Job Description

The Portfolio Management team sits within the central Office of the Chief Investment Officer (OCIO) function and works across the entire investment portfolio. They are focused on direct investments (e.g., direct equity and debt) as well as fund of fund investments. The primary aim of the Portfolio Management team is to support deal teams with targeted value creation interventions at a portfolio company level. Initiatives range from strategic and operational improvements, to Board and Management effectiveness, assess exit planning, and digital transformation.

The person in this role will define and lead our end-to-end approach towards digital transformation initiatives in our portfolio companies. This will include setting an overall framework, identifying and prioritizing opportunities, and supporting portfolio companies with execution and implementation. The ultimate ambition is for our client to offer a valuable service to their portfolio companies, which can materially improve financial returns and development impact.

Responsibilities

• Establish an overarching approach and framework to supporting the digital transformation of the portfolio companies
• Assess and opine on portfolio companies’ existing digital transformation strategies, using expertise to enhance and improve approaches where possible
• Assess the potential for value creation through digital transformation on an individual portfolio company basis
• Priorities efforts on portfolio companies with whom our client has the ability to influence significant change, and where transformation aligns with their investment thesis
• Develop digital transformation plans for companies that have not initiated the journey
• Partner with internal deal teams in the creation of a portfolio-wide approach and on individual portfolio company interactions.
• Ensure internal stakeholders are consulted and informed throughout
• Create and utilize a network of specialist advisors to supplement hands on company engagements
• Allocate time to spend on the ground with portfolio companies to build relationships with management, and develop a strong understanding of digital transformation challenges and opportunities

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will have a background in strategic technology or digital consulting, or supporting the digital transformation of portfolio companies for buy-side investment managers. This role is business-facing and is not an engineering role.

• Suitable external consulting experience, leading digital strategy and transformation initiatives, (with an exposure to variety of client sectors), working for a leading consultancy
• A demonstrable passion for the impact and value that digitalization can bring to companies, markets and individuals
• Awareness of available technologies and how to apply them pragmatically and effectively to a range of sectors, scales and business models
• Demonstrable ability to design and set up a framework that can be replicated across different companies and sectors
• Communicating complex ideas in a simple and compelling way, with the ability to engage and influence a range of stakeholders to Board and shareholder level
• Ability to work independently and in a hands-on manner
• A self-starter, able to identify opportunities to use expertise to create value for our client and its portfolio companies
• Strong project management skills, able to determine and drive towards an agreed upon goal for portfolio company engagements
• Collaborative, able to engage with and manage a wide group of stakeholders
• Deep technical understanding of at least one of big data and analytics, AI/ML, process automation and robotics, IoT, cloud, or IT architecture
• Degree-level achievement in a technical subject such as computer science, engineering or mathematics (or equivalent)
• Experience interacting with Private Equity deal teams on an investment portfolio

Candidates should be strongly motivated by a development mission and ideally demonstrate some commitment to development or social goals through previous executive or non-executive activity.