Description

Our mission is simply stated: ERS offers competitive benefits to enhance the lives of its members. Each team member across the agency contributes to our ongoing success. ERS is open for business five days a week, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, to meet customers where they need us: in person, on the phone, in their communities, and online. ERS currently offers opportunities that include flexible work schedules. 

ERS is seeking a High Yield Portfolio Manager to perform highly advanced (senior-level) portfolio management of the internal high yield fixed income credit portfolio. Work involves contributing to macro strategy decision making, portfolio analysis and structuring, and industry and security selection and forming and maintain relationships with trading counterparts. Independently identifies, researches, analyzes and evaluates appropriate high yield fixed income investment opportunities while adhering to group investment principles. Develops and communicates investment rationales. Requires a high level of cooperation and coordination with other members of the Public Credit Team. Independently executes trades within the high yield fixed income market with approval counterparties Work is performed exercising considerable latitude under the minimal supervision of the Director of PublicCredit and within the guidelines established by the Board of Trustees’ approved investment policy and division operating guidelines and with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Independently identifies investment opportunities in accordance with group investment principles, portfolio goals, and guidelines from both the primary and secondary markets.
• Communicates investment rationales, both orally and in writing and maintains documentation supporting investment recommendations. 
• Monitors and evaluates credit market conditions including primary issuance, secondary market liquidity, nature of risk taking, and creditworthiness trends.
• Responsible within supervisor’s guidelines for portfolio management of the internal high yield fixed income portfolio within guidelines, parameters and restrictions established by the ERS Investment Policy and contributes to the achievement of return, volatility, and other investment goals.
• Achieves best execution.       
• Contributes to group discussions regarding economic, regulatory, market and political developments and their potential impact on ERS portfolios.
• Maintains a professional relationship with brokers and other vendors, initiates and maintains supporting sell-side analyst and counter-party contacts, and participates in the evaluation of broker performance for the purpose of allocating trades.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Your application for employment must reflect how you meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

1.      Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in finance, economics, accounting, or a related field. Qualifying experience beyond the minimum required may substitute for education.

2.      Ten (10) years of experience in high yield fixed income portfolio management.

Preferred Qualifications: Your application for employment should reflect how you meet the following preferred qualifications:

3.      Preferred qualification: Prefer master’s degree in real estate, business, finance, economics or accounting; or graduate studies in finance. 

4.      Prefer designation as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and/or Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CFA) or current participation in the CFA and/or CAIA program.

5.      Experience working in an institutional investment environment

6.      Experience conducting fundamental securities analysis

7.      Experience delivering oral presentations to groups as part of regular job duties

8.      Experience using financial and analytical tools such as Bloomberg, FactSet, Barra, Excel, Word, or similar platforms

PLEASE NOTE: All submissions should contain complete job history entries, which includes job title, dates of employment, name of employer, and a description of duties performed as related to the position you are applying for. Resumes lacking sufficient detail, such as a summary of experience in lieu of progression of work history may not meet minimum qualifications.

Other Information: In accordance with state law, authorization for telework may not be awarded to an employee as a condition of hiring. As an agency process, new employees complete a 30 day fully onsite period before evaluation for a telework agreement. This position may require access to privileged, confidential, or sensitive data. ERS will conduct either a TXDPS or FBI criminal history check on all new hires. For more information about this policy inquiries can be made to employment@ers.texas.gov. Please note: Internal applicants in the same salary group and classification as the posted position are eligible to receive an increase in salary where applicable up to the posted maximum.

ERS does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of an employment visa.

Military Occupational Specialty Codes:

There are no Military Occupation Specialty Codes assigned to this position. Please contact Human Resources at employment@ers.texas.gov with questions or for additional information.

How to Apply: Ready to join the dedicated, customer-focused team at ERS? Submit the following to the ERS Human Resources Office:

A State of Texas Application for Employment submitted online through CAPPS Recruit.

• Use the link below to create a CAPPS Recruit account and build your profile on the “My JobPage” tab in the upper left corner of the screen.
• https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/327/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en
• Once your profile is complete, click on the “Job Search” tab in the upper left corner of the screen to view available career opportunities and submit your application.

Applications submitted through Work in Texas:

If you apply for an ERS position via Work in Texas https://www.workintexas.com/vosnet/Default.aspx, you will also need to complete a supplemental questions form. For more details, refer to the instructions in the email you receive from CAPPS Recruit.

Please contact a Human Resources representative if you need assistance or require accommodation during the application process.

Email: Employment@ers.texas.gov 

Web: www.ers.texas.gov 

Relay Texas TDD: (800) 735-2989

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/employees-retirement-system-of-texas/