JOB DESCRIPTION

Impact Investment Associate

Location: Boston, MA

Industry: Non-profit / Financial Services

Employment Type: Full-time

Contact: jobs@bostonimpact.com

Overview

The Boston Impact Initiative Fund is an impact investing fund dedicated to closing the racial wealth divide. We invest integrated capital (equity, debt and grants) in regenerative local enterprises that restore the productive capacity of communities of color in Eastern Massachusetts. We are a 501(c)3 charitable loan fund that has raised $7M from values-aligned accredited and non-accredited investors. We also host a cohort of 11 communities around the country seeking to design and launch integrated capital funds dedicated to closing the racial wealth divide.

BII pioneers an integrated capital approach for capital deployment. We believe that we can best support the creation of resilient local economies by using a range of integrated capital tools: loans, credit enhancements, equity investments, royalty finance, direct public offerings, crowdfunding, grants and more. 

Responsibilities

The Impact Investment Associate plays a significant role in BII’s integrated capital strategy. The primary responsibilities include vetting prospective investments and providing on-going support to existing portfolio companies. Responsibilities also include:

• Conduct due diligence for prospective investment opportunities.
• Maintain portfolio tracking reports and written documentation on investment decisions.

• In collaboration with colleagues, discover, define and evaluate new investment opportunities and their fit in the portfolio.
• Research and present analyses of the total portfolio performance and risk profile.

• Collect legal documents from companies and liaise with fund attorneys to put together documents for investment.
• Coordinate and attend annual meetings with portfolio companies, assist with analysis of impact data, assist with annual impact report, and assist with on-going impact management of portfolio.
• Track technical assistance provided to portfolio companies.
• Perform any and all other duties and responsibilities of a similar nature and character those above, which may be assigned and/or directed.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience in FP&A, Corporate Finance, and/or Business Controller positions.
• Demonstrated interest in and understanding of economic justice, gender equity,  sustainability, and/or related topics.
• Excellent skills in quantitative analysis, problem solving and general critical thinking. 
• Resourceful, proactive, able to prioritize and navigate in a fast-paced team-oriented environment.
• Unquestioned ability to handle confidential information in a professional manner. 
• Knowledge of investment assets (e.g. stocks, bonds, property, commodities, cash) and markets. Knowledge of analytical methods for determining fair value and an investment’s merits. Knowledge of investment implementation methods, including types of fund vehicles (e.g. mutual funds, ETFs, private partnerships) and typical fund terms in both public and private asset classes. 
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range is $50,000 – $65,000 and commensurate with experience. Boston Impact Initiative offers a work environment that supports the unique needs of each employee to balance work and life. We offer a benefits package that includes an employee bonus pool, remote and flexible work options, health coverage, paid time off and professional development support. 

How to Apply

The Boston Impact Initiative is an equal opportunity employer. Boston residents, women, people of color, immigrants, queer and gender nonconforming people strongly encouraged to apply. 

To apply, please email your cover letter, resume, up to 3 references, and a link to your portfolio or examples of relevant work ​to jobs@bostonimpact.com​.

In your cover letter,​ ​please answer the following questions with no more than 3-5 bullet points per question:

• What about BII’s mission appeals to you?
• How does this role align with your current career trajectory?
• What aspects of your experience are you most eager to contribute toward this role?
• Anything else you would like us to know.

Our ideal start date for this role is April 2021 with interviews beginning in late February 2021. Applications will be evaluated as they arrive and the position will remain open until filled.

Job Posted on DATE 2/9/21

The Chelsea Business Foundation is a nonprofit organization that invests in the development of the business community in Chelsea, MA and fosters increased access to resources for Chelsea’s Latino business community and other small businesses. Its goal is to create an engaged community by hosting events and providing resources, technical assistance, and financial support. CBF is an enabler for small business owners to grow and scale their businesses. In 2020, BII provided a loan and a line of credit to Chelsea Business Foundation to support its technical assistance for small businesses.

Learn more about Chelsea Business Foundation

MentorWorks aims to make higher education and technical training more accessible through income share agreements (ISAs). In partnership with different universities and community colleges, MentorWorks provides both income-share based education financing and career mentorship, the first platform to do so. In addition to expanding access to higher education, MentorWorks models inclusive ownership. 50% of the business is owned by people of color, and employees have equity in the company.

In 2020, BII invested in MentorWorks through a special funding vehicle (SPV), along with ECMC Foundation, enabling Mentorworks to fund the higher education of students, primarily of color, who are attending community colleges or enrolled in technical training programs in Boston.

Learn more about MentorWorks

Boston Impact Initiative is looking for an Impact Investment Intern and a Marketing Intern for 8 to 10 hours per week during Spring Semester 2021.  This is a remote and unpaid internship, but we can provide support needed to get school credit and/or funding.

Deadline for applications for Spring is Jan 1st. Email jobs@bostonimpact.com with a resume and brief cover letter. Please note the internship that you are applying for in the subject line of the email.

Please scroll down for internship descriptions.

Impact Investment Intern

Responsibilities

The Impact Investment Intern plays a significant role in BII’s integrated capital strategy. The primary responsibilities include working together with the Impact Investment Associate and Directors in analyzing prospective investments and providing on-going support to existing portfolio companies. 

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the investment thesis and mission of BII
• Investment Analysis: Financial modeling, valuation, industry or asset class research, and general investment diligence
• Portfolio Analysis: Support the Staff in performing analysis on existing investments, frequently with the intent of communicating conclusions and recommendations to the Staff or the Investment Committee
• Administration: Maintenance of BII’s electronic files, operating / investment reports, and other reporting
• Miscellaneous: Perform any such duty as necessary to support BII’s impact and financial processes.

