Senior Associate, Venture Capital and Impact Investing

Job Summary

The Sorenson Impact Institute’s Venture Capital & Impact Investing team seeks a Senior Associate to join our Salt Lake City-based, venture investing and student training program. The Senior Associate will be joining a team investing in high impact entrepreneurs while driving meaningful positive impact, while simultaneously training the next generation of finance and impact investing professionals. We’re seeking a team member with 4 years of experience in investing or related fields and a commitment to social innovation and impact. The right candidate is a leader and a teacher – entrepreneurial, bold, creative, and can excel in a fast-paced, startup environment.

The Senior Associate will report to the program’s Managing Director and will be responsible for training students in our program and managing investment processes and operations. Specifically, the Senior Associate will be responsible for sourcing new investments, leading due diligence, preparing investment materials, and managing investment operations – all while training and mentoring student interns. 

The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic investment professional with experience across the lifecycle of an investment, including sourcing, underwriting, and executing new investments. Candidates should have a strong commitment to impact and bring an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to the role. The Senior Associate should also have a passion for teaching and mentoring, as training and inspiring the next generation of venture capital and impact investing professionals is core to our work. 

Responsibilities

Mentor and Train Student Interns

• Equip a rotating cohort of student interns with hands-on experience in venture capital and impact investing through underwriting and full-cycle due diligence for early-stage deals (pre-seed–Series A).
• Lead student investing teams in due diligence, apprenticing interns in investor workflows, and teaching analytical frameworks such as market sizing, impact analysis, financial modeling, and market research.
• Create, contribute to, and lead recruitment activities and training sessions for new student interns

Early-stage Venture Investing

• Identify, maintain, and prioritize a pipeline of early-stage venture investment opportunities
• Conduct comprehensive due diligence and investment analysis
• Oversee preparation and presentation of investment opportunity materials to Investment Committees, editing student scripts and presentations

Portfolio & Post-Investment Management

• Lead strategic initiatives to improve investment thesis and portfolio construction
• On occasion, develop and maintain relationships with select portfolio companies
• As needed, track performance for annual reporting

Relationship Development and Management

• Build and maintain a network with investment professionals at other impact and traditional VC firms
• Support fundraising and strategic partnership initiative

Qualifications

1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

• Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) with up to 2 years of directly related work experience or a master’s (or equivalency) degree.
• Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences

• 4 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, investment management, or relevant non-finance fields, including experience in financial or operational experience in early-stage businesses or fund management
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Masters degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or related field
• Strong financial analysis and modeling skills
• Demonstrated ability to build high value industry relationships
• Mentorship or teaching experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Demonstrated desire and capability to work with and train student interns
• Ability to collaborate and function effectively on a highly motivated and entrepreneurial team 

Type

Benefited Staff

Pay Rate Range

$75k - $90k commensurate with experience

Special Instructions

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Additional Information

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page.

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As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members, a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.