INTRODUCTION

The Maryland State Retirement Agency (the “Agency") is the administrator of the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (the “System"). The System is a multi-employer, public employees’ defined benefit retirement system composed of twelve (12) separate retirement and pension systems with additional plan components, covering approximately 205,000 active members and more than 175,000 retirees and beneficiaries.
The Agency’s Investment team drives results through creative problem solving, working together to manage a global multi-asset portfolio and to provide a secure base of assets to pay the current and future benefits for the underlying retirees and beneficiaries. The Investment Division is committed to providing a work environment that offers the investment team members a complete understanding of the institutional investment process, rewarding career paths, and a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces both analytical and creative thinkers.
The Agency is seeking an exceptional individual who is a creative problem solver, who is also well organized, detail-oriented, values learning, and is a self-starter to serve as an Assistant Director of Investment Operations within its Investment Division. The successful candidate will be proficient with standard office software and comfortable learning new systems. This position will work in an open and dynamic trading desk setting, and interact with traders, portfolio managers and analysts on the trading desk. In addition, familiarity with collateral treatment for derivatives is helpful, but not required.
This is a Special Appointment position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
Notes:
1. Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree at the time of appointment.
2. Candidates may substitute three years of relevant experience in investment trading operations for the
required education.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Must have interest in and knowledge of publicly traded equities and fixed income.
The candidate should have some of the experiences listed below to achieve success with the position’s responsibilities. It is desirable that this individual has knowledge and experience with:
1. Bloomberg AIM or other trade order management system.
2. Academic background in Information Systems, Computer Science/Programming, Business Administration, Statistics, Mathematics, or other quantitatively oriented disciplines.
3. Desirable software skills: Python, Microsoft Excel plus VBA, Access, Bloomberg, Blackrock Aladdin.
4. Prior experience working in a trading desk setting.
5. Familiarity with over-the-counter and exchange-cleared derivatives.

The Assistant Director of Investment Operations will be responsible for supporting the internal trading function, primarily for publicly traded equities and fixed income, which includes physical securities and derivatives.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Cash management and cash flow forecasting.
• Coordinate the operations workflow around the System’s internal trading program, arrange for trade settlements, cash transfers, or wire instructions with external brokers and the custodian.
• Process corporate action events affecting internally managed accounts.
• Verify security trades and communicate with internal traders and executing brokers, as needed.
• Monitor trades to ensure timely settlement.
• Communicate detailed trade data, and act as the liaison between the custodian and executing brokers for trade settlements.
• Prepare daily report indicating failed trades.
• Reconcile holdings between Bloomberg and the custodian and research any discrepancies.
• Monitor margin and collateral capital requirements associated with derivatives.
• Review and manage margin and collateral notices with the System’s counterparties.
• Review and develop processes related to margin and collateral management.
• Manage standard settlement instructions for all the System’s trading counterparties.