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The Principal, GSIS Operational Due Diligence is responsible for leading and performing the operational due diligence (ODD) program for external investment managers and private investment vehicles utilized by GuideStone Investment Services (GSIS). The Principal serves as GSIS's internal ODD subject-matter expert and independently develops, performs, documents, and maintains substantive initial and ongoing reviews of manager governance, operations, control environments, valuation practices, cybersecurity, business continuity, service providers, and operational resiliency. The role may use third-party consultants as a supplemental resource but remains accountable for GSIS's own risk assessment, diligence conclusions, recommendations, monitoring, and escalation. Working closely with Investments, Legal, Operations, Information Security, enterprise risk functions, consultants, and external managers, the Principal supports sound fiduciary oversight and the protection of client assets. We serve those that serve the Lord with the integrity of our hearts and the skillfulness of our hands. (Psalm 78:72)
What You'll Do:
- Own and lead the end-to-end GSIS ODD program for external investment managers, including public market managers, private fund managers, limited partnerships, and other alternative investment vehicles.
- Independently plan and perform substantive initial and ongoing ODD reviews, including assessments of governance, ownership, staffing, operations, internal controls, valuation, cash and asset controls, cybersecurity, business continuity, disaster recovery, regulatory history, service providers, and operational resiliency.
- Develop GSIS's internal ODD methodology, risk-rating framework, review procedures, due diligence questionnaires, interview guides, report templates, documentation standards, and escalation criteria, applying a risk-based approach appropriate to each manager and investment strategy.
- Conduct direct diligence of investment managers through document review, management interviews, process walkthroughs, onsite or virtual reviews, corroboration of key information, and targeted follow-up, rather than relying solely on consultant reports or manager representations.
- Form and document GSIS's independent assessment of identified operational risks and control gaps; develop clear recommendations, proposed conditions, monitoring requirements, and escalation materials for GSIS investment and governance stakeholders.
- Manage ODD reviews from scoping through completion, including document requests, interviews, analysis, report drafting, issue resolution, approvals, and maintenance of complete and auditable diligence records.
- Maintain the GSIS ODD calendar, manager inventory, risk assessments, issue logs, remediation tracking, and status reporting; monitor material changes and other events that may warrant enhanced, ad hoc, or accelerated review.
- Use third-party ODD consultants selectively to supplement internal expertise or capacity; establish the scope of consultant work, critically evaluate the consultant's analysis, perform independent follow-up, and determine GSIS's conclusions and recommendations.
- Prepare concise ODD reports, executive summaries, dashboards, and presentations for investment leadership, committees, clients, and other governance bodies, as appropriate.
- Serve as GSIS's senior ODD subject-matter resource; identify emerging operational risks, enhance ODD tools and technology, benchmark and continuously improve program practices, and provide guidance and training to colleagues involved in manager oversight.
What You'll Need:
- Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in operational due diligence, investment operations, institutional asset management, private markets, operational risk, or a related financial services discipline, including substantial experience directly evaluating external investment managers and private funds.
- Bachelor's degree required in finance, economics, accounting, business, risk management, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA, JD, or MS) and/or professional certification such as CFA, CAIA, FRM, CISA, or a similar credential preferred.
- Deep knowledge of ODD practices applicable to public market managers, private equity, private credit, hedge funds, real assets, limited partnerships, and other alternative investment structures.
- Demonstrated ability to independently design and execute rigorous ODD reviews, including document analysis, management interviews, process walkthroughs, onsite or virtual diligence, corroboration, risk assessment, report writing, and ongoing monitoring.
- Demonstrated ability to assess manager governance, ownership, staffing, internal controls, operational processes, valuation practices, cash and asset controls, cybersecurity, business continuity, disaster recovery, regulatory matters, and third-party service providers.
- Strong understanding of operational risks associated with private investments and outsourced investment management arrangements, including the judgment to distinguish material risk issues from matters that can be addressed through monitoring, conditions, or remediation.
- Experience developing or enhancing an institutional ODD program, including risk-rating methodologies, review cycles, diligence tools, documentation standards, issue-escalation practices, remediation tracking, and management reporting.
- Ability to critically assess third-party consultant work, identify gaps or unsupported conclusions, conduct independent follow-up, and reach well-supported conclusions on behalf of GSIS.
- Excellent analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the judgment to identify material concerns, challenge assumptions constructively, and escalate issues appropriately.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, concise, and actionable ODD reports, executive summaries, committee materials, and presentations.
- Ability to influence and collaborate effectively with investment professionals, senior leadership, legal, operations, technology, risk functions, consultants, and external investment managers without direct reporting authority.
- Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent reviews, maintain complete and auditable records, provide accurate status reporting, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
- High proficiency with Microsoft Office and the ability to use workflow, document-management, data, and web-based diligence platforms, including Monday.com, to organize and improve the ODD process.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound independent judgment, and demonstrate the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
- Demonstrated commitment to supporting an organization whose mission is serving faith-based organizations and their staff through investment products and services.
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