Senior Associate, Education Innovation Ventures

Choosing a career with ECMC Group means joining a nonprofit corporation with a mission to help students succeed. With a vibrant mission and values, great benefits, and strong community involvement, ECMC Group companies are an ideal team to join.

Company Summary

ECMC Foundation is a nationally focused postsecondary funder and has a mission to improve higher education for career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. ECMC Foundation uses a spectrum of funding structures, including strategic grantmaking and program-related investments, to invest in both nonprofit and for-profit ventures and makes grants and investments across three strategic priorities: removing barriers to postsecondary completion; building the capacity of institutions, systems and organizations; and transforming the postsecondary ecosystem. Working with grantees, partners and peers, ECMC Foundation’s vision is for all learners to unlock their fullest potential. Learn more about ECMC Foundation (https://www.ecmcfoundation.org/), one of several affiliates under the ECMC Group (https://www.ecmcgroup.org/) enterprise based in Minneapolis, which together work to help students succeed.

Job Summary

Launched in 2018, ECMC Foundation’s Education Innovation Ventures (EIV) program provides catalytic, risk capital to early-stage ventures working to increase postsecondary educational outcomes and economic mobility among learners who come from underserved backgrounds. Through program-related investments, EIV’s capital generates impact alongside financial returns, which are recycled to fund further impact initiatives and drive changes in educational attainment and economic mobility for learners.

ECMC Foundation is seeking a Senior Associate for its Education Innovation Ventures (EIV) program. This position will play a central role in building out EIV’s portfolio of early-stage ventures and social enterprises, using a range of investment tools (e.g. debt, equity, guarantees, and deposits) and ultimately supporting the vision of entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of higher education and workforce development.

The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic advocate for ECMC Foundation’s mission and values. They are inspired to join an organization that seeks to improve higher education and career success amongst learners and workers from underserved communities, and they thrive being on a skilled team that values accountability, action- and service-orientation, learning, and innovation.

The ECMC Foundation team observes a hybrid work model, working in-office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and working from home on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This role is expected to travel domestically up to 25% of the time.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Managing Director of Education Innovation Ventures, help lead the strategic growth and execution of the impact investment program that currently deploys $6M annually.
• Support the end-to-end deal flow process for new investments. Proactively source and vet new investment opportunities including analyzing industry sectors, understanding the competitive landscape, conducting due diligence, and determining the value and optimal capital structure under various finance and operating scenarios.
• Plan for and prepare materials for Board of Directors’ consideration and approval, including writing high-quality investment memos and supporting materials.
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with portfolio company founders, providing ongoing mentoring, coaching, and strategic support, with a focus on fundraising, financial analysis, go to market strategy and impact measurement.
• Analyze and monitor the performance, financial and social reporting, and payments from portfolio companies, including synthesizing data into financial models and impact dashboards.
• Engage in field-building activities, including representing the EIV team at external meetings, conferences, field visits, and other forums that build connections and networks within the education and workforce sectors.
• Serve as an internal connector and advocate for EIV within ECMC Foundation’s ecosystem, operating as a knowledgeable resource and fostering integration across the Foundation’s broader programs and networks.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 5+ years of experience in impact investing or an adjacent field (e.g. venture capital, venture philanthropy, community development financing, social enterprise development, or private debt) OR 7+ years related experience.
• Experience working with and drawing insights from financial data and models.
• Strong critical thinking skills; Experience researching, synthesizing, summarizing, and making sense of complex data and information.
• Experience communicating to key stakeholders, including strong writing skills and the ability to make compelling, cogent presentations on complex topics.
• Proven experience being flexible to manage ambiguity and evolution as the business requires.
• Effective at developing and maintaining strong relationships.
• Experience leading and prioritizing multiple projects and workstreams.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and CRM software.
• Domestic travel up to 25% of the time
• Commitment to ECMC Foundation’s hybrid work model

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

ECMC Foundation may choose to conduct reference checks as part of the hiring process.

Salary range for this position is $130,000-$145,000. Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, peer and market data, prior performance, business sector and geographic location.

ECMC Group is committed to ensuring our diverse, inclusive and equitable culture is built on a strong sense of belonging, where everyone feels seen, heard and encouraged to show up as their authentic self.