Managing Director, Total Portfolio Strategy and Innovation
Department: Office of the Chief Investment Officer – Investment Division
Type: Full-Time - Permanent
Location: Toronto (Hybrid)
Posting Date: August 19, 2026
At OPTrust, paying pensions today, preserving pensions for tomorrow is our mission and business.
When you choose OPTrust, you join a team of smart, talented people who fuel our success and have a passion for pensions. Everyone at OPTrust – in Toronto, London and Sydney – makes a meaningful impact. Our culture is driven by team members with different backgrounds and perspectives creating an inclusive and fulfilling place to work for everyone. We work in a fast-paced environment, but we find time to have fun and give back to the community.
What OPTrust offers you
Unique culture rooted in our core values – collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence and continuous improvement.
A purpose-driven environment where we all work towards the common goal of paying pensions today and preserving pensions for tomorrow.
Comprehensive benefits focused on your health and wellness, including dental, vision and extended health benefits, as well as membership in our world-class defined benefit pension plan.
A flexible, hybrid work model.
A dedicated inclusion, diversity and equity strategy with meaningful opportunities to participate, including our employee-led resource groups.
Extensive professional development opportunities and learning initiatives including access to LinkedIn Learning, guest speakers, tuition reimbursement, professional association memberships, leadership development programs, a mentorship program, monthly professional development time and more.
A competitive vacation package with additional work-life balance days.
About the role
Consistent with its Total Portfolio Approach, OPTrust is establishing a leadership role within the OCIO to enhance Innovation and Total Portfolio decision making, with a focus on leveraging innovative thinking, strategic partnerships and technology to improve Total Portfolio outcomes.
A critical enabler for success will be ensuring we are allocating scarce resources where they can be used most efficiently to support Total Portfolio objectives, amidst the changing geopolitical, technological and macroeconomic landscape.
Important to this mandate is leading the management of the CIO’s Strategic Innovation Portfolio, aimed at accelerating internal capability development and identifying areas within the Total Portfolio that are at risk of disruption. By integrating technology, innovation, and advanced analytics with investment strategy, macro insights, and risk factor analysis, the role provides a unified leadership position that serves as a critical enabler for informed, Total Portfolio decision-making.
In collaboration with investment teams and internal business partners, the individual will play a critical role in overseeing the design, construction and management of frameworks that will inform investment decision-making within the OCIO and at the Investment Strategy and Planning Committee.
What you’ll do
Manage the CIO’s Strategic Innovation Portfolio
Build and manage a small group of strategic relationships with external partners, including leading asset managers, venture capital firms, financial services firms, technology leaders and peer institutions with the strategic benefits of accelerating internal capability development and access to leading practices
Manage the Strategic Innovation Portfolio assets to meet portfolio objectives
Represent OPTrust in innovation and portfolio modernization forums, strengthening OPTrust's external profile as a forward-thinking institutional investor
Identify areas within the Total Portfolio that are ripe for disruption and could benefit from innovation
Lead the Identification, evaluation and derivation of strategic value from partners; recognize internal teams that can benefit from interactions with our partners and facilitate the relationship building process; generate and implement ideas on how we can add strategic value to our partners
Develop future leaders who can bridge the gap between investment expertise, technology capability, and operational excellence
Research and Total Portfolio Analytics
Lead the development of an integrated framework for portfolio risk identification, measurement, and reporting that enhances the CIO's ability to make informed decisions on Total Portfolio risk and risk factor allocation
Identify and deploy capabilities that enhance the quality and depth of investment research across asset classes and at the Total Portfolio level
Utilize AI and advanced analytics to improve investment insights and decision making
Foster a data-driven and evidence-based culture within the Investment Division
Lead the development of best-in-class research frameworks to facilitate unbiased quantitative results
Working with Performance Measurement & Analytics and Investment Risk functions, oversee monitoring of Total Portfolio positions and market movements on a daily basis to understand positions, risk exposures and market impacts on Total Portfolio performance
Oversee the review of new research, providing a critical external check on proposed strategies and recommendations
Ensure the Investment Division stays updated on the latest developments in quantitative finance, including new methodologies, tools, and technologies
Collaboration and Communication
Lead by example in supporting and contributing to the work of the Investment Strategy and Planning Committee as well as other Total Portfolio projects and initiatives, including the Investment Planning process
Collaborate with other investment groups and functions to enhance our investment framework over time
Ensure the investment teams maintain a thorough understanding of OPTrust’s Member Driven Investing (MDI) strategy, overarching philosophy, and portfolio construction / risk management framework; articulate our Total Fund objectives and contextualize individual strategies to our internal and external partners
Foster a culture of disciplined innovation, continuous learning, and intellectual rigor
Manage, mentor, and develop junior resources to build the next generation of investment talent for the organization
Other Duties
Provide support to the Total Portfolio Management Team, as needed
Perform other duties as assigned
Ensure clear understanding and adherence of all OPTrust’s policies, procedures, guidelines as well as living our values and fostering an inclusive culture
What you bring
10+ years of progressive experience in investment management, portfolio strategy, or adjacent domains, including experience in public, private and venture capital markets
Preferably graduate degree (or equivalent experience) in economics, mathematics, finance, quantitative finance, and/or a related field such as applied mathematics
Experience with external manager selection, strategy development, portfolio management, quantitative analysis, or a related role
Experience with AI, machine learning, and systematic investing
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail and willingness to take a hands-on approach in research and project management
Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
A demonstrated ability to work effectively with internal and external partners and build strong relationships
Inquisitive in nature and constantly evaluating new ideas to help drive portfolio innovation over time
Ability to communicate complex information in a simple, relevant, unbiased and direct manner
Effective communication and interpersonal skills, able to effectively lead a team, communicate complex issues and build key working relationships
Exemplify OPTrust’s values: collaboration and teamwork, integrity, respect, flexibility, excellence, and continuous improvement.
This posting is for an existing vacancy.
Please submit your application via Workday by September 2, 2026.
Serving a membership as diverse as ours and investing in a global market means cultivating an environment that embraces inclusion, diversity, and equity in everything we do. OPTrust is an organization engaged in building on our unique and diverse strengths. We know a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, gender identities and perspectives are critical to achieving our shared goals.
If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please send a message to [email protected], or discuss your needs with the Talent Acquisition Consultant during the telephone screening. We will do our best to work with you and provide appropriate accommodation.
As an organization we’re seeking ways to respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 92. We are working with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business to build bridges with Indigenous communities and partners, and we have created an employee-led Reconciliation Working Group that will work with Indigenous experts to identify a path to reconciliation for our organization.
We thank all interested applicants, however only those under consideration will be contacted.
OPTrust Toronto, Ontario, CAN Office
Toronto, Canada
