VC Director @ Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA

Position Summary

Santa Clara University is seeking a Director to join a team of three investment professionals who work together to manage the $1.6 billion endowment. All of the investment professionals are generalists who work collaboratively to make team‑based investment decisions across the portfolio.

The Director will assist in the selection, due diligence, and monitoring of investment managers in several asset classes. They are expected to assist in evaluating prospective and existing investments as part of the team’s portfolio management and construction activities.

Santa Clara University’s endowment benefits from a mature portfolio of high‑quality managers, making ongoing portfolio monitoring a key aspect of the role. Travel is a feature of manager diligence and monitoring. This position will report to the Chief Investment Officer.

The successful candidate must be flexible and interested in a broad range of investment topics. A key competency is forming independent thoughts and theses while also working collaboratively to arrive at team‑based decisions. A desire to work as part of a highly collaborative team is required.

• Maintain active involvement with assigned investments. This includes attending annual or board meetings, reviewing quarterly financial statements and understanding any significant valuation changes or policy changes. Attend additional meetings on behalf of the team as needed. Be able to speak in depth about each assigned investment.
• Review and evaluate potential investments. This includes leading due diligence on prospective investments from beginning to end. For example, assessing the investment strategy, management team, investment risks, portfolio valuations, reference calls, etc. The Director is expected to be able to provide fundamental analysis and research as part of the due diligence and will clearly articulate findings and recommendation with the Chief Investment Officer in a collaborative fashion.
• Write clear and concise independent investment recommendations based on due diligence.
• Prepare and maintain standardized reports on investments in the portfolios, as well as those under consideration, and make recommendations for decision‑making purposes.
• Represent the Investment Office and University. The Director will often be in situations where they will interact with peers, investment managers, and stakeholders. They are expected to always represent the professionalism and ethos of the Investment Office and the University.
• Assist with team mentorship and training.
• Provide research and analytical support as needed. Lead projects and assignments, as requested. These projects may include but are not limited to providing performance attribution, creating presentation materials, project management and drafting memos and letters.

• High team orientation; willing to support team workloads when necessary.
• Provide guidance and supervision to other team members. Work in a collaborative and consultative environment despite skills that would allow for independent decision making.
• Demonstrate the capability for strong relationship management and the ability to build and utilize a personal network of industry contacts to source new investment opportunities and share industry best practices.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and ability to identify critical information; the ability to quickly research and collect pertinent information, to integrate essential information, and use that information to define and test options and alternatives; as well as the demonstrated ability to develop recommendations and justification for the most productive course of action. This requires insightful and creative skill in reasoning and logic, and in quantitative analysis.
• Experience underwriting direct investments, co‑investments, or managers, particularly in private equity.
• Ability to independently establish priorities and execute against them effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills, including the demonstrated ability to articulate ideas and issues clearly and concisely, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative factors.
• Plan…