Manager, Executive Affairs & Investor Relations

Department: Investments/Real Estate
Salary/Grade: EXS/9

Job Summary

The Manager, Executive Affairs & Investor Relations, serves in a dual-capacity role that combines high-level executive support for the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) with strategic oversight of key internal and external relationships. The position manages the CIO's workflow, gatekeeping, and executive communications while also functioning as the primary relationship manager between the Investment Office and its external investment parties, including fund managers, consultants, and other key stakeholders.

This role is responsible for managing all aspects of investor and manager relationship activity, including communication flow, coordination of trustee and donor engagement logistics, determining meeting prioritization for the CIO and Managing Directors, seamless execution of high-level meetings, and long-range planning for investor engagement.

The position oversees the creation, maintenance and strategic use of the Investment Office's manager and donor contact database, ensuring accurate documentation, consistent follow-up, and compliance with reporting requirements. In partnership with senior investment staff, this role evaluates and prioritizes meeting requests, coordinates due diligence and relationship-building interactions, and supports production of materials that reflect the University's investment priorities and policies.

The role requires exceptional judgment, discretion, relationship skills and the ability to manage significant volume and complexity while representing the Investment Office at the highest levels of the University and in the external community, including investment managers, alumni, donors, press, and other constituents.

*Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

• Serve as primary point of contact for internal and external partners, prospective partners, and related stakeholders.

• Evaluate, prioritize, and recommend meeting requests for the CIO and senior investment staff based on investment priority, strategic relevance, and relationship history.

• Implement and maintain investment manager and stakeholder database, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records of meetings, communications, due diligence, and follow-up actions.

Strategic Travel Planning & Itinerary Orchestration

• Plan and coordinate long-range scheduling for the CIO and senior investment professional commitments 3-, 6-, 9- and 12-months in advance, aligning travel, board meetings, investor visits, and university engagements with identified priorities.

• Design complex, multiday travel itineraries for the CIO and Managing Directors that incorporate investor meetings, duediligence visits, and stakeholder events.

• Calculate and sequence transition times (walking, driving, transit, building access) to ensure smooth movement across densely scheduled trips.

• Anticipate logistical risks and adjust schedules to maintain efficiency and strategic value of travel.

• Coordinate with external partners, internal staff, and travel resources to finalize operational details.

Executive Affairs & High-level Administrative Leadership

• Manage the CIO's calendar, correspondence, and information flow, ensuring alignment with strategic investment and institutional priorities.

• Field and triage high volume of meeting requests daily, assessing urgency, strategic relevance, and stakeholder priority.

• Coordinate with the President's Office, Board of Trustees, donors, and senior university stakeholders on behalf of the CIO.

• Coordinate logistics and preparation for Investment Committee and Board-related meetings, including formatting verification and quality review.

• Help prepare presentations and create briefing materials, synthesizing information from internal stakeholders to ensure leadership is fully informed in advance of meetings.

• Compile, format, and quality-control materials for Investment Committee and Board meetings.

• Maintain secure and organized document management processes to ensure that required records and logs are complete and accurate.

• Assist with drafting and updating brochures and website content related to the Investment Office.

• Provide direction to junior administrative support to ensure consistent coverage and execution.

• Oversee accurate and timely expense reporting and reimbursement for investment leadership travel and activities in compliance with University policies.

• Bachelor's degree required.

• 5-7+ years of relevant experience

• Proven experience managing complex stakeholder relationships and synthesizing priorities for senior leaders

• Demonstrated experience managing high-volume executive scheduling and travel with independent prioritization capabilities.

• Exceptional judgment, diplomacy, and executive presence, especially when handling confidential or investment-sensitive information.

• Outstanding organizational and project-management skills with the ability to anticipate needs and manage competing priorities.

• Able to think and act in a fast-paced environment, swiftly pivoting as necessary.

• Strong written communication skills; experience preparing PowerPoint presentations and other executive-level materials.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, executive calendars and travel systems.

• Experience in asset management setting.

• Experience interacting with a wide range of constituents such as prominent senior investment managers, trustees, donors, board members, or external stakeholders.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $85,000-$110,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.