Investment Officer - Emerging Market Debt - P4

United Nations
New York - United States
S: Competitive

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Investment Management Division (IMD) of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The incumbent reports directly to the Senior Investment Officer, Fixed Income.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Investment Officer, Fixed Income, the incumbent is a specialist in emerging markets with focus on economic developments, investment analysis and fixed income opportunities within emerging markets and will be responsible for the following:

• Assists in the investment and management of the Fixed Income portfolio to produce an optimal investment return which avoids undue risk, balancing long-term strategies effective over an investment cycle and short-term tactics to achieve results superior to benchmarks, as with the Bond portfolio that tracks the Barclays Global Aggregate Index, by ensuring that fixed income investments conform to the Fund's strategy, policies and procedures; researching and monitoring global markets to track various fixed income attributes, making recommendations as to which investment areas to under/over-weight; executing specific purchases and sales of securities while exercising delegated authority on fixed income investments with utmost care and discretion; participating in quarterly portfolio reviews and staff/advisor's meetings to discuss performance; preparing management reports on fixed income markets and other investment matters for submission to appropriate United Nations bodies; and integrating UN Global Compact principles into investment analysis.
• Contributes to the decision-making process related to asset allocation by preparing recommendations on asset allocation of the fixed income portfolio; contributing in implementing asset class and regional allocation strategies decided upon by the Representative of the Secretary-General for the investments of the UNJSPF.
• Ensures that the fixed income team provides the Director of IMD and the RSG with accurate and timely reports on investments and related matters for the UNJSPF, Pension Board, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), the Fifth Committee and the General Assembly by preparing required reports and documents on emerging market investments and related subject; reviewing published economic and investment reports provided by brokers, banks, government sources and financial analysts; planning and conducting meetings with market strategists and economists; attending seminars on fixed income investments and related topics.
• Ensures that IMD maintains a high level of professional investment expertise and knowledge by exploring published economic and investment material provided by investment brokers, banks, government sources and financial analysts; leading regular meetings/discussions with the designated investment advisor's and other sources of information; exchanging views and provision of advice and guidance to colleagues within IMD; supervising and training of staff to improve skills and expand experience in order to increase motivation and promote superior performance by all staff members; recruiting staff for IMD subject to the approval of the Director of IMD.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism:
• Demonstrated ability and sound knowledge of applied macroeconomics, banking and portfolio management; ability to work under pressure, accurately, efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to utilise various portfolio management and data processing tools; such as Bloomberg, DataStream, Reuters etc., and Microsoft Office programmes is required.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensures the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Teamwork:
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals;
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others;
• Places team agenda before personal agenda;
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position;
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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.

Managing Performance
• Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority;
• Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member;
• Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills;
• Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines;
• Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff;
• Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative;
• Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff;
• Appraises performance fairly.

Judgement/Decision-making
• Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly;
• Gathers relevant information before making a decision;
• Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them;
• Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization;
• Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information;
• Checks assumptions against facts;
• Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision;
• Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

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

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in international fixed income portfolio management, covering fixed income in emerging markets is required. Experience in pension funds, public funds and central banks is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

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