Associate to the Vice President & Chief Investment Officer

Job Description

Summary:

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. We work on a few big bets that strive toward transformative change in areas of profound concern, including the existential threats of climate change, the challenges of criminal justice reform, revitalizing local news in the U.S., and corruption in Nigeria.

In addition, we maintain enduring commitments in our hometown Chicago, where we invest in people, places, and partnerships to build a more inclusive Chicago and in journalism and media, where we invest in more just and inclusive news and narratives.

We also make awards to extraordinarily creative individuals through the MacArthur Fellows program and for solutions to critical problems of our time through 100&Change.

For more information, please visit our website at www.macfound.org.

The Associate to the Vice President & Chief Investment Officer (CIO) provides senior-level administrative and project management support to ensure the smooth operation of the Investment Office. The role manages the CIO’s priorities and calendar, oversees the production and quality of reporting materials for the Foundation Investment Committee (IC) and board, leads projects across multiple teams, and serves as a liaison to internal and external stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Executive Support & Priority Management

• Oversee the CIO’s complex calendar, meeting preparation, and priority alignment; anticipate needs and resolve scheduling conflicts

• Serve as primary point of contact for CIO communications and correspondence; gather and summarize background materials for meetings

• Coordinate domestic and international travel logistics and itineraries; partner with internal meetings and events staff for on‑site support

• Represent the CIO’s office with diplomacy and discretion; liaise with trustees/Investment Committee members, senior leadership, external managers/consultants, and peer institutions

• Draft and edit key CIO communications, presentations, and memos; maintain consistent tone and high standards

• Manage CIO travel and expense processes in accordance with policy guidelines

Governance; Investment Committee (IC) & Board

• Lead end‑to‑end IC meeting production: agenda, materials book, quality control/proofreading, distribution, logistics, minutes, and action‑item tracking

• Coordinate closely with Investments team members and relevant partners to ensure accuracy, clarity, and timeliness of all materials

Strategic Projects & Cross-Functional Execution

• Lead and organize CIO‑sponsored initiatives (e.g., process improvements, tool rollouts, team offsite meetings)

• Manage projects by tracking timelines, coordinating stakeholders, identifying decisions/risks, and reporting progress

Investment Office Support

• Own weekly Investment Team meeting cadence: develop agendas, consolidate inputs, take notes, publish summaries, and track follow‑ups to closure

• Oversee day‑to‑day Investment Office workflows and information flow; maintain department‑wide calendars and collaboration channels

• Support department budgeting and forecasting; monitor administrative spend and produce periodic budget-to-actual updates

• Initiate, track, and process contracts and supplier invoices; approve routine expenses within delegated authority

• Coordinate complex meetings and events (AV/Zoom/Teams, rooms) and ensure deadlines and follow‑ups are met

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in special projects and working groups; engage in professional development

• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent  with at least 6 years of experience supporting senior executives and/or leading complex operations/projects

• Experience with investments or relevant credentials in business, finance, or equivalent exposure a plus

• Endowment/foundation, asset management, or financial services experience strongly preferred

• Basic understanding of financial concepts and investment reporting; ability to interpret and work with materials such as performance reports, manager updates, and portfolio summaries

• Demonstrated project management capability: scope initiatives, build plans, run cross‑functional work and deliver on deadlines

• Exceptional writing, editing, and presentation abilities; comfortable preparing and reviewing materials that include financial or investment content

• Meticulous organization and judgment; proactive, resourceful, and able to manage multiple priorities with minimal guidance

• Advanced Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint); strong virtual‑meeting proficiency and readiness to learn new tools  

• High discretion and professionalism; diplomacy in board‑level and external‑partner interactions

The position is hybrid and based in Chicago, Illinois.

Annual salary for this role will start at $81,200. We offer a generous total compensation package that emphasizes both base salary and a comprehensive benefits package to support your life, health, and well-being.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting.  Intermittent physical activities will include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours.  Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job.  Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process.