Background

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. Core to our mission is addressing systemic inequities and the injustices they create. By pooling resources, our Partners can unlock substantial philanthropic capital and invest effectively and efficiently.

Anchored by our carefully tested, 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 both nationwide and place-based strategies in order to amplify impact across the country as well as within specific communities. We identify visionary social sector leaders who address key drivers of poverty – including youth unemployment, unplanned pregnancy, and engagement with the criminal justice system – 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.

Blue Meridian’s Nationwide Solutions portfolio makes significant, long-term investments that bring evidence-based solutions to national scale in order to solve problems that limit economic mobility for young people and families trapped in poverty.

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 advance strategic priorities including but not limited to investment recommendations, strategy design and development, and stakeholder engagement.

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 Managing Director and/or Director’s guidance and collaboration, a Portfolio Manager will:

Support Relationships with Investee Organizations

• Contribute to, and sometimes lead, activities including research, conducting interviews, and analyzing data to support Blue Meridian’s sourcing and due diligence efforts to explore potential investment opportunities across a spectrum of issue areas in our comprehensive frame
• Contribute toward investee leaders and their teams’ receiving excellent relationship management and support from Blue Meridian. Earn and maintain the respect of investees and be a trusted point of contact.
• Support the development and implementation of investee scaling plans and/or investment roadmaps that support the basis of investment recommendations. Support preparation of investment recommendations and help craft performance milestones with investees and chart a roadmap for success.
• Take ownership of investee quarterly performance reports, capturing current performance, risks, and future potential. Prepare materials and talking points for Partner and other updates.
• Contribute to the design, participate in, and sometimes facilitate investee meetings, strategy sessions and performance reviews. Participate in, and sometimes facilitate, investee meetings.
• Support senior leaders who are managing relationships and strategy development with funding partners, including development and distribution of meeting materials, attending meetings with cosponsors, coordinating across different workstreams as needed, and completing follow-up activities.

Support Innovation Initiatives

To expand our work and enhance our competitiveness, Blue Meridian will periodically pursue initiatives and innovations that expand our investment model. Team members will typically dedicate part of their capacity to cross staffing these initiatives, depending on their skills and experience as well as team members’ interests wherever possible. The proportion of time spent on innovation initiatives will vary according to factors such as the needs of the initiative and the individual’s role on the initiative. With senior team members’ guidance and collaboration, a Portfolio Manager will contribute to, and sometimes lead, activities that may include:

• Project planning and management
• Conducting research and engaging in landscaping exercises to determine opportunities.
• Developing concepts, strategies, and proposals for future potential investments
• Developing, implementing, and evaluating new programs and initiatives

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 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.
• 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.
• Strong computer skills with extensive knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and the ability to master new software quickly; experience with Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint is a plus.
• Willing to travel as needed.

Hiring Salary

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

The hiring salary for this position is $132,000. 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

[1] 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.