Portfolio Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
Portfolio Manager jobs in Wisconsin concentrate in investment management, banking, insurance, and corporate finance, with demand at levels from analyst-track associate to senior institutional portfolio manager. Milwaukee anchors most of the hiring, backed by firms like Northwestern Mutual, Baird, and Johnson Controls, while Madison draws candidates through its mix of university-affiliated endowments and insurance sector employers. Real estate and fixed-income portfolio specialties see the most consistent openings across the state. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 13+ Portfolio Manager jobs
- JR10015139
- Hybrid
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Administration
- Closing at: Sep 30 2026 - 11:00pm CDT
Job Category:
Academic StaffEmployment Type:
Terminal (Fixed Term)Job Profile:
Project Portfolio Manager (C)Job Summary:
The Division of Continuing Studies is seeking a Project Portfolio Manager. This position sits in the Student and Academic Programs unit and works with senior management to establish a portfolio of academic programs that increases business value, builds synergies among projects, makes the best use of limited resources, and aligns projects with the defined strategic direction and goals. Identifies and manages risks, monitors and controls portfolio budgets, effectively manages relationships, and establishes project reporting requirements. This position will report to the Associate Dean of Student and Academic Programs and is a one-year project appointment with the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding. This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
Job Responsibilities:
Oversees a varied portfolio of projects and provides research information, data analyses, and policy reports to inform strategic planning, decision-making, and resource allocation. Provides advice to, and performance management support for the division's leadership.
- 20% Monitors lifecycles for a varied portfolio of projects, tracks progress, identifies risks, recommends improvements, and collaborates to implement changes
- 20% Assists in the development of strategic planning initiatives and objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources, in alignment with the strategic plan
- 10% Manages and evaluates portfolio budget and objectives in collaboration with key stakeholders and leadership
- 20% Prepares and disseminates reports according to established policies and procedures
- 10% Develops, implements, and directs operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and project objectives and facilitates project requests
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Monitors lifecycles for a varied portfolio of projects, tracks progress, identifies risks, recommends improvements, and collaborates to implement changes
- Prepares and disseminates portfolio reports according to established policies and procedures
- Manages and evaluates portfolio budget and objectives in collaboration with key stakeholders and leadership
- Assists in the development of strategic planning initiatives and unit objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources, in alignment with the strategic plan
- Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
- Develops, implements, and directs operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and unit objectives and facilitates project requests
Department:
Continuing Studies, Student and Academic Programs
Compensation:
MINIMUM $87,112 Annual
Required Qualifications:
- 7 or more years working in higher education
- 5 or more years experience working with and knowledge of online education
- 3 or more years of supervisory experience
- Proven leadership ability and project management responsibility
- Demonstrated organizational problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Capacity to be effective in a fast paced, results driven division
- Strong interpersonal communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with data analysis, visualization and storytelling
- Academic planning experience
Education:
Master's Degree required
How to Apply:
To apply for this position, You will be asked to upload a resume and cover letter as a part of the application process. Please ensure your resume and cover letter address how you meet the minimum/preferred qualifications for the position.
Contact Information:
Zachary Yafai
HR Business Partner
zyafai@wisc.edu
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
- JR10015139
- Hybrid
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Administration
- Closing at: Sep 30 2026 - 11:00pm CDT
Job Category:
Academic StaffEmployment Type:
Terminal (Fixed Term)Job Profile:
Project Portfolio Manager (C)Job Summary:
The Division of Continuing Studies is seeking a Project Portfolio Manager. This position sits in the Student and Academic Programs unit and works with senior management to establish a portfolio of academic programs that increases business value, builds synergies among projects, makes the best use of limited resources, and aligns projects with the defined strategic direction and goals. Identifies and manages risks, monitors and controls portfolio budgets, effectively manages relationships, and establishes project reporting requirements. This position will report to the Associate Dean of Student and Academic Programs and is a one-year project appointment with the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding. This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
Job Responsibilities:
Oversees a varied portfolio of projects and provides research information, data analyses, and policy reports to inform strategic planning, decision-making, and resource allocation. Provides advice to, and performance management support for the division's leadership.
