Deputy Chief Investment Officer

Job DetailsLevel: ManagementJob Location: Penn Center - Denver, CO 80203Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $335,000.00 - $415,000.00 SalarySummary of Job Responsibilities

The Deputy Chief Investment Officer (Deputy CIO) is responsible for leadership and oversight of Colorado PERA’s private market investments program, including Private Equity, Real Estate, and Alternatives asset classes. This role partners closely with the Chief Investment Officer to implement total fund strategy, with primary responsibility for driving strategy execution within private markets, ensuring strong investment outcomes, disciplined portfolio governance and construction, and effective integration with the broader total fund. 

The Deputy CIO also works in close coordination with the Investment Operating Officer, who oversees the business and operational platforms supporting investments. Together, these roles ensure both investment excellence and operational execution. 

 

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate is a strategic and collaborative investment leader who brings deep private markets expertise, strong fiduciary judgment, and a proven ability to lead high-performing teams in a complex institutional environment. This person will be energized by the opportunity to shape long-term investment strategy, partner closely with the Chief Investment Officer, and help strengthen Colorado PERA’s investment program through thoughtful decision-making, clear communication, and disciplined execution. The strongest candidates will combine technical credibility across private equity, real estate, and alternatives with sound leadership instincts, a commitment to integrity and accountability, and the ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues, investment partners, consultants, and Board stakeholders.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Individuals must be able to perform these duties with or without reasonable accommodations.


Provides senior leadership and oversight of PERA’s private market investment program, including Private Equity, Real Estate and Alternatives asset classes
Develops, in conjunction with asset class leadership, private markets investment strategies designed to achieve long-term return objectives within approved risk parameters
Ensures alignment with total fund objectives, liquidity needs, and risk tolerances; collaborates with the CIO on asset allocation and strategic positioning 
Serves as a key member of the Investment leadership team and, in partnership with the CIO, helps shape the long-term vision, strategy, governance, culture, and performance of the Investment department
Monitors legal, regulatory, and policy developments affecting public pensions systems and evaluates potential implications for investment strategy, portfolio management, governance, and fiduciary responsibilities
Provides leadership and oversight of private markets teams and senior investment professionals; responsible for performance evaluation of direct reports
Depending on organizational structure and business needs, may directly lead one private market asset class and assume corresponding investment and team leadership responsibilities
Exercises significant discretion and judgment in private market investment, portfolio construction, manager selection, and commitment decisions within established governance and delegated authority frameworks
Supports organizational resiliency through recruitment and succession planning within private markets; develops and mentors staff, building long-term institutional capability  
Establishes clear accountability, decision-making frameworks, and investment processes 
Partners with the CIO and investment leadership to identify, assess, and manage portfolio, liquidity, concentration, operational, and governance risks
Ensures compliance with investment policies and governance standards 
Oversees the development and review of applicable materials for the Board and Investment Committee, serving as a subject matter expert for private markets in Board discussions
Acts as the investment department liaison for the Defined Contribution Plans, participating on the Defined Contribution Committee, and contributing to the oversight of manager selection and evaluation activities in the Plans
Partners with the Investment Operating Officer to align private market investment strategy execution with capital activity, scalable operational processes, and data integrity, reporting, and performance measurement 
Provides input on systems, resources, and infrastructure enhancements to support investment systems modernization and long-term operational success
Maintains awareness of market developments, trends, and best practices in private markets 
Supports the CIO and represents the investment program with investment managers, industry organizations, peer institutions, consultants, and other external s