Manager, Investment Operations

Auckland, New Zealand Permanent

**Haere Mai**

We are the Kaitiaki / Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation. We are proud of our Te Whāinga / Our purpose: Sustainable investment delivering strong returns for all New Zealanders. We invest government contributions to the NZ Super Fund, a global investment fund helping to ensure the country can pay for the growing cost of universal superannuation (New Zealand Superannuation) in the future. We also oversee the Elevate Fund, which invests in small, fast-growing New Zealand companies.

At the Guardians there’s an energy, passion and a shared commitment to excellence: in 2024 the NZ Super Fund was named the world’s best-performing sovereign wealth fund. The work is complex, innovative and intellectually stimulating. Sustainable finance, including a commitment to being net zero by 2050, is core to our Mātāpono / way of working.

The Investment Operations team is primarily responsible for the effective administration of the Guardians’ portfolio through controls and oversight at total portfolio level, Net Asset Value reporting, middle
- and back-office trade support for the internal trading desk, and liaison with key service providers, including the global custodian, external investment managers and counterparties. The team works closely with the Finance, Tax, IT, Data Technology, Data Services, Legal and Risk functions, as well as with the Investments and Portfolio Completion business units.

**Manager Role Requirements**:
The Investment Operations team handles all fund and trade support activities for portfolio completion, net asset value reporting, and the effective administration of the Guardians' portfolio through oversight and controls at the total portfolio level. The team collaborates closely with Finance, Tax, IT, Data Technology, Data Services, Legal, Risk, and Investments and Portfolio Completion units.

As the Fund has expanded, the team is evolving to better meet stakeholder needs and achieve greater scalability while aligning with the Guardians for the Future principles.

Our goal is to simplify how we work and develop deeper specialist knowledge within our people. We are doing this by transitioning from a team of generalists to three specialised kapa within Investment Operations, each responsible for a distinct area of the team’s overall accountabilities. As we implement this new way of working and move towards the future state, we will uphold our values of “we support each other” and “team not hero” by continuing to provide opportunities for team members to grow and develop. Throughout this transition, we will remain focused on our objectives of scalability, efficiency, and alignment with best practices for operations teams of our size.

The manager role is crucial in guiding the team through this transition and in leading and owning a specific area of responsibility within Investment Operations.

The available role is responsible for **Kapa Moana**, which oversees all derivative trade support and contributes to broader team and enterprise projects.

**About You**:

- A change champion who actively supports and leads the team’s strategy and vision for the future, with a strong ability to translate strategy into actionable plans.
- An experienced team leader or manager capable of guiding team growth and development in alignment with team objectives and goals, while fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
- Willing to challenge the status quo and explore alternative solutions, with a focus on simplifying operations without compromising control and compliance.
- Demonstrates high initiative and a commitment to driving your team towards excellence and achieving tangible results.
- Possesses strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage and influence a variety of stakeholders effectively.
- Adaptable and resilient, able to navigate and lead through periods of change and transition with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Technical proficiency in investment operations or relevant financial systems is highly desirable but not essential.

**What we offer**

A dynamic, exciting place to work with a team united by our common purpose of sustainable investment delivering strong returns for all New Zealanders.

Competitive remuneration package including base salary, discretionary bonus programme, and up to 8% KiwiSaver matching.

World class professional development, career pathways and job rotation opportunities.

Comprehensive leave and benefits programme including strong parental leave package and insurance cover.

Flexible and accessible work environment that reflects our commitment to equity and an inclusive team.

**How to apply**:
We recognise the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and invest in partnership with a range of Iwi/Māori organisations. We warmly welcome and value Mana Whenua who wish to work with us. We are committed to understanding Te Ao Māori and integrating it i