CSS Pension Plan | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
About CSS Founded in 1939, the Co-operative Superannuation Society (CSS) is one of Canada’s oldest and largest defined contribution pension plans. With approximately $5 billion in assets, CSS provides pension and retirement services to over 57,000 current and former co-operative and credit union employees, including more than 9,000 retirees.
Headquartered in Saskatoon, CSS serves nearly 300 employers nationwide and is recognized for excellence, integrity, and innovation. As a certified Great Place to Work®, CSS thrives on collaboration, guided by its pillars of respect, commitment, and communication.
The Opportunity Aplin is proud to partner with CSS in the search for a visionary and accomplished leader to join their executive team as Director, Investments & Financial Management (DIFM).
This is a career-defining opportunity for an investment professional who thrives in strategic leadership, values-driven decision-making, and is passionate about helping Canadians achieve financial security in retirement. Reporting directly to the Executive Director and working closely with the Board of Directors, the DIFM will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing CSS’s long-term investment strategy.
As the steward of CSS’s investment and pension portfolios, you will oversee asset allocation, risk management, manager selection, and performance monitoring across diverse asset classes, including public equities, fixed income, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and alternatives. You will also lead a high-performing team of investment, finance, and accounting professionals dedicated to excellence and innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Set Strategy & Direction: Develop and execute investment strategies aligned with CSS’s mission, member needs, and industry best practices.
• Lead & Inspire: Mentor and guide a talented team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Advise & Educate: Provide expert guidance to the Board and stakeholders, presenting complex concepts clearly to members and partners.
• Drive Results: Oversee portfolio performance, risk management, and asset manager relationships to achieve strong, sustainable outcomes.
• Innovate: Utilize digital tools and technology to enhance efficiency, reporting, and investment decision-making.
• Represent CSS: Engage with members, employers, and industry peers, contributing to thought leadership and representing CSS at industry events.

About You You are a seasoned investment leader with technical expertise and strategic vision, energized by guiding a large, diversified portfolio while leading a values-driven, member-focused team. You are comfortable advising a board on complex investment strategies and explaining financial security concepts to individual members.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressively senior investment management experience
• Proven success managing multi-asset institutional portfolios
• Experience across both public and private markets highly desirable
• Strong background in financial/accounting operations and reporting
• Degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field
• CFA designation strongly preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional analytical, strategic, and critical thinking abilities
• Proven leadership, communication, and negotiation skills
• High ethical standards and sound judgment
• Deep knowledge of investment principles, global markets, and economic indicators
• Genuine commitment to helping plan members achieve retirement security

• Set Strategy & Direction: Develop and execute investment strategies aligned with CSS’s mission, member needs, and industry best practices.
• Lead & Inspire: Mentor and guide a talented team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Advise & Educate: Provide expert guidance to the Board and stakeholders, presenting complex concepts clearly to members and partners.
• Drive Results: Oversee portfolio performance, risk management, and asset manager relationships to achieve strong, sustainable outcomes.
• Innovate: Utilize digital tools and technology to enhance efficiency, reporting, and investment decision-making.
• Represent CSS: Engage with members, employers, and industry peers, contributing to thought leadership and representing CSS at industry events