AVP, Alternatives Manager Research (Secondaries)

at Wilshire Associates Incorporated in Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Description

As part of the Wilshire family, you can rest assured that every day you are contributing to an organization that is helping investors improve their financial outcomes. For more than 50 years, Wilshire has been dedicated to providing customized portfolio solutions grounded in research and powered by next generation technologies.

Wilshire advises on over $1 trillion in assets for some of the worlds largest and most sophisticated institutional investors and is headquartered in the United States with offices worldwide.

Wilshire is seeking to recruit an investment professional to help lead research and due diligence efforts across all Alternatives segments with an emphasis on private markets (private equity, private credit, real assets) in North America.  As the AVP, Alternatives Manager Research, you will be a key member of the Alternatives Manager Research team and an active participant on deal teams. Working closely with senior management, you will contribute throughout the investment process. You will source and underwrite investment opportunities across private markets with a particular emphasis on secondaries, as well as contribute to fund investments and co-investments.

What youll do:

• Act as a key member of deal teams, sourcing and underwriting opportunities across primary funds, secondaries, and co-investments; draft clear, insightful investment memorandums
• Develop and maintain deep relationships with private fund managers across the region, as well as create access to top-tier managers; proactively schedule and lead manager meetings and diligence calls (often high volume) to gather information and insights
• Conduct comprehensive market and manager research to identify attractive opportunities; prepare ad hoc reports to support decision-making
• Monitor existing investments and contribute to periodic reviews, performance updates, and risk assessments
• Enhance research processes and methodologies; stay current on industry trends and regulatory developments
• Support client communications and presentations with clear, accurate written and verbal materials

• Bachelors degree; MBA or CFA a plus
• 5 years of experience in the private equity industry, direct secondaries experience strongly preferred
• Excellent analytical skills (both quantitative and qualitative); training from a recognized investment bank or management consulting firm is preferred
• Breadth of underwriting across private equity, private credit, and real assets; demonstrated ability to source opportunities and build networks
• Strong business and investment acumen
• Strong institutional relationships in North America
• A self-starter who is independent and results-oriented
• Strong verbal and written communication skills - the ability to present ideas with precision and conviction
• An entrepreneurial bent and a roll-up-the-sleeves orientation
• Organized, thorough and detail-oriented
• A natural team-oriented individual who can provide leadership to the North American team and mentorship to its investment professionals and staff
• Must be comfortable with travel which can be extensive at times

• This position will work on a hybrid model out of our Santa Monica, Pittsburgh, Chicago, or New York office
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package including a collaborative work environment, generous PTO, 401(k) match, affordable & comprehensive me
  
  
  
  Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
  
  

  PI285578128