Managing Director

WILLIAMS COLLEGE ENDOWMENT

Based in Massachusetts, Williams College is a residential, private liberal arts institution known for outstanding teaching and scholarship and the academic excellence of its approximately 2,000 students. Williams is committed to welcoming and educating talented students, irrespective of their financial resources, meeting 100 percent of every student’s demonstrated financial need. Aided by strong long-term endowment returns, in 2022 Williams became the first school in the U.S. to offer “all-grant” financial aid, with no loans or required work-study or summer earnings contributions. 

The college established the Investment Office in 2006 to provide internal professional oversight of the endowment’s growing asset pool and increasingly complex portfolio. The $3.5 billion endowment supports over 50 percent of Williams’ operating budget. 

As a fiduciary to the college, the Investment Office maintains a strong working relationship with college leadership and aligns on various strategic and educational initiatives including environmental sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion. On the educational front, the Investment Office has worked with over 125 students through full-time, summer, and winter student programs on investment management. 

The Investment Office takes pride in its responsibility to the Williams community and seeks investment excellence to support the college’s mission; it does this through the selection and partnership with best-in-class investment managers spanning the globe and nine asset classes. 

More information on the team and investment program can be found at https://investment.williams.edu/. 

POSITION

Reporting to the Chief Investment Officer, Williams College is seeking an exceptional leader and investor who will be responsible for the private equity (buyouts and venture capital) portfolio. As a senior leader of the investment office, s/he will work on asset allocation and portfolio construction and will invest in the team via recruiting, training, management, and mentoring of colleagues. The successful candidate will be someone who appreciates, is willing to contribute to, and will help grow Williams’ culture and who is excited to further enhance a high performing investment portfolio and team.  Williams is deeply committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The successful candidate will work effectively and respectfully with people from a variety of diverse backgrounds in a collaborative setting.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will take a lead role in sourcing, evaluating, and monitoring external managers, and will participate in decisions related to asset allocation, portfolio construction, and risk management. Additional responsibilities include:

Investment Management

• Sourcing and maintaining a pipeline of investment opportunities
• Conducting thorough due diligence including analysis of investment strategy, process, organization, realized and unrealized portfolio positions, and performance
• Preparing and presenting recommendations regarding new investment opportunities to Investment Office staff and to the Advisory and Investment Committee for review and approval
• Systematically monitoring and knowing the existing managers and investments 
• Remaining current on new managers and developing trends by attending conferences, annual meetings, and building and maintaining a well-developed network of contacts within the investment community 
• Articulating and defending opinions backed by rigorous analysis through both oral and written communication
• Working with the team to conduct investment portfolio analytics and liquidity projections
• Collaborating with the CIO and the rest of the team on asset allocation, portfolio construction, and liquidity and risk management decisions

Leadership

• Maintaining a network with the outside investment community to expand Williams’ knowledge regarding investment opportunities
• Representing the Investment Office with a range of constituents, including College committees and external general partners
• Acting as a team player; holding others accountable, providing clarity, encouragement, and feedback, as well as being receptive to feedback and making modifications to one’s approach and behaviors, as needed
• Recruiting, training, managing, mentoring, and inspiring junior colleagues

QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of twelve years of experience as an investor covering private equity/venture capital within an endowment, foundation, fund of funds, consultant, pension fund, family office or institutional asset management firm. Additional qualifications include: 

Skills & Knowledge

• A strong investment track record through complete market cycle(s)
• A deep knowledge of the venture capital/buyout fund market and industry
• An established network of those in a similar role and a recognized leader in that network
• Interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with Investment Office colleagues, industry peers, external managers, the campus community, and Investment and Advisory Committee members
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• A deep knowledge of fund structures, legal terms, etc.
• Superior organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated leadership skills across levels and functions 
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities

Qualities

• The highest level of integrity, honesty, and sense of fiduciary duty
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, an active leader of/contributor to team discussions, an ability to learn quickly, and an aptitude for taking on new areas of responsibility
• Collegial and collaborative team member; able to work effectively in a small team and contribute to areas beyond the direct scope of responsibility
• An effective and supportive manager of people
• High “EQ” and ability to work effectively with multiple constituencies
• Genuine interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives
• Strong academic credentials; MBA and CFA or similar professional designations are preferred

LOCATION

Boston, MA

CONTACT

Please contact williams@davidbarrettpartners.com to apply

Conditions of Employment

Employment at Williams is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant, including the completion of a criminal record check, and education when applicable. COVID-19 vaccination with booster or approved exemption and compliance with COVID-19 related policies are required as a condition of employment at Williams.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Beyond meeting fully its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn and thrive. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please feel free to contact us via phone at (413) 597-2681 or email at hr@williams.edu.

 
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