- 20% Monitors lifecycles for a varied portfolio of projects, tracks progress, identifies risks, recommends improvements, and collaborates to implement changes
- 20% Assists in the development of strategic planning initiatives and objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources, in alignment with the strategic plan
- 10% Manages and evaluates portfolio budget and objectives in collaboration with key stakeholders and leadership
- 20% Prepares and disseminates reports according to established policies and procedures
- 10% Develops, implements, and directs operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and project objectives and facilitates project requests
Key Job Responsibilities:
- Monitors lifecycles for a varied portfolio of projects, tracks progress, identifies risks, recommends improvements, and collaborates to implement changes
- Prepares and disseminates portfolio reports according to established policies and procedures
- Manages and evaluates portfolio budget and objectives in collaboration with key stakeholders and leadership
- Assists in the development of strategic planning initiatives and unit objectives to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, and staffing resources, in alignment with the strategic plan
- Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
- Develops, implements, and directs operating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, and unit objectives and facilitates project requests
Department:
Continuing Studies, Student and Academic Programs
Compensation:
MINIMUM $87,112 Annual
Required Qualifications:
- 7 or more years working in higher education
- 5 or more years experience working with and knowledge of online education
- 3 or more years of supervisory experience
- Proven leadership ability and project management responsibility
- Demonstrated organizational problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Capacity to be effective in a fast paced, results driven division
- Strong interpersonal communication skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with data analysis, visualization and storytelling
- Academic planning experience
Education:
Master's Degree required
How to Apply:
To apply for this position, You will be asked to upload a resume and cover letter as a part of the application process. Please ensure your resume and cover letter address how you meet the minimum/preferred qualifications for the position.
Contact Information:
Zachary Yafai
HR Business Partner
zyafai@wisc.edu
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
See All 13 Portfolio Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
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Find Portfolio Manager JobsPortfolio Manager Jobs by City in Wisconsin
Where Wisconsin roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Portfolio Manager Job Market in Wisconsin
A snapshot from current Wisconsin openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Wisconsin Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in portfolio manager jobs across Wisconsin.
- CFA designation or active progress toward CFA charterholder status strongly preferred
- Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, or a related quantitative field required
- Demonstrated experience managing equity, fixed-income, or multi-asset investment portfolios
- Proficiency with Bloomberg Terminal, FactSet, or comparable portfolio analytics platforms
- Series 65 or Series 7 license required for client-facing or discretionary investment roles
- Strong written communication skills for investment commentary and client reporting
Portfolio Manager Jobs in Wisconsin: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a portfolio manager in Wisconsin?
Most portfolio managers in Wisconsin begin with a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, or accounting, then move into analyst or associate roles at an investment firm, bank, or insurance company. Wisconsin does not issue a state-specific portfolio manager license, but client-facing roles typically require a Series 65 license administered through FINRA and registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The CFA charter is the most recognized credential for advancing into discretionary portfolio management in the state.
Which companies hire portfolio managers in Wisconsin?
Companies currently hiring portfolio managers in Wisconsin include Associated Bank, Baird, and Trueline, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Wisconsin's deep insurance and wealth management sector means many openings sit within large institutional firms headquartered or regionally anchored in Milwaukee.
Which Wisconsin cities have the most portfolio manager jobs?
Madison, Milwaukee, and Waukesha have the most portfolio manager openings in Wisconsin. Milwaukee leads because it is home to major financial services and insurance headquarters, while Madison draws openings through its university endowment offices, state government investment functions, and a growing fintech and insurance presence that sustains demand outside the largest metro.
Are there remote portfolio manager jobs in Wisconsin?
Yes, and more than many finance roles, since portfolio management is largely analytical and desk-based. About 80% of portfolio manager openings tied to Wisconsin are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how well the work translates to distributed settings. Research-intensive and quantitative roles tend to be the most remote-eligible, while client-relationship-heavy positions still favor in-office or hybrid arrangements.
How can I get hired as a portfolio manager in Wisconsin with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through an investment analyst or associate role at a Wisconsin-based wealth management firm, bank trust department, or insurance asset management division. Northwestern Mutual, Baird, and regional credit unions regularly recruit new graduates into structured analyst programs that rotate through portfolio construction and research. Earning the CFA Level I and building a model portfolio demonstrates commitment. Adjacent roles in financial planning, credit analysis, or equity research at Wisconsin community banks and regional broker-dealers also create lateral paths into portfolio management.
Where can I find and apply to portfolio manager jobs in Wisconsin?
You can find and apply to portfolio manager jobs in Wisconsin on Migrate Mate, which lists current Wisconsin openings across investment firms, banks, insurance companies, and corporate treasury departments. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly.
See All 13 Portfolio Manager Jobs in Wisconsin
Find roles in Wisconsin that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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