Qualifications 

• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program
• Demonstrated interest in and understanding of economic justice, sustainability, and/or related topics
• Excellent skills in quantitative analysis, problem solving and general critical thinking
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Resourceful, proactive, able to prioritize and navigate in a fast-paced team-oriented environment
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to meet deadlines 
• Excellent organization, attention to detail and follow-through
• Unquestioned ability to handle confidential information in a professional manner 
• Possess analytical skills and an interest in financial markets, public policy and social and environmental issues
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of investment assets and markets. Knowledge of analytical methods for determining fair value and an investment’s merits. Knowledge of investment implementation methods and typical fund terms in both public and private asset classes

Marketing Intern

Responsibilities

The Marketing Intern plays a significant role in BII’s communications and social media strategy. The primary responsibilities include working with the Impact Director to manage communications materials and social media channels. 

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the investment thesis and mission of BII
• Create communications collateral and write content for each new investment.
• Curate content for social media channels (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), including portfolio updates, thought-leadership content, and other information. 
• Meet goals of organically growing followers across all social media platforms.
• Miscellaneous: Perform any such duty as necessary to support BII’s impact and marketing processes.

Qualifications 

• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program
• Demonstrated interest in and understanding of economic justice, sustainability, and/or related topics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with the use of social media in broader communication strategy
• Resourceful, proactive, able to prioritize and navigate in a fast-paced team-oriented environment
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to meet deadlines 
• Excellent organization, attention to detail and follow-through
• Unquestioned ability to handle confidential information in a professional manner 
• General understanding of investment principles, impact investing, small business, social entrepreneurship, and/or other related topics. 
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Holiday season is nearly upon us. Here’s how you can support local businesses and give your loved
ones something delicious or delightful to pull them out of the pandemic blues.

50 Kitchen is an American Southern fusion restaurant in Fields Corner, Dorchester. With tasty menu items like Shrimp & Grits, Smoked Brisket Bahn Mi, and Spicy Bang Bang Cauliflower, once you try it, you’ll be back for more! Order for pick up here, or you can dine-in for the full experience. (IG @chef_50)

88 Acres makes delicious bars, butters, ‘nola, and salad dressings from nutrient-rich sunflower, pumpkin, and watermelon seeds. You can buy their products from their online store and Whole Foods, Target, and other grocery stores. (IG @88acres)

Delectable Desires Pastries makes beautiful custom cakes for special occasions and delicious pies and baked good for the holidays! Located in West Roxbury. Call ahead to order today (617) 678-6001 (IG @delectabledesirespastries)

Done Good is the one-stop-shop for buying sustainable and ethically made products. You can find clothes and accessories, home décor, selfcare items, and outdoor goods from thousands of brands. You can even filter by your values, like Made in USA, Women/POC-owned, and Recycled/Upcycled. Get ADD’L $20 off $100+ purchase w/ code: BostonImpact20 until 12/31/20!  (IG @donegoodteam)

Fresh Food Generation is a farm-to-plate caterer, food truck and café that serves up healthy Caribbean-inspired cuisine. Order catering for your next socially distanced backyard gathering or visit the truck when it is out and about in Boston. (IG @freshfoodgeneration)

Math Talk CEO, Omo Moses, wrote a sweet educational children’s book called Sometimes We Do, illustrated by Diego Chaves. It models ways for fathers to teach math to their small children in everyday interactions. It’s written for Pre-K and K children and you can purchase it for little ones in your life on the Tumblehome Publishers website, it’s also available at Target and Amazon.

Sweet Teez Bakery is a nut-free baker that makes gorgeous cakes and cupcakes with your logo in edible frosting! They are also known for their special Jamaican Rum Cake. See all their offerings and order online or fill out this form for a special occasion order. (IG @sweetteezbakery)

Henry Noël Jr describes himself as a passionate champion of rigorous investment analysis coupled with purposeful attention to measurable, social and environmental impact. He has over 20 years of experience evaluating investment opportunities, structuring securities, raising capital and financing business growth. As a manager with experience in investment management and strategic corporate consultancy, Henry brings tremendous insight and value to clients ranging from early-stage private ventures to public micro- and mid-cap companies. Henry is focused on the intersection of impact investing, economic justice, and building resilience in inner-city communities from the ground up.

Henry replaces Pablo Limon, who is departing this month to return home to Mexico City to work with his family business. He offered these words to share with the BII community: “It has been a privilege and honor to help bring BII’s integrated Capital approach to many businesses over the past two years. I am thrilled that Henry Noël Jr. will be joining the team as Investment Director, and he brings with him a wealth of experience and relationships. I have no doubt that BII’s investment thesis is as relevant now as ever, and there’s still plenty of work to do to help close the racial wealth divide in Eastern Massachusetts” Good luck, Pablo! We are eagerly awaiting your call one day to say you’re ready to start the Mexico City Impact Initiative!

Founded in 1969 as a service center to assist low-income Somerville residents, the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC) has served as a community organizing hub and service provider for over fifty years. A membership-based organization rooted in the Somerville community, the SCC established Somerville’s first soup kitchen and has led numerous successful campaigns to improve access to quality affordable housing. More recently, the SCC has launched participatory community planning initiatives and supported the Community Benefits Agreement in order to combat destructive gentrification.

BII is proud to partner with the SCC as it continues to advocate for affordable housing and economic opportunity in Somerville. In addition to representing the interests of low- and mid-income Somerville residents, the SCC provides quality benefits to its employees, 30% of whom are people of color and 41% of whom are women. By providing the SCC with a bridge loan in 2019 and again in 2020, BII has allowed them to acquire new affordable housing units for the primarily low-income and immigrant families they serve while continuing their advocacy for the Somerville community. Learn more.