Senior Director, Alternatives Strategy & Execution

New York Life; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus eligible

Job summary

New York Life’s OCIO is seeking a seasoned Director in Alternatives Strategy to shape strategy, lead investment execution, and oversee a long-duration insurance portfolio.

The Director will lead designated alternative strategies, manage relationships with external managers, and collaborate across investment, risk, and enterprise teams. Experience in private markets and insurance-based investing is highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent) and/or professional designation (CFA, CAIA) strongly preferred
• 8+ years of experience in alternative investments, private markets, or institutional asset management
• Demonstrated experience sourcing, analyzing, structuring, and executing private market transactions
• Strong understanding of portfolio construction, capital allocation, risk-adjusted return, and downside risk frameworks
• Experience with insurance-based investing, liability‑aware portfolio management, or capital-sensitive balance sheets is highly desirable
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders
• High degree of professional maturity, judgment, and ability to operate independently in a fast‑paced environment
• Occasional travel as required

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary investment lead for designated alternative strategies and manager relationships, with responsibility for end-to-end diligence, recommendation, and ongoing oversight
• Generate, evaluate, and lead execution of new alternative investment opportunities, including diligence, underwriting, structuring, and negotiation
• Provide thought leadership on the strategic role and portfolio fit of alternative investments within the General Account
• Assess opportunities through the lens of risk-adjusted return, capital efficiency, correlation, liquidity, and balance-sheet impact
• Lead commercial structuring and negotiation of investment terms to optimize alignment, downside protection, and capital efficiency
• Support portfolio construction/management, allocation decisions, and asset allocation discussions involving alternative investments
• Evaluate downside scenarios, stress outcomes, and liquidity implications of alternative investments within an insurance balance-sheet context
• Oversee monitoring of active investments to ensure adherence to strategy, risk limits, governance standards, and performance expectations
• Lead preparation of materials and serve as a key discussion partner in Investment Committee and various governance forums
• Partner closely with Business Development, Portfolio Solutions, Portfolio Management, Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Operations teams to ensure seamless execution and oversight
• Engage with external managers, sponsors, and counterparties to evaluate pipeline opportunities and maintain active market dialogue
• Represent New York Life in external meetings, conferences, and industry forums to strengthen sourcing relationships and maintain market insight
• Prepare and present investment recommendations, portfolio updates, and strategic perspectives to leadership team
• Mentor and develop OCIO team members, providing guidance on investment analysis, judgment, and professional growth
• Contribute to hiring decisions, team structure, and long-term capability development within the Alternatives platform
• Support the continued evolution of investment processes, governance frameworks, and best practices across the Alternatives team

Skills

Alternative investments

Private markets

Institutional asset management

Portfolio construction

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, or related field

MBA or equivalent; CFA/CAIA preferred

Job description

New York Life’s OCIO is seeking a seasoned Director in Alternatives Strategy to shape strategy, lead investment execution, and oversee a long-duration insurance portfolio.

The Director will lead designated alternative strategies, manage relationships with external managers, and collaborate across investment, risk, and enterprise teams. Experience in private markets and insurance-based investing is highly valued.