Senior Associate

About the Role

The Senior Associate plays a critical role in supporting the investment and operational activities of Illinois Ventures, whose programs include venture capital funds, a pre-seed evergreen fund, and an angel network called Illini Angels. The Senior Associate is responsible for executing core functions across sourcing, due diligence, investment execution, and portfolio management, while also contributing to fund strategy, operations, and reporting. In support of Illini Angels, the Senior Associate will lead activities related to deal sourcing, investor communications, and the formation and administration of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for angel investments. The role also includes organizing and managing investor meetings, maintaining the member platform, and strengthening engagement across Illini Angels. The Senior Associate will work closely with the CEO, investment team, University stakeholders, and angel investors to help identify and accelerate promising technologies and startups affiliated with the University.

Responsibilities

Investment Sourcing & Evaluation:

1. Identify and assess early-stage venture capital investment opportunities in high-growth companies, particularly those derived from advanced technologies with an association to the University of Illinois.
2. Leverage university networks, including faculty, students, alumni, and technology transfer offices, to source potential deals.
3. Foster relationships with external entities, venture capital networks, and industry partners to expand deal flow and identify co-investment opportunities.
4. Build relationships with entrepreneurs and other industry professionals.

Support Illini Angels Network:

1. Support the activities of Illini Angels by sourcing investment opportunities, helping to organize and manage meetings of the members, and assisting in the production of reports on ventures that the members are considering for investments.
2. Assist in supporting the members of Illini Angels by coordinating member communications and best practices training opportunities.
3. Support the investment activity of Illini Angels, including the formation and administration of special purpose vehicles (SPVs) used to facilitate member investments.

Due Diligence, Analysis and Investment Process:

1. Assist with all stages of deal execution, including sourcing new investment opportunities, and conducting thorough due diligence, including technology assessments, market research, competitive analysis, and financial modeling.
2. Identify and evaluate potential investments in innovative startups and new technologies using financial models and market research.
3. Develop detailed investment memos that outline due diligence findings, potential risks, and projected returns for investment consideration.
4. Interpreting financial statements and using them to make predictions about the viability and growth potential of potential investments.

Portfolio Management:

1. Create and manage valuation models for portfolio companies, ensuring alignment with industry best practices.
2. Support the ongoing monitoring of portfolio companies, including performance tracking, financial analysis, and strategic advising.
3. Work with portfolio companies to drive their success and identify new deals.

Report Creation:

1. Maintain reports and records relating to company financings, valuations, restructurings, and liquidity events including but not limited to funding estimates and fund usages for existing and future funds.
2. Assist in preparing quarterly reports for Limited Partners, including updates on portfolio performance, new investments, and financial outlooks.
3. Assist in preparing annual valuation memos for venture capital fund portfolio companies, synthesizing financial performance, market conditions, and valuation rationale to support external audit requirements.
4. Develop and maintain presentation materials including strategy and presentations for fundraising activities of the Organization. This includes developing and refining presentation themes, data gathering and synthesis, and constructing professional presentation materials.
5. Assist with ongoing impact and economic reporting.

Stakeholder Engagement & Ecosystem Building:

1. Act as a liaison between the firm and various stakeholders within the university ecosystem, including technology managers, faculty, and entrepreneurial initiatives.
2. Mentor and advise faculty and student entrepreneurs on commercialization strategies, venture financing, crafting investment pitches/packages and defining relevant commercial milestones.
3. Participate in and contribute to university and community events, including pitch sessions, startup competitions, and innovation showcases.

Other Duties:

1. Other duties as assigned and appropriate for a Senior Associate.

Additional Considerations:

1. Willingness to travel as needed to attend industry events, meet with portfolio companies, and engage with stakeholders across the ecosystem.
2. Passion for innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, with a commitment to driving the success of early-stage ventures.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, science, engineering, or a closely related field that is relevant to technology-based entrepreneurship or to the technology commercialization process.
2. Minimum one year of experience sourcing, tracking, and managing a pipeline of early- and growth-stage investment opportunities, with demonstrated ability to evaluate venture potential, coordinate due diligence processes, and support investment decision-making.

Preferred:

1. Any relevant venture capital certifications or course completions
2. Two to four years of relevant work experience
3. Experience working with advanced technologies and/or early-stage ventures

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

1. Experience managing an angel investment network, including oversight of special purpose vehicle (SPV) formation and administration, maintenance of investor platforms tracking deal flow and membership data, and coordination of investor onboarding and membership documentation.
2. Deep understanding of the venture capital ecosystem, including market dynamics, investment processes, and portfolio management.
3. Strong general business skills and an in-depth understanding of venture capital and entrepreneurial finance.
4. Excellent financial and analytical skills, including experience in developing complex financial models and fair market valuation calculations.
5. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
6. Knowledge or experience in organizing and building high-tech start-up businesses.
7. Ability to communicate effectively with research faculty and technology company founders.
8. Creative problem-solving skills. An ability to formulate a plan to obtain the information that is necessary to evaluate a new technology’s potential and to execute on that plan.
9. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences.
10.  Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This is a Full Time academic professional position. The expected start date is 6/30/2025. Sponsorship for Work Authorization is not available for this position. System Office jobs such as this one are not eligible for the Referral Program.

The budgeted salary range for the position is $75,000.00 – 95,000.00. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Benefits eligible positions include a comprehensive benefits package which offers: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance; a defined benefit pension plan; paid leaves such as Vacation, Holiday and Sick; tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

To apply, please use this link: https://go.illinois.edu/IllinoisVenturesSeniorAssociate