Senior Manager, Alternatives

About First Cape | Mo FirstCape

FirstCape is one of New Zealand’s largest and best resourced wealth advisory and asset management business, creating an enhanced and broadened product offering to help our clients achieve their goals at whatever stage of their investment life cycle. Here at FirstCape, we believe that our people are our greatest asset. Our success is dependent on the collective talent, expertise, and dedication of each and every one of our team members. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive, grow, and contribute to their fullest potential.

About the opportunity | Mo te whai waahi

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Manager, Alternatives to join our Investment Strategy & Research (IS&R) team.

The IS&R team is responsible for developing investment strategy and research materials that support advisers and clients in making informed investment decisions. In this newly established leadership role, you will have primary responsibility for building and leading our alternatives investment capability, including manager research, product strategy, portfolio integration and adviser education.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across the business, you will help shape the strategic role of alternative investments within client portfolios, enhancing risk-adjusted outcomes through thoughtful allocation to private markets and other diversifying strategies. You will also contribute to the ongoing evolution of IS&R's investment governance, decision-making frameworks, research processes and adoption of innovative technologies and methodologies.

Key Responsibilities | Ngā Kawenga Mahi

• Develop and maintain the alternatives investment framework, including governance, manager selection criteria, due diligence standards, portfolio construction principles and monitoring processes.
• Conduct manager research and investment due diligence across a broad range of alternative asset classes, including private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real assets, hedge funds and other diversifying strategies.
• Partner with stakeholders across the business to identify, evaluate and recommend high-quality alternative investment opportunities.
• Work closely with senior investment leaders to determine the strategic role of alternatives within multi-asset portfolios.
• Provide thought leadership on portfolio construction and the use of alternatives across different client risk profiles and investment objectives.
• Monitor existing alternative investments and managers, assessing performance, risk, portfolio fit and emerging opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, product providers, research consultants and investment managers.
• Maintain a forward-looking pipeline of alternative investment opportunities and emerging market trends.
• Design and deliver adviser education programmes, training sessions and workshops focused on alternatives.
• Produce adviser and client-facing research content that clearly communicates investment rationale, risks, benefits and implementation considerations.
• Contribute to broader investment process and governance initiatives across IS&R.
• Represent the business externally and remain current with developments across alternative investments, regulation, fund structures and industry best practice.

What you will bring to the role | He aha ka kawea e koe ki te mahi

Leadership & Communication

• Exceptional ability to communicate complex investment concepts clearly and credibly to advisers, clients and stakeholders.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, mentor and collaborate across teams.
• Proven relationship-building capability and established industry networks.
• Sound judgement, integrity and an unwavering client-first mindset.
• A proactive approach to continuous improvement and innovation.
• Resilience, curiosity and a passion for financial markets and investment strategy.

Technical Expertise

• Deep expertise across alternative investments, including private markets and diversified strategies.
• Extensive experience in manager research and investment due diligence.
• Strong capability in adviser education and enablement.
• Advanced quantitative and analytical skills with the ability to assess performance, risk and portfolio outcomes.
• Comprehensive understanding of financial markets, economic cycles and portfolio construction.
• Strong knowledge of strategic and tactical asset allocation, including the integration of alternatives into diversified portfolios.

Experience & Qualifications

• Ideally 15+ years' experience in senior investment roles within portfolio management, manager research, investment consulting, wealth management or product strategy.
• Tertiary qualification in Commerce, Finance, Economics or a related discipline.
• CFA, CAIA or an equivalent postgraduate qualification will be highly regarded.

Why work at FirstCape? | He aha mahi i te FirstCape?

We offer a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. Additional benefits include wellbeing support, volunteer days and a great company culture. We pride ourselves on offering our employees outstanding development and learning opportunities to support career growth, and the opportunity to work alongside the best talent in the market.

We are an inclusive employer and want our workforce to reflect a rich and diverse way of thinking and working. We know people are more than a single identity and the qualities that make each one of us unique need to be valued and embraced. So regardless of your gender, age, background or how you choose to identify, there's room for you to realise your potential here. And importantly, there's room to be yourself.

We’re also committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates. Let us know if you have any accessibility requirements so we can work with you to make adjustments where possible to support your application. Alternatively, if you don’t meet all the requirements of the role but think you would be a great candidate, please apply explaining why you want the role, how you think your skills or background are transferable, and how you plan to upskill where needed (we will support you with this, but want to know you have thought about this too).

To be eligible to apply, you must have the right to work in New Zealand. Please note candidate screening and interviews may be conducted prior to the closing date of the job advert.