Senior Investment Director, Real Assets

AustralianSuper is the largest superannuation fund in Australia – in the top 20 largest funds globally and top 50 asset owners globally.

With more than US $230 billion in current assets under management, and a world-class investment team, AustralianSuper has the appetite and capability to directly invest in large-scale opportunities.

Our New York office is made up of more than 70 colleagues and is expected to grow significantly over the next few years; so, when you join, you become a key part of building our culture.

Your new role

As Senior Investment Director, Real Assets, you will have the opportunity to lead the implementation of the Real Assets Portfolio Strategy/sub-sector Strategy by taking primary responsibility for ongoing asset management, value creation and ensuring transactions are underwritten with business plans capable and resourced for execution.

The Real Assets Portfolio Strategy involves the ongoing pursuit and management of direct infrastructure and real estate investments, within targeted subsectors, across global developed markets. The Senior Investment Director, Real Assets will be responsible for the effective execution of this strategy in the US and Europe, with a particular focus on value creation as a Board Director and Asset Lead across a number of assets and driving the conversation around value creation across the International Real Assets portfolio across Board governance and oversight, portfolio company business plans and ensuring that AustralianSuper has the internal team capability to support and drive financial returns within the portfolio.

This is a newly created position, that is based on-site at 1251 Avenues of the Americas, with a hybrid work schedule; and reports to the Head of American Real Assets. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Relationships and stakeholder management
  • Build and maintain close relationships with corporates, co-investors, GPs, government agencies, consultants and agents to influence value creation outcomes. 
  • Nurture and maintain internal relationships across all levels of the Fund.
• Asset management
  • Enhance and continuously improve asset management that drives value in the investments held within the Real Assets Portfolio, including the monitoring, review, performance analysis and reporting of the existing portfolio. 
  • Lead and oversee Asset Management Teams to drive excellence as well as encourage collaboration across asset teams and sharing of best practice and holding Asset Management Teams accountable for delivery of key agreed outcomes. 
  • Act as AustralianSuper’s appointed Board Director or Observer to Real Asset portfolio companies.
• Investment management
  • Monitor, review, oversee performance analysis, investor governance and reporting on assets held within the Portfolio. 
  • Responsible for co-sponsor relationship management on transactions.
• Transaction management
  • Assist with transaction execution, investment review, analysis and negotiation of new investments, with a particular focus on transition planning, 100-day plan and value creation, ensuring that the operational underwriting is consistent.
• Portfolio management/analysis
  • Monitor, review and provide input into the strategic direction of the Portfolio, including focus areas for new investment and potential divestment activity.
• People and Fund Leadership 
  • Motivate and inspire the team and suppliers by demonstrating commitment to the Fund’s values, decision pillars and leadership principles. 
  • Hire and develop a high performing, diverse and engaged team who will support the successful delivery of the Fund’s strategic ambitions, and are innovative, resilient and equipped to deal with ambiguity. 
• Governance and Compliance
  • Contribute to leadership of the team to operate and make decisions according to the Fund’s Policies, Standards and Procedures and the Fund’s Key Decision Registers and the delegated authorities.
  • Ensure appropriate and relevant governance structures, policies and processes are followed, and advocate for continuous improvement.
  • Ensure risk is managed in accordance with the Fund’s Risk Management Framework including risk identification and management, risk profiling, risk reporting and incident management. 
     

What you’ll need  

• Significant experience (15+ years) in the sector as an investment manager, principal sponsor or financial advisor with individual responsibility for investment outcomes.

• Experience with the acquisition and ongoing management of infrastructure assets.

• Portfolio strategy development and implementation.

• Relevant tertiary qualifications