Associate, Impact First Investments

About Us

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and a registered investment advisor (SF Advisors, LLC). We work with the public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized over $400 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing.

We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion.

Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach. 

Location: Boston, MA

Our Impact First Investing Practice

We are seeking an Associate of Impact Investments to join our Impact First Investing team. This team focuses on making impact investing easier and more accessible for individuals, family offices, and foundations by providing a range of services and products to shift capital toward mission-aligned impact investments. This includes:  

• Social Finance Impact First Fund (IFF): Provides a holistic, diversified investment portfolio for individuals and institutions looking for an easy, efficient way to pursue impact-first investment opportunities. The Fund targets early-stage funds and enterprises that require impact-first investment to seed and grow promising strategies.  
• Impact Investing Advisory Services: We design, implement and manage custom impact investment solutions for individuals, foundations, family offices, and more. We provide a suite of services including stakeholder education, portfolio design and construction, impact measurement & management, and portfolio management.  

Roles & Responsibilities

Associates on the Impact First Investments team are an integral part of the Social Finance team and are typically staffed to projects that span our various service offerings. Working together with a team, key activities may include:   

Deal Sourcing & Evaluation  

• Contribute to market landscaping and research on impact issue areas
• Identify, form hypotheses on, and present new impact investment opportunities
• Engage in due diligence on investment opportunities, including reviewing and synthesizing data, conducting financial modelling, conducting reference calls and due diligence sessions, and preparing impact evaluations
• Identify and effectively communicate investment strengths, risks, and mitigants 
• Create investment memos to share analysis, key findings and recommendations  

Client Engagements 

• Conduct research, analyze data, and review evidence to support project design decisions, test hypotheses, and drive recommendations
• Create presentations and other deliverables to share analysis, key findings and recommendations for both internal teams and external partners
• Conduct interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders and synthesize key insights to drive decision-making
• Develop financial models to forecast portfolio capitalization, composition, returns, liquidity, and expenses for clients’ portfolios 

Field Building & Business Development 

• Contribute to development of communications materials and other resources for investors / clients / partners 
• Support capital raise and investor relations, as needed
• Contribute to and support research efforts in social and environmental issue areas and interventions
• Support analysis and writing for responses to proposal documents (i.e. Requests for Proposals) and concept notes for potential business development opportunities
• Support content development and independently project manage for convenings, webinars, and other events  

Firm Building 

• Contribute to capacity-building initiatives, such as recruiting, professional development, knowledge management, fundraising, or other internal projects \
• Provide real-time feedback to team members to support professional growth and contribute to high-quality deliverables
• Support our goal to foster a culture of well-being and belonging   
• Support senior management, internal functional teams, and Social Finance project teams as needed 

Qualifications 

We are looking for entrepreneurial candidates with flexibility, aptitude, and passion for our mission. Candidate requirements: 

• 2-5 years of full-time professional experience with at least 2 years of transactional experience within impact investing, investment banking, private credit, venture capital, or private equity (demonstrated formal investment training is a plus) 
• Advanced experience in Excel and financial modeling 
• Advanced PowerPoint experience
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to quickly research, synthesize and summarize key takeaways on unfamiliar topics
• Ability to communicate and work closely with many types of partners across multiple sectors; willingness to constructively express your point of view and hear the point of view of others, both internally and externally
• Commitment to high quality work and accuracy, with an ability to manage multiple and competing priorities simultaneously
• Capacity to work independently while contributing to team projects as appropriate
• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of or willingness to learn about key social and environmental issues, interventions, and/or impact investing
• Ability to adapt and be flexible
• Commitment to enhancing a team culture of inclusion, belonging and equity
• Experience in or with the systems we seek to impact is preferable  

Benefits 

At Social Finance, we strive to deliver a benefits program that will enhance our overall value proposition to employees. Our current benefit offerings include: 

• Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; Employee Healthy Actions programs and more
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
• Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies
• Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements
• Hybrid work model (in office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad-hoc basis as needed)
• Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition
• Annual budget for external professional development opportunities
• Mentorship and onboarding programs
• Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, San Francisco, Austin and Washington, D.C.; New York, NY. (This position will be based in Boston, MA)
• Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)
• Paid parental leave
• A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals 

Salary 

Social Finance uses a lockstep compensation model for purposes of equity and transparency - we strive for everyone coming in at a given level to be paid equitably. For this position, at the Associate level, the starting base salary is $81,000; however, during the interview process, we will take into account a candidate's full work experience and may adjust the job title, and commensurate starting salary, as appropriate.  

At this level, employees typically receive a $2,500 salary increase annually and are eligible to participate in our firmwide annual bonus program. Bonuses are typically between 5-10%, though bonuses are not guaranteed and are dependent on both organizational and individual performance.

Review of applications will begin immediately. No phone calls, please. 

Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. 

Please note that, at this time, to be in-person at a Social Finance office, client location or Social Finance-sponsored event, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving a booster shot.

Social Finance, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, military status, status as a protected veteran, genetic information or any other legally protected status.

Social Finance is committed to providing an accessible and supportive work environment to ensure individuals are able to contribute at their best. We will discuss and provide reasonable accommodations to those in the recruiting process who need them.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

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