Director of Strategic Relationships

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Reporting to the Chief Client Officer, the Director of Strategic Relationships will lead Weitz Investment Management's efforts with professional buyers and strategic partners across intermediary and institutional channels. The position is responsible for consultant relations, institutional business development, strategic partnerships, and professional buyer engagement, with a focus on expanding the firm's presence among investment consultants, OCIO providers, institutional investors, retirement platforms, and other key industry influencers. Working collaboratively with Client Portfolio Managers, Product Management, Marketing, and Sales leadership, this role will help drive asset growth, strengthen strategic relationships, and expand awareness of Weitz's investment capabilities.

This can be a remote position if located outside Omaha, NE.

Travel may be 50 to 60% for client meetings, industry conferences, and business development activities.

Essential Functions

Strategic Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain senior-level relationships with key decision-makers, gatekeepers, investment consultants, OCIO providers, due diligence professionals, research teams, institutional investors, and strategic partners across intermediary and institutional channels.
• Maintain a deep understanding of institutional and intermediary evaluation processes, research methodologies, search and recommendation processes, and due diligence requirements to effectively position Weitz's investment capabilities.
• Serve as a primary representative of Weitz to professional buyers, consultants, institutional investors, and industry influencers, expanding awareness of the firm's capabilities and investment strategies.
• Cultivate new business opportunities while strengthening existing relationships through a disciplined, consultative coverage approach.
• Facilitate introductions and access to Client Portfolio Managers and firm leadership to support business development efforts and investment-related discussions.
• Maintain a thorough understanding of partner organizations, consultant firms, institutional investors, investment priorities, business models, and decision-making processes to identify opportunities for collaboration, search participation, and asset growth.
• Support ongoing client retention efforts through regular engagement, relationship reviews, and proactive communication.
• Negotiate and manage strategic business agreements with partner organizations, including platform access arrangements, distribution agreements, sponsorships, and marketing partnerships, ensuring alignment with firm objectives, compliance requirements, and growth priorities.
• Coordinate the review, approval, and ongoing management of partner agreements and related expenditures, collaborating with Compliance, Finance, and senior leadership to ensure appropriate oversight and execution.

Business Development and Sales Enablement

• Develop and execute business plans designed to increase assets under management, expand institutional and intermediary distribution opportunities, improve consultant engagement, and enhance visibility for Weitz investment strategies.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities across institutional and intermediary channels, including investment consultants, OCIO firms, retirement plans, endowments, foundations, and strategic partners, coordinating internal resources to advance prospects through the sales process.
• Support consultant research efforts, due diligence reviews, consultant databases, and search processes by coordinating internal resources and ensuring timely, high-quality responses.
• Lead presentations, meetings, finalist presentations, due diligence discussions, and review meetings with prospective and existing clients.
• Articulate Weitz's investment philosophy, culture, value proposition, and product offerings, including mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and institutional strategies.
• Partner with Client Portfolio Managers to support complex investment discussions and product-specific opportunities.
• Represent Weitz at industry conferences, consultant and OCIO meetings, partner events, institutional forums, and other business development forums.
• Provide regular updates to senior leadership regarding pipeline activity, market trends, competitive intelligence, and growth opportunities.

Internal Collaboration and Operational Excellence

• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Investment Management, Operations, and Client Service teams to ensure coordinated execution of growth initiatives.
• Provide market feedback and client insights to help inform product development, messaging, positioning, and strategic priorities.
• Contribute to the development of presentations, thought leadership, consultant relations materials, and other marketing resources, providing market feedback and institutional perspective to support content development.
• Maintain accurate records of all activities, opportunities, and relationships within Salesforce CRM.
• Utilize internal and external data sources, consultant research platforms, and industry databases to identify opportunities, monitor activity, and support data-driven decision making.
• Assist in evaluating sponsorships, conferences, and industry engagement opportunities to maximize business impact and return on investment.
• Support the continued evolution of Weitz's distribution strategy and market presence across intermediary and institutional channels.

About Weitz Investment Management

Founded by value investor Wally Weitz in 1983, Weitz Investment Management, Inc. is a boutique, employee-owned asset management firm headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Over the past four decades, Weitz has leveraged its research-driven approach to capitalize on opportunities that arise out of market inefficiencies. Decisions are backed by thorough research, Iogical strategies, extensive debate and our team's personal commitment to long-term results. The Weitz team builds and manages concentrated, high-conviction, actively managed portfolios. Through bottom-up, proprietary research that emphasizes fundamentals, we focus on creating positive results over the long term. We offer a variety of options for investors with different goals and preferences, including equity and fixed income investment strategies.

We offer all employees competitive compensation and benefits including medical, dental and vision coverage, as well as parental leave, paid time off, on-site gym access, and a very generous qualified profit sharing plan. Compensation includes salary and bonus and will be commensurate with experience.

Education and Licenses

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• MBA, CFA, CFP, CIMA, or other relevant professional designation preferred.
• Active FINRA Series 7 and 65/66 (or 63) licenses required.

Experience

• 8–10+ years of experience in investment management, asset management distribution, consultant relations, institutional sales, national accounts, or related business development roles.
• Demonstrated success building relationships with professional buyers, consultants, institutional investors, intermediary partners, or platform decision-makers.
• Strong understanding of investment management, portfolio construction, capital markets, and investment vehicle structures, including mutual funds, ETFs, and separately managed accounts.
• Experience navigating complex sales cycles and multi-stakeholder decision-making processes.
• Experience participating in consultant research processes, institutional searches, RFI/RFP responses, and due diligence reviews; familiarity with industry databases such as eVestment, Dakota, and other consultant research platforms preferred.

Skills and Attributes

• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong consultative selling and business development capabilities.
• Ability to influence and engage senior decision-makers across diverse organizations.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently while effectively coordinating internal resources.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and opportunities simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Salesforce CRM, Microsoft Office Suite, and other industry-standard research and analytics tools.
• Commitment to professionalism, integrity, and a client-centered approach.