Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Secretary-General is responsible for the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Secretary-General has delegated this responsibility to the Representative of the Secretary-General (RSG) for the investment of the assets of the UNJSPF. The RSG heads the Office of Investment Management (OIM), which manages a $60+ billion multi-asset, global investment portfolio, about 85% of which is actively managed in house. Asset classes under management comprise global equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, timber and commodities. OIM’s staff are all based in New York but come from over 30 countries.

This position is located on the North America Equities Team within OIM. The incumbent will report to the Senior Investment Officer. The team implements a low-turnover, GARP oriented investment style to invest primarily in large capitalization US and Canadian equities.

Responsibilities

1. Assists the Senior Investment Officer (SIO) to manage and invest the assets of the Fund in public North America equity markets.
a. Balances long-term strategic goals with short-term performance objectives to outperform return benchmarks.
b. Monitors the various portfolio holdings and conduct appropriate security analysis at the direction of the SIO.
c. Complies with the Investment Policy Statement, investment parameters and processes as outlined in the Investments Procedures, and risk control parameters as outlined in the Risk Manual, with the objective of generating stable excess returns over the calendar year and rolling 3-year periods versus the benchmark while remaining within the allocated risk budget, investment guidelines, and other limits approved from time to time by the Risk Committee of OIM.
d. Integrates OIM’s approach to Sustainable Investing into investment analysis, while remaining entirely consistent with OIM’s fiduciary responsibility for the assets of the Fund.
e. Contributes actively to market-related discussions within the North America Equities Team, at the Weekly Investment Meeting to which all OIM staff are invited, and to the deliberations of other committees and meetings to which s/he may be invited from time to time.
f. Assists with analysis and presentations to support the Quarterly Performance Review meeting with the RSG and other members of the senior management team.
g. Conducts portfolio analysis using risk tools and analytical tools.

2. Conducts careful and thorough investment research:
a. Reviews and analyzes information from various sources including the financial community, on-site visits and meetings with company managements, and ESG databases
b. Performs fundamental analysis through review of financial statements, corporate announcements, market news, and other publicly available information.
c. Reviews investment research and discusses with strategists, economists, security analysts through brokerage community and the Advisors/Research Providers.
d. Interviews corporate managements of target investment companies.
e. Attends investment conferences and seminars to access corporate managements, academics, and industry experts.

3. Makes specific investment recommendations
a. Ensures adherence to Fund’s four investments criteria; i.e. safety, profitability, liquidity, and convertibility.
b. Integrates material ESG considerations in stock selection to conform to OIM’s approach to Sustainable Investing.
c. Makes specific investment recommendations to achieve the objective of achieving stable excess returns versus the benchmark consistent with allocated risk budget, approved investment guidelines, and other limits.
d. Presents and discusses investment recommendations to the Senior Investment Officer of North America Equities.

4. Reporting
a. Assists in the preparation of reports accurately and timely to the Representative of the Secretary-General for the Investments of the UNJSPF and other members of the senior management team when requested.
b. Prepare Performance Review periodically and supports the Senior Investment Officer in the Quarterly Performance Review Meeting.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Demonstrates ability and sound knowledge of investing in North America Public Equities markets; demonstrates ability in meeting clearly defined investment objectives and risk management of portfolio; ability to work under pressure accurately, efficiently and effectively. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation or equivalent is desirable

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in US fundamental equity investment analysis in an institutional investment environment is required.
Buy side experience is desirable.
At least 3 years of experience in analyzing and recommending equity investments in the US and Asian Information Technology sector is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.
• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
• Appointment at the United Nations is subject to mandatory adherence to the United Nations Financial disclosure Programme. An appointment to the Office of Investment Management (OIM) of the UNJSPF additionally requires compliance with the rules and regulations pertaining to OIM’s Code of Ethics, Personal Securities, Gift and Hospitality policies.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.