ABOUT US
Housed at the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business, the Sorenson Impact Institute advances global impact through innovation in impact investing and finance, public policy, and corporate and social sector behavior. As part of our mission to train future impact leaders, the Institute integrates academic programming and experiential learning into each of its practice areas, including through our innovative Impact Investing & Venture Capital apprenticeship program which provides students from all backgrounds with deep, hands-on experience participating in all phases of the venture capital investment process.
POSITION OVERVIEW
We are searching for a dynamic leader for our Salt Lake City-based Impact Investing & Venture Capital (II & VC) team, which connects capital to high impact early stage ventures while training a diverse group of students to be the future leaders of the investment and impact ecosystems. We’re seeking a team member with 10+ years of experience in venture or related fields and a commitment to training and mentoring students. The right candidate is a leader and a teacher – entrepreneurial, bold, creative, and can excel in a fast-paced, startup environment. The Senior Director will lead the professional investment team and student training program and report to the Institute’s CEO, and will contribute to the leadership of the Sorenson Impact Institute.
The Senior Director will be the most senior member of the II & VC team, and will oversee all investment work of the program (approximately 20 early-stage transactions a year across both impact and traditional VC mandates). The Senior Director’s investment role will span the deal process from sourcing new investments, leading due diligence processes, structuring deal terms, and closing investments– all while training and mentoring the ~25 students in our student program.
In addition to deal work responsibilities, the Senior Director will provide leadership and strategic vision to the student training program, and manage, mentor, and guide the four other members of the II & VC team (3 investment team members and 1 operations and student engagement team member):
The ideal candidate is a seasoned investment professional with experience across the lifecycle of an investment and a fund. This includes fundraising and portfolio construction; sourcing, underwriting, and executing new investments; and running portfolio operations. Candidates should have a strong commitment to impact and bring an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to the role. The Senior Director 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.
As a leader at the Institute and in the impact space, candidates should have an extensive network and strong relationships with venture firms and impact investment organizations. The Senior Director will have opportunities to serve as a thought leader and public speaker as we work to advance our work and the work of our partners.
Responsibilities
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Program and Team Leadership & Management
- Provide strategic leadership to and manage the Impact Investing & Venture Capital team and student program
- Provide oversight and mentorship to professional staff
- Lead management of the team’s budget
- Early-stage Venture Investing
- Leverage existing and new network to contribute to sourcing of high-quality early-stage venture investment opportunities for the capital pools that we manage (impact venture and traditional venture)
- Conduct comprehensive due diligence and investment analysis
- Lead conversations and negotiations with co-investors and entrepreneurs regarding deal terms and structuring, and guide team members to conduct these conversations
- Mentor and Train Student Interns
- Mentor student interns as they gain exposure and experience in venture capital and impact investing
- Teach underwriting and due diligence processes to a rotating group of student interns (~25-30 students in each academic year cohort)
- Contribute to recruitment processes and training program for new student interns
- Business and Network Development
- Build and maintain a network with investment professionals at other VC firms and impact investing organizations
- Provide leadership for fundraising and strategic partnership initiatives
- Program Investment Operations
- Oversee tracking of portfolio company performance for annual reporting and provide post-investment support to portfolio companies as needed
- Contribute to management of quarterly and annual financial reporting
- Liaise with service providers for audit, taxes, insurance, etc.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration, clinical field, or related area, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); nine years of progressively more responsible management experience; and demonstrated leadership, staff management, and effective communications skills required.
Completion of hospital provided supervisory training within one year of employment may also be required.
This position has no responsibility for providing care to patients.
Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.
Preferences
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree
- 10+ years of transactional experience in venture capital, private equity, or investment management
- Demonstrated leadership and management experience
- Ability to collaborate and function effectively on an entrepreneurial team
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Advanced proficiency in financial modeling to support investment analysis
- Commitment to impact and interest in advancing the impact investing ecosystem
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in fundraising and stakeholder management
- Experience across equity and debt investing
- Masters degree or higher in business administration, finance, accounting, or related field
- Mentorship or teaching experience
- Demonstrated commitment to impact
Type
Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Additional Information
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 patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented students and patients.
All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. 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.
The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and 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 Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu
https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Do you have a related Bachelor's degree or equivalency? (2 years related work experience may be substituted for 1 year of education)
- * How many years of progressively more responsible management experience do you have?
- Less than 3 years
- 3 years or more, but less than 6 years
- 6 years or more, but less than 9 years
- 9 years or more, but less than 12 years
- 12 years or more
- Do you have a Master's degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration, or a related field?
