Investment Associate

Job Description 

About Align

Launched in 2014, Align Impact is a specialized impact investment advisor and certified B Corporation. We devise and implement customized impact investing strategies for family offices, foundations and financial advisors to catalyze positive change across geographies and impact themes.

At Align, we are impact-focused. We are a unique, cohesive team intentionally assembled with diverse backgrounds and expertise across impact sectors and asset classes. We keep the pulse on innovative financing to solve global and local issues and design investment portfolios for clients to address those issues and align their capital with their values, without sacrificing investment return.

Together, we can create measurable, durable impact for the world tomorrow while also aiming for strong returns today.

Associate - Private Markets

The Associate, Private Markets role works within the Investments team to support sourcing, investment selection, due diligence and monitoring efforts for private funds across asset classes and return profiles..

The Associate will bring strong qualitative and quantitative analysis skills, a demonstrated understanding of impact and investment analysis, and expertise in private markets to support research and reporting efforts.

Associates are expected to utilize their skill sets and knowledge to develop specific expertise in various topics related to the team’s work. They are expected to have a strong command over due diligence and develop subject matter expertise across thematic areas and asset classes. Their work may encompass both market-rate and catalytic investments, the latter being patient, flexible, risk-tolerant, high-impact capital. 

We are a team of self-starters and independent specialists with deep expertise in their domain areas. Team members who thrive are organized, communicative, intrinsically motivated, and passionate about applying their energy, time, and brain power to address real-world issues. While an inclination towards innovation is not a requirement for this position, Align values creative professionals who seek efficiency, question assumptions and relentlessly pursue an elevated work product.

Tenure Expectations

While not an entry-level position, the Investment Associate role is oriented towards early career professionals. As such, our expectation is that candidates will see this as a  2-4 year step in building a career in financial services. Exceptional Associates may be identified for promotion and longer tenure at Align. 

Primary Responsibilities

The outlined responsibilities below will be the primary focus of this role. Investment Associates are expected to be able to lead, with a minimum level of guidance and oversight, a variety of due diligence and monitoring efforts of private market funds. In this, they are expected to develop and maintain increased ownership of areas of specialization and to lead and complete complex projects relatively independently. Associates are expected to have, or to develop, a command over thematic  areas (for example, renewable energy or affordable housing), a knowledge of the players and strategies prevalent in those areas, and the ability to make recommendations using that strategic lens.

More specifically, Investment Associates are expected to be high-cadence professionals who understand, could develop, or may lead work in the following areas:

1. Sourcing: Execute open-ended sourcing efforts by fund manager search category, including providing input for sector-specific screening criteria, evaluating new investment opportunities, and organizing and maintaining databases.
2. Due Diligence: Lead and contribute to detailed financial, impact, and operational due diligence on investment opportunities selected for detailed due diligence. Represent due diligence findings to internal stakeholders, including investment committees and other teams.
3. Reporting and Monitoring: Prepare financial and impact reporting for impact investments the team monitors every quarter.
4. Investment Thesis and Landscape: Lead and contribute to sector deep dives and investment thesis development that guide investment decision-making through rationale development and identifying key trends and drivers in the market.
5. Specialization: Deepen expertise in existing areas of specialization and take on opportunities to add new areas of focus by expanding into adjacent areas or going deeper into the original areas.

Our Core Values

1. We partner generously, not just bill transactions
2. We build mindfully, not just shift radically
3. We guide transparently, not just challenge boldly

Success in the Role

Associates typically have 2-5 years of directly relevant experience in private market investing, financial services or a related field with an MBA or a CFA charter. They should have demonstrated interest in impact investing. They are expected to be strong individual contributors with deep expertise in multiple areas relevant to the team’s work, an ability to oversee and execute complex projects, and an ability to add value beyond following documented processes and procedures. Strong time management and project management skills are paramount for the Investments team: a successful team member should be able to manage several projects at once with excellence.

In addition to meeting and exceeding expectations on the primary responsibilities outlined for this role and on the critical competencies described above, success and growth in this role may be associated with some, or most of, the following factors:

Growth:

1. Sourcing, Due Diligence, and Monitoring: Develop ownership over parts of our investment universe, with an orientation towards bringing unique and compelling investment ideas and individual strategies to our client base through differentiated sourcing strategies, effective monitoring of existing exposures, and generating ideas through subject matter expertise.

Efficiency:

1. Process improvements: Lead material infrastructure improvement or infrastructure management projects that help improve the quality and efficiency of your work. This is focused on effectively executing projects designed by the team.
2. Project Management: Manage a continuation cycle of a cross-function project that requires assignment/delegation of responsibilities to others, holding them accountable, and managing the deliverables. 
3. Own and execute one-time and recurring projects of varying complexities. Develop and demonstrate the ability to execute independently and efficiently.

Development:

1. Demonstrate expertise in critical professional skills relevant to your assigned work and aid others through training and standard-setting.
2. Continuing education: For example, CFA or CAIA designations, or other meaningful advancements in professional designations.
3. Subject Matter Expertise: Take a lead and develop shareable and deeper expertise on three to five topics relevant to your team’s priorities.

Align is committed to attracting a talented and diverse workforce and to fostering an open, collaborative culture of inclusivity because we believe multiple perspectives lead to more informed investment and business decisions. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome people with diverse life experiences, fresh ideas and specialized subject-matter expertise.

Salary Range: $75,000-$110,000 with commensurate benefits and opportunity for bonus