Director, Alternative Asset Allocation

Scotiabank; Montreal (administrative region); Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Canadian bank seeks a Director for Alternative Asset Allocation in Montreal. The role involves designing and supporting alternative investments within client portfolios, collaborating closely with distribution teams, and providing portfolio insights. Ideal candidates should have over 10 years of experience in asset management, along with preferred CFA or CAIA designations. Strong knowledge of private markets and exceptional communication skills are essential. This position offers the opportunity to represent the firm as a subject-matter expert in alternative investing.

Benefits

Inclusive and accessible environment

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in asset management, investment consulting, or product strategy.
• Experience with alternative investments and multi-asset portfolio construction.
• Knowledge of portfolio analytics, capital market assumptions, and risk modeling.

Responsibilities

• Partner with distribution teams to position alternative investments.
• Deliver portfolio insights and customized asset allocation recommendations.
• Act as a trusted investment partner to the sales organization.

Skills

Strong knowledge of private markets

Exceptional communication skills

Client-Centric Thinking

Analytical Rigor

Commercial Acumen

Education

CFA and/or CAIA designation

MBA or master’s degree in finance

Job description

Title: Director, Alternative Asset Allocation

Requisition ID: 245237

Join a purpose driven winning team, committed to results, in an inclusive and high-performing culture.

The Director, Alternative Asset Allocation – plays a pivotal role in advancing Scotia Global Asset Management’s leadership in portfolio construction and alternative investments.

This role is responsible for designing, positioning, and supporting the use of alternative asset classes—such as liquid alternatives, private equity, private credit, real assets, and infrastructure—within advisor and institutional client portfolios across a multi-channel and brand distribution network. (Dynamic, Scotia Wealth, Tangerine, MD Management & International).

The Director acts as a strategic partner to distribution and product teams, helping advisors and clients integrate alternative investments into holistic portfolio solutions that drive better diversification, yield enhancement, and risk adjusted returns to meet the needs and long-term outcomes in client solutions.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical investment acumen with commercial awareness and communication excellence, serving as a key link between the investment platform and client-facing teams across Canada and global markets.

Is this role right for you? In this role you will:

• Partner closely with the retail and institutional distribution teams to position alternative investments and multi-asset solutions with advisors, consultants, and portfolio managers.
• Deliver portfolio insights, analytics, and customized asset allocation recommendations to demonstrate the role of alternatives within broader investment solutions.
• Support advisor and client education through presentations, workshops, and written materials that simplify complex investment concepts.
• Act as a trusted investment partner to the sales organization, providing pre- and post-sales portfolio consultation and thought leadership support.
• Design strategic and tactical asset allocation frameworks incorporating private and alternative asset classes across multiple investor risk profiles.
• Develop model portfolio illustrations showing the impact of alternatives on portfolio diversification, income generation, and downside protection.
• Collaborate with investment management teams to align portfolio views, market assumptions, and long-term return expectations.
• Leverage analytics and scenario analysis tools to support advisor portfolio construction discussions.
• Work with Product Strategy and Investment teams to identify opportunities to expand and enhance the firm’s suite of alternative investment offerings.
• Provide input on product design, packaging, and positioning to ensure alignment with advisor and client needs.
• Contribute to the creation of marketing and educational content that articulates the value of alternatives within client portfolios.
• Ensure consistency and clarity in the firm’s alternative investment narrative across all channels.

Thought Leadership & Representation

• Represent the firm as a subject-matter expert in alternative investing and portfolio construction at conferences, client events, and industry forums.
• Produce thought leadership insights, white papers, and presentations that reinforce the firm’s market perspective and investment expertise.

Provide training and enablement to internal distribution and product teams to strengthen understanding of alternative strategies and their application in client portfolios.

Enterprise Accountabilities

• Champions a customer focused culture to deepen client relationships and leverage broader Bank relationships, systems and knowledge.
• Understand how the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
• Actively pursues effective and efficient operations of their respective areas in accordance with Scotiabank’s Values, its Code of Conduct and the Global Sales Principles, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML/ATF/sanctions and conduct risk.
• Champions a high performance environment and contributes to an inclusive work environment.

Education and Professional Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in asset management, investment consulting, or product strategy, with a focus on alternative investments and multi-asset portfolio construction
• CFA and/or CAIA designation strongly preferred
• MBA or master’s degree in finance, economics, or related field an asset.

Do you possess the skills that will enable you to succeed in this role? We would be happy to work with you if you meet the following requirements:

• Strong knowledge of private markets (private equity, private credit, infrastructure, and real assets) and liquid alternatives.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across investment, product, and distribution functions.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with experience engaging both institutional and retail advisory audiences.
• Advanced proficiency in portfolio analytics, capital market assumptions, and risk modeling.
• Client-Centric Thinking: Deep understanding of advisor and investor needs, with the ability to translate investment complexity into clear, actionable guidance.
• Strategic Collaboration: Skilled in aligning cross-functional teams to deliver integrated solutions that support business growth.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of market dynamics, product positioning, and advisor engagement strategies.
• Analytical Rigor: Ability to balance qualitative judgment with quantitative insights in portfolio construction.
• Leadership Presence: Credible, articulate, and comfortable representing the firm in both internal and external forums.

Working Conditions

Work in a standard office-based environment; non-standard hours are a common occurrence. Moderate travel domestically.

In addition to French, the successful candidate must also have sufficient knowledge of English, as the work involves interacting and collaborating regularly with groups and individuals based in Toronto, as well as constantly interacting with other people, including clients, who speak English, locally and elsewhere.

Location(s): Canada: Quebec: Montreal || Canada: Ontario: Toronto

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: "for every future", we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets.

At Scotiabank, we value the unique skills and experiences each individual brings to the Bank, and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternate format documents, ASL Interpreter, or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our Recruitment team know.

If you require technical assistance, please click here.

Candidates must apply directly online to be considered for this role. We thank all applicants for their interest in a career at Scotiabank; however, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.