The Organization
REDF (the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund) is a pioneering venture philanthropy accelerating a national movement of employment social enterprises – mission-driven, revenue-generating businesses that invest the money they make into helping people striving to overcome employment barriers get jobs, keep jobs, and build a better life. Independent research shows this approach works. It leads to greater economic security and mobility and a significant rate of return to society—$2.23 in benefits for every $1 invested. For more information, visit www.redf.org.
Position Summary:
Do you love social impact, business, philanthropy, and working hands-on with incredible entrepreneurs to change the trajectory of their social enterprises? If yes, this is the job for you! As a portfolio manager, you will manage relationships with REDF’s Growth Portfolio grantees, acting as partner and advisor as they work towards scaling their businesses and impact. You will also be an integral part of the team that assesses and selects new grantees to join the portfolio annually. While managing an assigned portfolio of 5-10 employment-focused social enterprises (ESEs), you will help portfolio enterprises set ambitious goals, identify resource needs, and ensure goal attainment. You will work collaboratively across a variety of REDF teams helping review potential new partners and grantees, facilitating workshops, identifying and scoping technical assistance projects, managing Farber Summer Fellows supporting portfolio organizations, and providing your expertise to REDF’s continuous learning and evaluation. You will be a key part of deepening REDF’s commitment to racial equity by empowering thousands of people to achieve their aspirations of employment and changing their lives.
Responsibilities:
Relationship and Grant Management
- Provide general relationship management including: acting as primary point person and liaison between REDF and your assigned portfolio partners, building trusting relationships with senior leadership, leading monthly meetings, identifying challenges, and providing the appropriate resources and support to address challenges and enable growth
- Advise and problem solve with social enterprises to help them achieve their mission and business potential; provide clear feedback, insights and conclusions
- Influence social enterprises in setting goals for both mission and business objectives holding them accountable for progress against goals
- Collaborate with REDF’s Capacity Building team to clearly identify, scope, and oversee delivery of high-quality business and programmatic technical assistance projects including feasibility analyses, market analyses, operational and financial planning, business planning, etc.
- Provide analysis of portfolio organizations’ performance for REDF senior leadership and Board
- Conduct select research projects (as appropriate) in support of overall REDF portfolio development
- Manage grantee reporting, including ensuring grantee data submission, updating REDF CRM and databases, monitoring grantee budgets, and providing information for funder reports
Due Diligence and Portfolio Strategy
- Work closely with Community and Accelerator teams to source pipeline for Growth Portfolio and participate in diligence process for Growth Portfolio, including reviewing applications, conducting interviews, reviewing financial documents, contributing to selection discussions, and providing analysis of findings to selection committee and REDF senior leadership
- Conduct due diligence on grantee applicants on behalf of REDF or potential funding partners, including review of proposals, financial testing, and market analysis
- Provide advisory and technical assistance to potential grantees to strengthen their expansion plans, improve financial projections, refine program model, and revise written proposals/ growth plans
- Advise REDF and potential funding partners on the strengths, risks, and social impact of various investment opportunities, including recommendations on the type and amount of capital needed as well as other support or technical assistance needed to strengthen the chance of success
- Contribute to Growth Portfolio team’s continuous learning, ensuring that we are taking lessons learned from working with our grantees and applying them to REDF’s Learning Agendas
- Assist in the development and execution of REDF’s portfolio strategy and goals
Farber Summer Fellows Program
- Participate in Farber Summer Fellow selection process by representing REDF at recruiting events, interviewing prospective candidates, and participating in the selection committee
- Identify and scope appropriate Farber Summer Fellow projects within your portfolio
- Take active role in coaching and managing Farber Summer Fellows as appropriate, including providing REDF tools/frameworks and guidance
Social Enterprise Field Advancement
- Codify portfolio work and lessons-learned into tools or other content that can be used by philanthropy or social enterprise practitioners in REDF’s different programs (e.g. Community, Accelerator, etc.)
- Assist other programs at REDF in conducting: advisory calls, outreach, application review, interviews with social enterprises
- Provide information and referrals to targeted portfolio and non-portfolio practitioners
- Represent REDF at external functions (e.g., conferences, networking, fundraising, portfolio retreat, recruiting, etc.)
Qualifications:
- Minimum of five years of experience in a related field; MBA (preferred; other graduate degrees or commensurate experience considered)
- Able to make important decisions under conditions of ambiguity and imperfect information; able to identify and evaluate complicated trade-offs
- Ability to operate with significant autonomy; comfortable working with a distributed team and remote leadership
- Passion for implementing new programs and iterating on existing programs to deepen impact
- Strong collaborator; comfortable working with others that possess a wide diversity of backgrounds, skill sets, and experience; naturally finds ways to upskill others
- Desire to utilize problem-solving skills to help social enterprises overcome challenges
- Strong analytical skills; ability to independently set up and execute appropriate analyses for portfolio projects, draw conclusions, and make concrete, actionable recommendations based on data and analysis
- Experience in the following: businesses operating in multiple industries, providing advisory services, managing workforce development programs, or grantmaking
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including diplomacy, tact and patience
- Practices Growth Mindset
- Exceptional Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel skills and comfort with using data and data systems, especially Salesforce, to track data and drive insights
- Ability to travel up to 30% of the time (once travel is safe)
The Rewards
- Ability to help craft REDF’s next 20 years of impact
- Work with passionate, dedicated people
- Apply your passion for social change in your career while using business as a force for good
- Operate with a high degree of autonomy in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- 13 paid holidays and ample vacation time
- A generous dollar-for-dollar retirement plan match of up to 4% of your base compensation
- Opportunity to learn continuously by building your skills and broadening your perspectives at conferences, workshops, and more
- Competitive, comprehensive benefits package
How To Apply
Please submit your resume and cover letter via REDF’s applicant portal. A personalized cover letter is required; applications without one will not be considered.
REDF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its relations with staff members and prospective employees, and will not discriminate against applicants for employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sex, or sexual orientation. REDF encourages employment applications from people who are representative of the culturally and ethnically diverse communities REDF serves. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, REDF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.