Investment Director / Chief Investment Officer (Based in Qatar)

A well-established, regulated investment firm in Qatar is seeking an accomplished Investment Director / Chief Investment Officer to build and lead a professional investment department from the ground up. Shariah compliant, supervised and regulated, the firm is entering a new chapter — and is looking for a builder to assist and help design its investment platform, originate and launch a new generation of products, and set the standard for how the function operates.

The successful candidate will architect the investment department from first principles — its strategy, team, processes, governance, and product pipeline — while a defined book of legacy (“vintage”) positions continues to be managed and brought to orderly realization. The forward agenda, is where this role lives.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and engaging regularly with the Investment Committee and Board, the successful candidate will own investment strategy and performance end-to-end — from origination and structuring through execution, post-investment management, and exit. This is a mandate for a seasoned professional who combines the technical depth to structure new products with the presence and integrity to represent the institution before regulators, committees, and investors.

The Mandate

Re-build/Enhance the investment department — its operating model, team structure, mandates, and ways of working — and establish it as a credible, professional platform.

1. Design and launch a new generation of investment products and funds , from concept through structuring, documentation, regulatory approval, and go-to-market.
2. Define, articulate, and lead the firm's overall investment strategy and asset-allocation approach, in alignment with the institution's objectives, risk appetite, and Sharia-compliant mandate.
3. Review and enhance the investment governance framework — policies, standard operating procedures, investment-committee process, and risk controls.
4. Recruit, build, mentor, and lead a high-performing investment team, setting performance standards and developing talent.
5. Lead the full deal lifecycle — origination, screening, valuation, due diligence, structuring, negotiation, execution, and exit — across private equity, real estate, structured products, and strategic investments.
6. Oversee the structuring of investment products and funds , including capital-raising instruments and the associated offering, subscription, and governance documentation.
7. Direct post-investment and portfolio management , monitoring performance, driving value creation, and managing risk, liquidity, and return across the portfolio.
8. Oversee the orderly management and realization of the existing legacy (vintage) portfolio — an important continuing responsibility, though secondary to the forward build agenda.
9. Lead the preparation of MOUs, letters of intent, term sheets, and pre-contractual documentation, and negotiate transaction structures within approved mandates.
10. Prepare and present investment proposals, business cases, and portfolio reviews to the Investment Committee, senior management, and Board for approval.
11. Ensure full compliance with the firm's investment policy, the requirements of the regulator, and applicable local/international laws and regulations.
12. Manage relationships with external fund managers, co-investors, advisors, auditors, and counterparties.

Candidate Profile

1. 13–15 years of progressive experience in investment management, private equity, asset management, corporate finance, or a closely related field.
2. A demonstrable builder's track record — A proven track record in leading investment strategies, evaluating investment opportunities, and managing high-value portfolios (closings and exits).
3. Strong financial modelling, valuation, and due diligence expertise.
4. Demonstrated experience structuring investment products and funds , together with substantive post-investment / portfolio management experience.
5. M&A and corporate-finance advisory experience, ideally gained within a regional investment banking house or a Big Four advisory practice.
6. Prior experience within regulated financial institutions , with strong working familiarity with financial-services regulation and the expectations of supervisory authorities.
7. Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, and strategic decision-making skills.

Exposure to Shariah Compliant structures, cross-border fund vehicles, and specialized or alternative asset classes will be viewed as a distinct advantage.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
2. A CFA charter, MBA, or other relevant professional qualification is highly preferred.

Beyond technical credentials, the institution is seeking a leader of substance and character:

1. A builder's mindset — energized by starting from a blank sheet, comfortable with ambiguity, and driven to create rather than maintain.
2. Integrity and sound judgement — a person of values who holds a high ethical standard and earns trust.
3. Strength of personality and presence — able to hold a position, challenge constructively, and command a room.
4. Regulatory poise — confident and credible in discussions with regulators and supervisory bodies.
5. Boardroom capability — a clear, persuasive communicator before investment committees and the Board.
6. Regional GCC experience is highly valued.