Director of Research & Protfolio Strategy

Vicus Capital | State College, Pennsylvania

Lead investment research. Shape portfolio strategy. Make a difference in the lives of our clients.

Vicus Capital is seeking a senior investment professional to lead our research initiatives and help shape portfolio strategy across our firm. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who wants a meaningful voice in asset allocation, market views, manager selection, and model portfolio construction without the layers, bureaucracy, and distance from decision-making that often come with larger financial institutions.

Based in State College, Pennsylvania, Vicus Capital is an independent Registered Investment Advisor with more than $3 billion in AUM. We build innovative investment strategies via model portfolios and customized solutions for clients of independent financial advisors nationwide. Our investment work is rigorous, practical, and ultimately focused on helping advisors deliver better outcomes for their clients.

This role is ideal for an experienced investment professional from an RIA, asset manager, investment consulting firm, OCIO platform, or wealth management organization who is ready to step into a broader leadership seat.

For the right candidate, this is an opportunity to leave the pace and complexity of a major financial market while continuing to do serious investment work in a close-knit, fast-growing, and highly collaborative firm.

About the Role

The Head of Research & Portfolio Strategy will lead the firms investment research agenda and serve as Chair of the Investment Committee. This person will be responsible for driving research and decision-making through macroeconomic analysis, market and asset-class views, manager selection, and model portfolio strategy via tactical and strategic allocations.

You will lead a small team of analysts, partner closely with other members of the investment team, and work with firm leadership to translate approved investment views into practical portfolio solutions across Vicus Capitals model portfolios and investment strategies.

This is not a purely theoretical research role. We are looking for someone who can develop thoughtful investment views, defend them in committee, communicate them clearly, and help ensure they are implemented effectively across client portfolios.

What Youll Lead

Investment Research & Portfolio Strategy

You will set and drive the research agenda for the firm, including:

• Macroeconomic and capital markets research
• Strategic and tactical asset allocation views
• Style, sector, geography, duration, credit, and factor-level analysis
• Research supporting overweight and underweight recommendations across model portfolios
• Manager due diligence and selection across ETFs, mutual funds, SMAs, Private Alts, etc.

You should be comfortable developing and defending views on questions such as:

• Growth vs. value
• Large cap vs. small cap
• Domestic vs. international equity
• Sector-specific allocations
• Duration and Credit weightings
• Risk-on vs. risk-off positioning

Investment Committee

As Chair of the Investment Committee, you will be responsible for helping the committee operate with discipline, rigor, and accountability. We are looking for someone who can lead without ego, challenge without politics, and build consensus without diluting investment conviction.

Responsibilities will include:

• Setting monthly Investment Committee agendas
• Framing key decisions for discussion and approval
• Encouraging constructive debate and challenge
• Ensuring recommendations are supported by research and analysis
• Documenting approved views and portfolio decisions
• Helping translate committee decisions into implementable portfolio changes

Analyst Team

You will manage and develop a small, focused team of analysts.

Responsibilities will include:

• Setting research priorities
• Assigning and reviewing analytical work
• Coaching analysts on investment thinking, writing, and presentation skills
• Improving the quality, consistency, and repeatability of the research process
• Helping build a high-accountability, high-trust investment culture

Communication & Advisor Support

Because Vicus Capital serves financial advisors nationwide, the ability to communicate investment concepts clearly is essential. Alongside the Chief Market Strategist, you will be expected to:

• Write market commentaries and investment updates
• Present investment themes internally and externally
• Explain complex investment topics at varying levels of sophistication
• Serve as a subject-matter expert for advisor-facing conversations
• Help advisors understand the rationale behind portfolio positioning
• Represent the investment team with professionalism, clarity, and conviction

Who Will Thrive Here

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Want your investment views to have real influence
• Enjoy debating markets, asset allocation, and portfolio construction
• Want to chair the room where investment decisions are made
• Prefer a smaller, entrepreneurial firm where your work is visible and valued
• Are looking for a long-term professional home rather than a stepping-stone role
• Care about serving advisors and helping them improve client outcomes
• Want to do sophisticated investment work in a more personal, collaborative environment

This role is especially well-suited for someone who has built strong technical investment skills in a larger market or institution and is now looking for broader responsibilities, closer relationships, and a more direct connection between research and results.

What Were Looking For

The right candidate will bring a combination of investment judgment, intellectual curiosity, leadership ability, emotional intelligence, and practical portfolio experience.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree
• 7+ years of experience in investment research, portfolio strategy, manager research, asset allocation, or a related investment role
• Experience contributing to or leading multi-asset allocation decisions
• Experience performing manager due diligence across funds, ETFs, SMAs, Private Alts, or related vehicles
• A high degree of intellectual humility; the ability to hold strong opinions weakly, pivot based on new data, and foster a space where ideas are welcome
• Prior involvement in investment committee discussions or portfolio allocation decision-making
• Experience leading, managing, mentoring, or developing analysts or junior investment professionals
• Strong written communication skills, including the ability to write market commentaries, investment memos, and portfolio recommendations
• Strong verbal communication and presentation skills
• Strong Excel proficiency
• Relevant industry designation such as CFA, CMT, FRM, or similar
• Series 65 registration or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of investment experience
• Experience in an RIA, wealth management, asset management, OCIO, institutional consulting, model portfolio, or investment platform environment
• Experience working with financial advisors
• Experience with Morningstar Direct, Bloomberg, FactSet, Black Diamond, Fidelity Wealthscape, Schwab Advisor Center, or similar investment and custodian platforms
• Experience building or overseeing scalable model portfolios

Location

This is an in-office leadership role based at our headquarters in State College, Pennsylvania. State College offers a different pace than New York, Boston, Philadelphia, or D.C., while still providing access to a highly educated community, a major university environment, outdoor recreation, strong local amenities, and a family-friendly lifestyle. While we do not offer a formal relocation package, we are committed to helping serious candidates evaluate whether State College and Vicus are the right long-term fit.

About Vicus Capital

Vicus Capital is an independent investment management firm headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania, with more than $3 billion in assets under management. As a Registered Investment Advisor, we build investment strategies, model portfolios, and tools for independent financial advisors across the country.

We take pride in delivering thoughtful investment solutions, high-quality advisor service, and a strong client experience. We also believe in creating a workplace where people are trusted to take ownership, contribute ideas, challenge assumptions, and grow professionally.

Our culture is collaborative, growth-minded, and relationship driven. We do not believe in micromanagement. We believe in bringing strong attitude and energy, hitting high standards, and giving talented people the room to do meaningful work.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time salaried position with incentive compensation.

Vicus Capital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health insurance
• Dental and vision insurance
• Group life insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with safe harbor employer contributions
• Paid time off

Salary/Compensation: $115,000 - $150,000 per year