Principal, Client Portfolio Strategy and Governance

Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO)Toronto, OntarioHybridFull-timePrincipal, 12–15+ yearsListed 4 hours ago

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About this role

At IMCO, our talent is among the best! IMCO offers a uniquely stimulating and rewarding environment where you can help build and drive organizational transformation, all while seeking to challenge yourself, learn, and grow your career.

Our culture is built on collaboration and passion, with a shared commitment to delivering lasting value to the clients we serve. Located in downtown Toronto, our vision is to be the partner of choice for Ontario’s public sector funds and to build a high-performing, value-driven asset management firm.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy. If you are ready to deliver best-in-class service and join a collaborative, motivated and fun team of professionals, IMCO offers the opportunity to do impactful work and broaden your expertise.

If you’re looking to use your expertise to drive strategic outcomes, we’d love to hear from you.

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We are looking for a highly motivated Principal to join our Client Relationship Management team!

IMCO’s Client Portfolio Management (CPM) Committee is a cross-functional forum with membership comprised of senior client-facing, investment and risk leaders. It is co-chaired by the Chief Investment Strategist and Chief Client Officer and enables discussion and alignment on significant investment strategy decisions that impact client portfolios.

The Principal, Client Portfolio Strategy and Governance will partner with IMCO’s client, investment, and risk teams to develop and advance strategic recommendations affecting portfolios and, where appropriate, participate in client discussions.

The role will help connect CPM’s internal investment work with client priorities by bringing client perspectives into committee discussions and supporting clear communication of portfolio implications, recommendations and trade-offs.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Construction, this role will contribute to the investment decision making process by bringing investment expertise and judgment to shape portfolio themes, challenging submissions, translating investment team perspectives into decision-ready narratives, and ensuring that CPM discussions and decisions are anchored in client objectives, portfolio construction considerations, risks, trade-offs, and outcomes. The role also owns the forward-looking investment agenda and content for the CPM committee and is accountable for coordinating and advancing the development of integrated recommendations on strategic, investment and total portfolio matters within the committee’s mandate.

As a Member of Our Team You Will be Responsible For:

Client Portfolio Strategy and Recommendation Development

- Partner with investment teams to identify the analysis and information required to support recommendations, interpret findings, and synthesize investment, risk, performance, portfolio construction, and client perspectives into clear implications for client portfolios.
- Bring a client portfolio perspective to CPM discussions regarding strategic asset allocation (SAA) reviews, discretionary SAA matters, new investment strategies, material strategy changes, benchmarks, and other total portfolio matters within CPM’s mandate.
- Partner with client-facing teams to understand evolving client objectives, constraints and governance considerations. Where appropriate, support or participate in client discussions on SAA, portfolio strategy and other material CPM matters, helping explain the investment rationale, portfolio implications, risks and trade-offs.
- Ensure recommendations address client objectives, portfolio constraints, expected outcomes, implementation considerations, material risks, and trade offs.

Investment Content & Insights

- Set standards for the quality of analysis and data used in CPM materials and ensure conclusions and recommendations are evidence-based, actionable, and aligned to client and portfolio objectives.
- Shape complex portfolio topics into concise decision ready narratives that clearly articulate the issue, analysis, options, recommendations, key trade-offs, risks, client implications and implementation considerations, applying investment knowledge to strengthen the quality, coherence, and decision usefulness of content.
- Partner with reporting, risk, and investment teams to improve the consistency, visual quality, and usability of CPM materials.

CPM Committee Leadership and Governance

- Strengthen governance and elevate the quality of investment decision making, ensuring CPM discussions and outputs are rigorous, well-framed and anchored to client objectives and desired portfolio outcomes.
- Lead and facilitate productive discussion among CPM members and subject matter experts, ensuring that key questions, differing perspectives, and trade offs are addressed.
- Own the forward-looking CPM agenda, proactively identifying, curating, prioritizing, and sequencing items that require CPM discussion, alignment, or decision.
- Maintain clear ownership of CPM outcomes, including decisions, rationale, implications, accountable owners and follow-through.
- Continuously improve decision frameworks, templates, and ways of working to sharpen investment content, reduce cycle time, and improve the effectiveness of discussions.

Strategic Delivery & Cross-Functional Execution

- Act as a senior advisor and CPM representative on cross-functional initiatives impacting portfolios, aligning stakeholders and driving delivery.
- Work closely with and influence the CPM co-chairs, helping translate their broader priorities into a focused committee agenda, clear decision pathways, and high-impact investment content.
- Build trusted, credible relationships with investment teams, senior leaders and internal partners, engaging effectively on portfolio themes, recommendations and implications.
- Set clear expectations for submission quality, analytical depth, and decision framing.
- Coach contributors on improving investment content for senior-level discussion and CPM decision-making.
- Contribute to a high-performance, collaborative culture across CPM and partner teams.

What do you need to succeed?

- 7–10+ years of relevant experience in investment management, portfolio strategy, consulting/advisory, or related fields; experience supporting senior decision forums is an asset.
- University degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline; graduate degree is an asset.
- CFA designation required. Other professional designations, such as FCIA, FSA, CAIA, CIPM, or FRM, would be an asset.
- Experience working in a multi-client institutional investment environment, with an understanding of how differences in client objectives, liabilities, risk tolerances, liquidity needs and governance requirements affect portfolio recommendations.
- Strong understanding of portfolio construction, asset allocation, investment products, risk concepts, and how investment decisions translate into client outcomes.
- Strong judgment and analytical skills including ability to synthesize complex portfolio topics and frame clear recommendations for senior audiences.
- Strong writing, editing, and presentation skills; demonstrated ability to elevate materials to an executive standard.
- Proven ability to influence and build relationships across functions, manage competing priorities, and drive outcomes through others.
- Strong project management skills, including scoping, structuring, and delivering under tight timelines.
- Credibility with investment professionals and the ability to quickly develop a strong understanding of client objectives, portfolio requirements, organizational processes, and investment products.

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We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Our hybrid work model prioritizes an office-first approach, encouraging employees to make the most of our collaborative workspace at 16 York Street, Suite 2400, Toronto, ON M5J 0E6. This welcoming environment fosters teamwork, connection, and professional growth. While flexibility remains a key component of our model, we believe that regular in-office engagement enhances productivity and strengthens our culture. Our approach supports a fulfilling lifestyle that balances professional ambition with personal wellbeing.

IMCO is committed to providing accommodation for people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require support, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs. Artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to support parts of our recruitment process, such as screening and assessments. However, all hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team. Candidates being considered for this position will be required to undergo background screening.