GCM Grosvenor Internship Program: A Launchpad into Alternative Investments

GCM Grosvenor, a global alternative asset management solutions provider, offers a comprehensive internship program designed to introduce students to the world of alternative investments. With approximately $86 billion in assets under management across various strategies, including private equity, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and absolute return, GCM Grosvenor provides interns with invaluable real-world experience. The firm, headquartered in Chicago with offices spanning the globe, has a long-standing history of specializing in alternatives for over 54 years.

Program Overview

The GCM Grosvenor internship program is a structured initiative aimed at providing students with a deep dive into the alternative investment industry. The 10-week Summer Internship Program is designed to provide an introduction to the alternative investment industry. Interns receive real-world experience that will foster professional development while complementing their studies. Internships in the Investments department are geared towards rising seniors pursuing a career in the investment management industry. The intern will be based out of our Chicago office. It offers hands-on experience, mentorship, and exposure to various facets of the firm's operations.

Internship Opportunities

GCM Grosvenor offers internships across various departments, allowing students to focus on specific areas of interest. One notable internship is within the Absolute Return/Hedge Fund Strategies (“ARS”) Investments team, focusing on research.

Absolute Return/Hedge Fund Strategies (ARS) Investments Intern (Research)

This internship is tailored for students interested in hedge fund strategies and alternative investment research. The Research department’s primary focus is to identify, underwrite, and monitor investments within alternative investment managers and related opportunities on a global basis using a variety of investment strategies such as credit, equities, macro, quant, relative value, or multi-strategy.

Responsibilities

The ARS Research Intern will be involved in critical activities that provide a comprehensive understanding of investment analysis and market dynamics. These responsibilities include:

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Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis: Perform thorough qualitative and quantitative analysis of existing and potential investments in hedge fund managers across various strategies and regions.
Trend Analysis: Track, analyze, and interpret trends in specific strategies and the related capital markets.
Strategy Assessment: Assess new investment strategies and monitor current conditions within existing strategies utilized by the firm.
Market Commentary: Prepare internal and external market and investment commentary on a monthly basis.
Communication: Communicate (verbally and in writing) hedge fund manager and strategy-related issues to the Investments department and the Investment Committee.
Due Diligence: Participate in the due diligence of potential new investments with hedge fund managers.
Department Participation: Participating in department meetings as well as strategy review meetings.
Summer Project: Complete a summer project related to the industry to present to the Investments department.

Requirements

To be eligible for the ARS Research Intern position, candidates should possess the following qualifications:

Academic Background: Qualified candidates will be Juniors/third years, pursuing BA/BS with a concentration in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or related field with superior academic performance.
Industry Knowledge: Strong interest in and knowledge of the investment industry, particularly the alternative investment industry. Applicable coursework or previous internship in the field of investments or financial markets beneficial but not required.
Communication Skills: Superior written and verbal communication skills. The ability to articulate thoughts in a clear and concise manner to both clients and staff through written correspondence, presentations and in meetings
Adaptability: Must be flexible and adaptable with the ability to work in a fast paced, changing environment with shifts in workflow priorities under tight time constraints.
Work Ethic: Excellent work ethic, high degree of professionalism and integrity, and commitment to team in a goal-oriented environment.
Organizational Skills: Superior organization, critical decision making and problem-solving skills with the demonstrated initiative and ability to manage tasks and projects independently from start to finish in a cross functional team environment.
Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail and concern for quality and accuracy of final product, and ability to balance that concern with deadlines.
Team Player: Team player, self-starter, independent and critical thinker.
Flexibility: Flexible schedule which allows for certain late nights and weekends depending upon the workload.
Confidentiality: The ability to recognize the requirements of confidentiality.
Technical Skills: Highly proficient with Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Infrastructure Investments Summer Internship Program

Another notable internship opportunity is the Infrastructure Investments Summer Internship Program, designed to provide an introduction to the alternative investment industry with a particular focus on institutional infrastructure investment management. The Summer Intern will join a team of twenty infrastructure investment professionals.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate for the Infrastructure Investments Summer Internship Program will be a self-starting independent thinker with a strong work ethic and desire to work in a highly collaborative environment. The successful candidate will be self-motivated and energized by working amongst a group of thoughtful, smart, and successful colleagues. They will enjoy being part of an organization focused on excellence and will be a person with a great attitude who enjoys interacting with individuals at all levels.

Key Skills and Abilities

Candidates should possess the following skills and abilities:

Strong professional communication skills, including an ability to articulate thoughts in a clear and concise manner to clients and colleagues via written correspondence and presentations as well as in-person and virtual meetings.
Superior organization, decision making and problem-solving skills with demonstrated initiative and independent project management ability.
Flexibility and adaptability to handle changing priorities on short timelines.
Ability to multi-task and work effectively with internal and external stakeholders and colleagues.

Compensation and Benefits

While interns are not eligible for employee benefits like health insurance, paid time off, or 401(k) plans, the compensation is competitive. The Chicago annual pay range for internships is between $70,000 and $72,000 USD. Actual base salary may vary based on factors such as individual's experience, skills, and qualifications for the role. Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on factors such as individual, team, and company performance as well as a comprehensive benefits package.

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GCM Grosvenor Leadership

The success and growth of GCM Grosvenor are driven by its experienced leadership team, which includes:

Michael J. Sacks: Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, joined GCM Grosvenor in 1990 and was named CEO in 1994.
Paul A. Meister: Vice Chairman and Chair of the firm’s Operations Committee.
Jonathan R. Levin: President since 2017 and a member of the Board since November 2020.
Pamela Bentley: Chief Financial Officer and a member of the firm’s Operations Committee.
Kevin P. Buchheit: Focuses on the firm’s strategic projects and corporate investment opportunities.
Cara Fixler: Chief Human Resources Officer.
Mr. Levin: Chief Technology Officer.
Burke J. Montgomery: General Counsel and a member of the Sustainability Committee and Operations Committee.
Mr. Pollock: Chief Investment Officer.
Ms. Selinger: Head of Investor Relations.
Mr. Berkemeyer: Shares responsibilities for co-investment and direct investing within our credit strategies.
Ms. Bischoff: Involved with deal sourcing, conducting due diligence, and managing client relationships, with a focus on private equity secondaries.
Ms. Bollini: Shares responsibility for the firm’s fund finance operations.
Mr. Braffman: A member of the Real Assets Investment Committee and the Infrastructure Advantage Investment Committee.
Mr. Brashear: A member of the Private Equity Investment Committee.
Mr. Brennan: Shares responsibilities for primary and secondaries research and investing within our credit strategies.
Stephen J. Brewster: Shares responsibility for business development, client service and consultant relations.
Ms. Browne: Co-head of the Elevate strategy as part of the Sponsor Solutions Group.
Mr. Bush: Shares responsibility for the firm’s financial reporting and accounting policy.
Brandon L. Cahill: A leader in co-investment and direct investing within our credit strategies.
Stephen P. Cammock: Focuses on private equity investment activity.

Life at GCM Grosvenor

Working at GCM Grosvenor offers a unique opportunity to be part of a diverse, engaged team of approximately 560 professionals. The firm is committed to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment where employees can thrive. Eligible employees can elect to participate in comprehensive healthcare coverage (including medical, dental, vision and life insurance), flexible spending accounts, and the employer sponsored retirement plan. Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off, parental leave, short-term and long-term disability, as well as other care/wellness programs.

Global Presence

GCM Grosvenor has a significant global presence with offices in key financial centers around the world, including:

Chicago (Headquarters)
New York
Toronto
London
Frankfurt
Tokyo
Hong Kong
Seoul
Sydney

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