Description

Fundamental, concentrated investment management firm based in Chicago, is seeking an experienced trader to lead trading operations. The ideal candidate will be an accomplished trader with over 10 years of experience, preferably covering U.S. equities with a focus on small- and mid-cap companies. This role is responsible for executing trades across our concentrated portfolio, managing trading costs, and ensuring best execution while maintaining strong relationships with broker-dealers and other market participants.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Trader will own day-to-day execution for the firm’s portfolios, partnering with portfolio managers and analysts to implement fundamental investment decisions across global markets. The role combines high-touch execution, market intelligence, risk awareness, and process leadership to ensure best execution and a robust trading infrastructure for a fundamental, concentrated investment philosophy.

The Senior Trader will develop and implement trading strategies that balance urgency, liquidity constraints, and price objectives. Specifically, they will:

• Select appropriate execution strategies and venues (worked orders, algos, blocks, dark pools, auctions) based on liquidity, volatility, and portfolio context.
• Monitor orders intraday, adjusting tactics in response to market conditions, news flow, and liquidity.
• Track market conditions and provide critical market intelligence to the portfolio managers. This includes advising on trading feasibility, expected market impact, and optimal timing for position entries and exits. 

The position requires establishing and maintaining trading systems, tools, and workflows to ensure efficient operations and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Additional responsibilities include overseeing trade settlement, reconciliation, and error resolution, as well as maintaining comprehensive trading records and producing regular reports on execution quality, trading costs, and market observations.

The Senior Trader will work closely with the portfolio management, compliance, and operations teams to ensure seamless integration of trading activities.

Skills and Attributes

The ideal candidate will demonstrate sound judgment under pressure, strong analytical and quantitative skills, and excellent communication abilities for collaborating with the portfolio managers and external counterparties. A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and meticulous attention to detail are essential, along with integrity and a commitment to acting in clients' best interests.

Requirements

Minimum of 10 years of equity experience as a buy-side trader (hedge fund, long-only investment firm), with demonstrated expertise in small and mid-cap US equities, specifically sourcing liquidity, along with well-established buy-side and sell-side broker relationships. A deep understanding of market microstructure, liquidity dynamics, and execution strategies is essential. The role requires proficiency with trading platforms, order management systems, and transaction cost analysis tools.

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, or related field; advanced degree or CFA a plus.

Compensation commensurate with experience.