Portfolio Manager, The Studio

About Us

Blue Meridian Partners is a pioneering philanthropic model for finding and funding scalable solutions to the problems that limit economic mobility and trap America’s young people and families in poverty.

We know solutions exist, but even the most promising strategies cannot reach far enough, fast enough without significant, long-term investment. We bring an innovative investor mindset backed by a decades-long track record to the pursuit of upward economic mobility for individuals and communities. By pooling resources, our Partners can unlock substantial philanthropic capital and invest effectively and efficiently.

Anchored by our tested and continuously improving, performance-based investing approach, Blue Meridian makes strategic, long-term investments across multiple portfolios aimed at boosting economic mobility from cradle to career. We support nationwide and place-based strategies to amplify impact across the country and within specific communities. We identify visionary social sector leaders who address key drivers of poverty and invest the flexible, upfront capital they need to dream bigger and exponentially expand their reach, influence, and impact.

We are constantly learning, exploring, and seeking out new collaborations in relentless pursuit of creating lasting impact at scale that can change the life trajectories of millions of young people and families in America. Blue Meridian is staffed by an experienced team of results-focused leaders, and we welcome other mission-driven champions to join us.

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Position Profile

The Portfolio Manager supports and partners with Managing Directors and Directors to source and manage Blue Meridian’s relationships with select investees and advances strategic priorities, including but not limited to investment recommendations, strategy design and development, team operations, and stakeholder engagement.

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Primary Responsibilities

Career Path Classification

IC2

Position Type

Exempt

Location

New York City. Hybrid work arrangement allowed.

Primary Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following. With the Managing Director's and/or Director’s guidance and collaboration, a Portfolio Manager will:

Support Relationships with Investee Organizations

• Support and manage specifics of key investment activities, including quantitative and qualitative research, interviews, drafting investment materials, and analyzing data to support The Studio’s due diligence efforts to explore candidates for Studio cohorts and bespoke investment opportunities.
• Contribute toward developing positive working relationships with investee leaders and their teams to advance effective partnership with Blue Meridian.
• Support the development and implementation of Studio investee Action Plans, including preparation for investee check-in calls, reviewing milestone reports, and conducting financial analyses.
• Support preparation of investment recommendations and help craft performance milestones with investees.
• Create strong drafts of Partner-facing materials for Managing Director/Director’s feedback.
• Prepare materials and talking points for meetings with Partners, key external stakeholders, and investee boards.
• Support the development and codification of scale-readiness investment methodology and practices.

Support Operation and Innovative Initiatives

• Liaise with key internal teams across Blue Meridian to support strong Studio operations for investing teamlets and fund lead. This may include working closely with Finance, HR, Investor Relations, and Branding and Comms teams.
• Manage the coordination for IC (Investment Committee) and other portfolio meetings, including determining Studio agenda items and other Blue Meridian Partners’ committees, working with committee leads to adjust timing as/if needed.
• Help develop and execute operational project plans to ensure successful implementation of Studio experiences in support of investees.
• Support preparation for internal and external meetings and contribute to design of, participation in, and sometimes facilitation of investee meetings and strategy sessions. This includes responsibility for follow-up materials, including meeting summaries/minutes.
• Participate in learning to guide the evolution of pipeline building and innovation work, including helping to surface and reflect on new opportunities, successes, and challenges on an ongoing basis.
• Sometimes lead internal team and cross-team discussions on initiatives.
• Conduct updates and briefings with management and sometimes senior management at fund-level and Investing Team meetings.
• Contribute to, and sometimes lead, activities to support Blue Meridian’s efforts to explore potential investment opportunities, including regular research to advance Blue Meridian’s perspective on compelling investment opportunities across domains.

Qualifications

• Aligned to Blue Meridian’s mission and driven by personal values that align closely with Blue Meridian’s core values.
• At least seven years of professional/advanced academic experience in non-profit community-based work, local government, management consulting, philanthropy, or a related field in the private or public sector preferred. A bachelor’s degree and/or comparable and demonstrated professional or other experiences preferred.
• Experience working in or advising clients in the nonprofit field is an advantage. We also value experience working in a fast-growing startup.
• Perspectives from direct experience living or working in communities with significant low-income or otherwise disenfranchised peoples are preferred.
• Strong relationship skills, with the ability to represent Blue Meridian externally.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a professional and genial demeanor, and the ability to work with people with different backgrounds and experiences.
• Sophisticated and diverse analytical skills and facility in quantitative and qualitative methods are essential.
• Experience in analyzing financial data, including reviewing financial statements, budgets, and other key metrics, with a strong comfort in interpreting and drawing insights from financial information.
• Strong project management skills, including experience managing complex, multi-year projects.
• Strong oral and written communications skills are essential, including the ability to present to senior groups and craft well-written prose and PowerPoint materials.
• Demonstrated strategic and highly rigorous approach to problem solving, balanced by a flexible and empathetic demeanor and responsiveness to the needs of others.
• Sound judgment and discretion, seeking input and feedback, listening well, and sometimes making difficult decisions independently while understanding the need for collaboration and leadership’s endorsement of results. Open to finding creative, alternative solutions to challenges and disagreements that may arise.
• Experience in using Artificial Intelligence technologies to improve efficiency and streamline workflows.
• Strong computer skills with extensive knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and the ability to master new software quickly; experience with Salesforce and SharePoint is a plus.
• Willing to travel as needed.

At Blue Meridian, we value building a diverse, inclusive workplace. Even if your experience does not fully align with our preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply.

Hiring Salary

Blue Meridian Partners aims to provide a comprehensive and competitive total compensation package.

The hiring salary for this position is $137,000. In addition to the base salary, each member of Blue Meridian is eligible to receive a performance-based variable incentive bonus.

Blue Meridian also provides generous benefits, including:

• Employer contributions to a retirement savings plan
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with minimal employee contribution
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid time off, including vacation/personal days, paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and week-long office closures in the summer and winter
• Internal and external professional development opportunities
• Home Office set-up allowance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Hybrid work arrangement

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This position description is a guide to the primary duties and functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands and work environment conditions. Position descriptions are reviewed and may be revised to meet the changing needs of Blue Meridian Partners at the sole discretion of management.

Blue Meridian Partners is committed to equal employment opportunity, without regard to race, color, gender, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, prior record of arrest or conviction, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. These opportunities include all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including (but not limited to) recruiting, hiring, job assignment, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, promotion, and termination.