Head of Multi-Manager Investment Solutions

Northern Trust; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 206,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust is seeking a senior leader to serve as Head of Multi‑Asset Manager Investments. You will oversee external manager selection, research frameworks, and ongoing oversight across public markets including equity, fixed income, and real assets.

The role oversees a platform spanning ~300 investment strategies and 65+ sub-asset classes, collaborating with OCIO and Wealth Management. You will guide research priorities and uphold fiduciary judgment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in multi-manager investing with senior leadership.
• Deep understanding of public and private markets, portfolio construction, risk management across asset classes.
• Demonstrated experience leading disciplined investment governance and committee-based decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with experience presenting to senior committees and boards.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or CFA strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior investment authority for NTAM’s Multi-Asset Manager platform, with accountability for external manager selection and oversight.
• Own and govern the end-to-end external manager lifecycle, including sourcing, screening, evaluation, onboarding, and ongoing monitoring.
• Establish and refine research frameworks covering people, philosophy, process, portfolio construction, performance, risk, fees, and resilience.
• Oversee a high‑intensity research agenda with hundreds of manager meetings annually and informed hiring/termination decisions.
• Provide senior oversight of operational due diligence with Compliance, Risk, Legal, and Operations, ensuring risk-aware decisions.
• Translate manager research into actionable guidance for OCIO portfolios and multi‑manager funds while maintaining fiduciary judgment.
• Represent NTAM in senior discussions with external managers, investment committees, and clients.

Skills

Multi-manager investing

OCIO

Manager research

Investment governance

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or equivalent

CFA charter

Job description

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

About Northern Trust As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions. Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide. With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Role Overview

Northern Trust Asset Management is seeking a senior investment leader to serve as Head of Multi-Asset Manager Investments. Reporting to NTAM’s Global Co‑Chief Investment Officers, this role is the senior investment authority for the firm’s multi‑manager platform, with responsibility for external manager selection, portfolio‑alignment assessment, and ongoing oversight across public markets spanning equity, fixed income and real asset strategies.

The Multi‑Asset Manager platform supports NTAM’s OCIO and Wealth Management businesses and spans ~300 investment strategies across more than 65 sub‑asset classes, sourced from over 150 specialist asset managers globally.

The Head of Multi‑Asset Manager Investments sets research priorities, ensures disciplined and repeatable investment decision‑making, and provides senior investment judgment across the full external‑manager lifecycle—from initial sourcing and approval through implementation and ongoing monitoring.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior investment authority for NTAM’s Multi‑Asset Manager platform, with accountability for external manager selection and oversight.
• Own and govern the end‑to‑end external manager lifecycle, including sourcing, screening, qualitative and quantitative evaluation, investment‑committee recommendations, onboarding, and ongoing monitoring and watchlist management.
• Establish and continuously refine research frameworks covering people, philosophy, process, portfolio construction, performance, risk management, fees, organizational stability, and operational resiliency.
• Oversee a high‑intensity research agenda encompassing more than 750 manager meetings annually, disciplined hiring and termination decisions, and periodic deep‑dive reviews.
• Provide senior oversight of operational due diligence in partnership with dedicated ODD professionals and internal partners (Compliance, Risk, Legal, Operations), ensuring operational risks are appropriately assessed and incorporated into investment decisions.
• Translate manager research into actionable investment guidance for OCIO portfolios, Wealth Management platforms, and multi‑manager funds while maintaining independent, fiduciary‑minded judgment.
• Represent NTAM in senior‑level discussions with external managers, internal investment committees, and key clients; clearly articulate conviction, risks, and implementation considerations.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a globally distributed team of investment research and operational due‑diligence professionals, fostering a culture of intellectual rigor, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Remain closely attuned to market structure evolution, regulatory developments, and emerging opportunities—including Active ETFs, custom active and tax‑managed SMAs—to inform future platform positioning.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in multi‑manager investing, manager research, OCIO, investment consulting, or institutional asset allocation with senior investment leadership responsibility.
• Deep understanding of public and private markets, portfolio construction, manager evaluation, and risk management across asset classes.
• Demonstrated experience leading disciplined investment governance and committee‑based decision processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior investment committees, boards, and sophisticated clients.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) and CFA charter strongly preferred.

Salary Range

$205,700 - 360,100 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.