Manager Investments – Juvo Ventures
Juvo Ventures, LLC, is an affiliated for-profit entity of 501c(3) Corporation of Western Governors University
Juvo Ventures is a double bottom line venture capital firm focused on early stage technology-enabled education companies, across the education-to-work lifecycle, that improve quality, access, and outcomes. Our name, ‘Juvo,’ means to help, to support, to further — an idea that extends not just to our beliefs of how we can help entrepreneurs create value but also to the needs of the learner and how innovation can unlock the potential of every individual. Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs, invest in innovative solutions, optimize learner outcomes from early childhood to adulthood globally at scale, and maximize investor returns.
Juvo Ventures is anchored by competency-based education leader Western Governors University, a scaled disruptive player in higher education, and benefits from the unique advantage of a close partnership with the broader WGU ecosystem. The Juvo Ventures team brings a strong track record, earned over multiple decades of investment, policy, financial, and operational/entrepreneurial experience.
Job Overview:
The Manager Investments leads a small team of analysts that builds portfolios of innovative companies focused on accessibility, affordability, delivery, alignment, and experience of education. The Manager Investments will lead endeavors to source and evaluate new investment opportunities, due diligence efforts on high potential opportunities, and assist with structuring deal terms. The Manager Investments will use their investing skills to evaluate the growth and return potential of companies from both a financial and social impact perspective and will prepare and present analysis to JUVO’s Investment Committee.
The Manager Investments will develop research and analysis related JUVO’s investment portfolio and its performance, support fundraising and strategic partnership initiatives, and help manage portfolio operations. The Manager will contribute to actively building and cultivating networks in the venture and impact investing communities and will work closely with the communications team for external audiences.
This position is located in Salt Lake City, UT and we can support relocation.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Identifies, cultivates, and reviews a pipeline of early-stage investment opportunities providing critical services to the underserved.
- Conducts thorough due diligence and investment analysis, including financial modeling, valuation review and structuring.
- Prepares and presents detailed and compelling investment documentation for JUVO’s Investment Committee.
- Manages positive relationships with portfolio companies, tracking performance and providing active support.
- Assesses portfolio company needs related to post investment support; designs and implements post-investment management interventions.
- Designs and evaluates key metrics to measure the social and financial returns on investments.
- Develops long-term relationships with external stakeholders including funders, advisors, thought leaders, sector and functional experts to provide support across the portfolio.
- Engages with the JUVO team to analyze and document data-driven explanations for portfolio decisions; to extract and document investment-specific and general insights; to analyze metrics data to identify patterns; and to channel that data to outputs for marketing and fundraising efforts.
- Produces separate knowledge and research materials to use for future deals that enhances the efficiency and success of the organization.
- Communicates and collaborates with all JUVO staff to ensure coordination of operational activities and initiatives are streamlined and effective.
- Manages employee’s performance and provides frequent coaching and performance feedback, address performance concerns in a timely and constructive manner.
- Supports employee engagement and performance recognition programs.
- Holds direct reports accountable for assigned projects and areas of responsibilities.
- Coaches, mentors, and assists in the professional development of team members.
- Identifies, develops, and implements process improvement initiatives to continuously improve the operations (e.g., safety, productivity, quality) by engaging employees for input in identifying and developing process improvement initiatives.
Knowledge, Skill, Abilities, and Competencies:
- Exceptional financial literacy and business analysis skills
- Excellent written and communication skills
- Ability to present arguments and analysis in a clear and succinct manner to leadership, partners, and investees
- Ability to produce research and analysis to include results in conditions of uncertainty
- Problem solving and project management skills
- Ability to work and deliver projects independently, proactively and under pressure
- Familiarity with the social enterprise and impact investing sectors
- Executive presence: ability to establish relationships with senior leaders
- Ability to lead, build and coach high performing teams within a business and ensure projects, initiatives or other work functions are performed successfully
- Ability to increase employee engagement, support a positive environment and help remove obstacles for team members
- Ability to make decisions quickly to help move projects and increase efficiency
- Experience building strong relationships with direct reports and creating resilient teams that can work through difficulties that may arise
- Ability to effectively teach colleagues and direct reports to grow in their careers to help the organization scale
Job Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
- 7+ years of experience in venture capital, private equity, investment banking, or investment management, including experience with financial and operational due diligence of early-stage businesses
- 3+ years of people leadership experience
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
- 20% travel.
Salary: DOE
Disclaimers:
Juvo Ventures, LLC, is an affiliated for-profit entity of 501c(3) Corporation of Western Governors University
As an equal opportunity employer, WGU recognizes that our strength lies in our people. We are committed to diversity.
If you are interested in this position, please apply here.
Jenny Zemel serves as Manager, Special Projects where she provides interdepartmental support on a variety of projects for both the NVCA team and Venture Forward team. She also helps support the administrative needs of NVCA’s President and CEO Bobby Franklin.
