including venture capital, hedge funds, private equity and impact investments. The investment associate will play a critical role in helping the team manage the portfolio while benefiting from cross-asset class exposure, professional development opportunities and mentoring within a collaborative team culture. The investment associate will work closely with the senior investment professionals on all aspects of managing the portfolio, including in-depth monitoring of fund manager relationships, evaluation of potential new investments, and qualitative and quantitative analysis of the portfolio’s characteristics. The role will be structured as a two- to three-year position, designed to provide meaningful institutional investing experience to a professional early in their asset management career.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The investment associate will be managing their time across the following functions for the portfolio: 

  • Assist in oversight of the current portfolio
    • Preparation for and participation in fund manager meetings
    • Aggregation and evaluation of manager and portfolio-level data
    • Support of portfolio-level risk analysis
    • Support of strategic and tactical asset allocation decisions, especially through quantitative analysis
  • Help with evaluation of new investment opportunities
    • Research on markets and manager ecosystems
    • Participation in meetings with potential fund manager partners
    • Analysis of market dynamics and manager track records
    • Support of due diligence processes
  • Management and maintenance of analysis software resources
  • Organization and monitoring of fund manager reporting streams
  • Preparation of quarterly presentations to the foundation’s Investment Committee
  • Support for special research and analytics projects arising from the changing needs of the portfolio, including the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion and mission-alignment initiatives
  • Contribution to the intellectual exchange and growth of the team by actively participating in team discussions

QUALIFICATIONS/CHARACTERISTICS

  • Bachelor’s degree with strong academic credentials
  • One to three years of relevant experience at an investment bank, asset management firm, endowment/foundation office or consulting firm (or a similar training ground)
  • Strong quantitative skills
  • Strong technological skills (including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint)
  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Strong multitasking and project management skills
  • Self-motivated, detail driven and authentic
  • Able to balance working independently in an entrepreneurial environment with being a strong team player
  • Mission-driven and excited about exploring the various ways in which DDF's focus areas improve people’s lives
  • Excited about exploring the various asset classes we have exposure to in the portfolio

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

  • Anticipated salary range is $90,000-$110,000 with ability to participate in an incentive bonus plan. Final salary offer will depend on experience.
  • Industry-leading benefits.

COVID-19 VACCINATION
As a condition of employment, new hires/employees are required to be up to date with an FDA-authorized vaccination against COVID-19, including bivalent booster; proof of vaccination series and boosters will be required upon beginning/continuing employment. Reasonable accommodation for legally required exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case-basis in accordance with applicable law.

HOW TO APPLY
Send résumé with cover letter to Joe Logan (jlogan@pinnaclegroup.com) and cc to hr@dorisduke.org. Include your last name followed by “Investment Associate, DDF” in the subject line. No phone calls or in-person applications, please.

OUR VALUES
The following values underpin everything we do in pursuit of our mission across the Doris Duke Foundation:

Integrity: We must be honest and ethical in all that we undertake. As a private foundation, we are accountable to the many stakeholders affected by our work.

Excellence: We will insist on the highest standards of performance in fulfilling our mission, will ground our work in best practices and will make decisions based on the best available information.

Openness and Imagination: We will be a listening and learning organization that is responsive to ideas and opinions from a variety of sources. We value imagination and creativity, the ability to think in new ways about the work we do and how we do it.

Collaboration: We value a collaborative and supportive environment in which to advance our mission and objectives. Creating a working environment that promotes trust, honesty and respect within our organization is as important as earning the trust and respect of our colleagues and peers in the fields in which we work.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We believe in the essential value that a diverse set of perspectives, experiences and abilities brings to the table. Our commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice is an ongoing, active engagement reflected in our funding areas, grantees, museums, centers, board and staff. At the core of our work is a dedication to serving and learning from organizations and individuals addressing inequities and working toward a more just, healthy and inclusive society. (Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and how we incorporate this value into our work.)

The Doris Duke Foundation is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in its work and workplace culture. We provide equal opportunity for employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law; and we strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations and communities to apply.