Director Operations Anz

APPLY through our recruitment portal here: https://newforests.my.salesforce-sites.com/recruit/fRecruit__ApplyJob?vacancyNo=VN105&

New Forests seeks a qualified candidate for the position of Director Operations ANZ. Reporting into the Global Head of Asset Management, this role will oversee all fund investments in New Agriculture and New Forests asset pool in New Zealand and Australia.

New Forests is a global investment manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies. We manage a diversified portfolio of sustainable timber plantations and conservation areas, carbon and conservation finance projects, agriculture, timber processing and infrastructure. We aim to generate shared prosperity for our clients and the communities in which we operate and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

In this role, you will be responsible for:
General
• Responsible for supporting and supervising the activities and performance of the ANZ Portfolio Managers and asset management team.
• Responsible for providing support to ANZ operations staff, including development, training, mentoring, skill development and standardization across teams to increase organisational capability
• Responsible for contributing to internal resource planning with the ANZ operations teams. 
• Responsible for coordinating ANZ fund asset operations in collaboration with other regional functions.
• Responsible for overseeing review, standardization, implementation and iterative improvement of operational processes and systems for ANZ assets including for: knowledge sharing, software/technology, asset environmental, social and governance (ESG) programs including impact targets and monitoring, strategic planning, timber and carbon sales and marketing, property management, services procurement, insurance (crop and general), research and development, valuation standards, asset communications, reporting (financial and non-financial) and industry/stakeholder engagement/advocacy.
• Responsible for overseeing consistency in operational practice across New Forests ANZ and global asset pool.
• Responsible for leading major fund level projects including market development and sales, procurement, stakeholder engagement and ESG initiatives.
• Responsible for the coordination of internal and external timber product and carbon product price forecasts in ANZ. Ensuring consultation with investment analytics and investments teams in the finalisation of house view forecasts.

Fund Governance
• Responsible for coordinating ANZ fund governance activities with the governance team. 
• Responsible for fulfilling designated fund operating company Directorships in fund owned assets and operating companies.

Functional Support of Fund Operations
• Supporting operations teams to complete investor fund reports in collaboration with internal investor services and finance teams.
• Supporting operations staff engage in material negotiations (or disputes) with Fund asset property managers (both funds owned and third-party) including performance management and reporting.
• Supporting operations staff in procurement and supervision of third-party providers including: auditors, consultants and valuers.
• Supporting operations staff in financial operations including review of loan structuring and taxation, fund distributions and capital calls, actual expenses against budget, payment approvals and review of fund performance fee calculations.
• Supporting completion of fund strategic plans, strategic models, budgets, valuations, and insurance placement.
• Support fund raising, fund extension activities in collaboration with the Investor Services team.
• Support acquisition and disposition of major fund assets in collaboration with the Investments team.

Corporate Engagement
• Responsible for liaising with other New Forests functions which support operations to ensure effective collaboration and task completion including; sustainability, finance, legal risk and compliance, investor services, investment analytics and investments.
• Contribute to corporate strategy, governance, sustainability and responsible investment activities across New Forests business.

 We are seeking candidates with the following qualifications, experience, and strengths:
• Understanding of funds management, plantation forestry and agriculture commercial operations. 
• Strong commercial skills and experience including negotiation, financial analysis and formation and interpretation of legal agreements.
• Good Microsoft Office skills including Outlook, Word, Excel.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder liaison skills.

Qualifications and Knowledge:
• Proven professional operational experience in funds management, production forestry and/or agriculture. (15+years experience)
• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline. 
• Qualifications or knowledge of corporate governance and responsibilities of Company Directors.
• Experience in team leadership within a functional matrix structure. 
• Experience in funds management in an institutional investment context.
• In-depth understanding of forest valuation methodologies, including demonstrated experience in valuation of timberland assets.

Personal Qualities: 
• Ability to build strong relationships and work within a cohesive team environment.
• Ability to adapt to change quickly and effectively. Comfortable working, and maintaining effective communications, in a variety of environments and with different levels of people.
• A positive attitude and drives employee engagement
• Punctual, professional and outgoing personality that likes to assist people.
• A keen attention to detail.
• An ability to work independently as required, and take ownership of the role.
• Multi-task focus, with a capability to ensure the completion of a number of competing tasks and objectives.
• Capable of maintaining positive, calm demeanor during busy periods.