Investment Partner

ICA Fund

Oakland (CA)

On-site

USD 260,000 - 420,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid health insurance

Employer-paid dental insurance

Employer-paid vision insurance

Employer-paid life insurance

Employer-paid disability benefits

401(k) plan with matching

Mobile phone reimbursement

Internet reimbursement

Discretionary annual bonus

Job summary

ICA Fund in Oakland seeks an Investment Partner to lead the investment function, shape capital deployment, and scale impact across debt, equity, and hybrid instruments. You will refine processes, manage relationships with banks, CDFIs, and impact investors, and build an integrated, data-driven investment operation.

You will drive sourcing, due diligence, structuring, and closing, while maintaining portfolio health and advancing the organization's mission to support overlooked founders.

Qualifications

10-12+ years of investment experience across debt, credit, private credit, or related environments.
Strong financial modeling, underwriting, and credit analysis skills.
Proven ability to source, structure, negotiate, and close investments across debt, equity, and hybrid instruments.
Experience leading Investment Committees or equivalent governance processes.
Excellent communication and relationship management with founders, investors, and partners.

Responsibilities

Own and advance ICA Fund's investment strategy across debt, equity, and hybrid structures.
Shape and refine investment policies, underwriting standards, and decision frameworks.
Identify market gaps and design innovative capital structures to meet unmet needs.
Lead end-to-end investment processes from sourcing to closing.
Build AI-enabled and data-informed workflows in diligence, modeling, and reporting.

Skills

Investment experience

Financial modeling

Credit analysis

Underwriting

Leadership

Communication

Relationship building

Strategic thinking

Job description

About ICA Fund

ICA Fund is a mission-driven investment organization based in Oakland, California, dedicated to accelerating great businesses through mentorship and mission-aligned investments. The organization focuses on catalyzing value in missed markets to transform communities by identifying, supporting, and helping to grow small businesses run by underrepresented entrepreneurs. ICA is celebrating 30 years of operations and has established itself as an innovator in leveraging coaching, capital, and connections to amplify impact in overlooked and underestimated markets. The organization democratizes access to resources that catalyze value and growth in small businesses by offering targeted acceleration workshops and operating tools alongside hands-on advising from a network of highly experienced business operators. ICA's approach combines rigorous investment discipline with a genuine commitment to community impact, positioning itself as a trusted and innovative leader in the impact investing and community development finance sectors. The organization operates with a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, evaluating opportunities and candidates without regard to protected characteristics. ICA Fund maintains a portfolio of mission-aligned investments and serves as a bridge between entrepreneurs in underserved communities and the capital and resources they need to succeed. The organization's work spans debt, equity, and hybrid capital structures, and it actively cultivates relationships with banks, CDFIs, impact investors, venture capital firms, family offices, and foundations to strengthen deal sourcing and expand access to capital for overlooked entrepreneurs.

About this Role

The Investment Partner is a key member of ICA Fund's executive leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO. This position represents a pivotal opportunity to own investment outcomes, mobilize capital, and shape how ICA deploys capital in service of its mission. At this transformative moment for the organization, the Investment Partner will bring disciplined investment acumen, entrepreneurial creativity, and courageous leadership to investments across debt, equity, and hybrid structures. The role encompasses the full investment lifecycle, from sourcing and due diligence through structuring, negotiation, and closing. The Investment Partner will be responsible for building and evolving the capabilities, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships needed to scale ICA's investment impact. Success in this position means delivering strong financial and community impact outcomes, maintaining portfolio health, expanding access to capital, and strengthening ICA's reputation as a trusted, innovative investment partner. The ideal candidate pairs strategic vision with hands-on execution, sound judgment, and the ability to create solutions where established playbooks fall short. This leader will establish and continuously refine investment policies, underwriting standards, decision frameworks, and operating processes that promote consistency, rigor, innovation, and sound judgment. Additionally, the Investment Partner will build and lead a high-performing investment team, integrate AI-enabled and data-informed workflows into operations, and cultivate authentic, durable relationships with founders grounded in transparency and genuine understanding.

Responsibilities

Own and advance the organization’s investment strategy, translating mission, market opportunities, financial objectives, and risk appetite into clear investment priorities and actionable execution plans
Partner with the CEO to shape the organization’s evolving investment model, identify strategic opportunities, and determine where the organization can play a distinctive and catalytic role across the continuum of debt, equity, and hybrid capital
Establish and continuously refine investment policies, underwriting standards, decision frameworks, and operating processes that promote consistency, rigor, innovation, and sound judgment
Identify gaps in the market and design, evaluate, and pilot innovative financial products and capital structures that address unmet needs in overlooked and underestimated markets
Exercise ownership of investment outcomes and the quality of the investment function, proactively identifying challenges, resolving issues, and bringing forward recommendations
Build AI-enabled and data-informed workflows that improve the speed, accuracy, and quality of diligence, financial modeling, and reporting while maintaining appropriate human oversight and verification
Deliver clear, candid reporting on investment activity, portfolio performance, risk exposure, and strategic opportunities to the CEO, Board, funders, and other stakeholders
Own the organization’s relationships across ICA’s ecosystem, including banks, CDFIs, impact investors, venture capital firms, family offices, and foundations, to strengthen deal sourcing and expand access to capital
Drive high-quality deal flow through personal networks, partnerships, and ecosystem relationships, and maintain a qualified pipeline screened against the investment thesis
Collaborate with the Operating Partner to keep investment strategy mission-aligned
Represent the organization at industry events and forums, positioning it as a thoughtful, trustworthy, and innovative leader in impact investing
Partner with internal teams and executive leadership to align messaging and ensure consistency between what the organization says and what it does
Lead end-to-end investment processes: sourcing, diligence, structuring, negotiation, and closing
Design and execute creative capital structures across debt, equity, and hybrid instruments
Oversee financial modeling, investment memoranda, and scenario analysis, ensuring rigor without sacrificing speed or creativity
Partner with the Operating Partner on follow-on financings for existing portfolio companies: assess need and readiness, structure the investment, take it through Investment Committee, and close on schedule
Apply syndication and loan-sale structures where they fit, in coordination with capital partnerships work
Design, lead, and hold the relationships for syndicating loans with banks, CDFIs, and other lending partners, owning structure, terms, and ongoing partner communication
Partner with the CEO to explore and pilot opportunities to sell loans to CRA-motivated banks, identifying target institutions, understanding their needs, and shaping loan products and portfolios
Develop repeatable approaches to syndication and loan sales that expand capacity to deploy capital without compromising credit quality or founder relationships
Cultivate co-investment relationships and represent the organization in negotiations with capital partners, treating every interaction as a chance to reinforce credibility and protect long-term interests
Lead the Investment Committee, overseeing investment preparation, presentation, deliberation, and decision-making processes
Ensure investment opportunities are supported by rigorous underwriting, comprehensive due diligence, thoughtful structuring, and clear recommendations
Facilitate productive deliberations, constructively challenge assumptions, surface material trade-offs, and ensure decisions and rationale are clearly documented
Balance financial performance, mission alignment, impact objectives, portfolio concentration, and risk tolerance in investment recommendations
Communicate investment risks, uncertainties, and potential downstream consequences clearly to the CEO, Investment Committee, and Board, as appropriate
Maintain sound investment governance, documentation, and escalation practices that promote consistency, transparency, and accountability
Build authentic, durable relationships with founders grounded in transparency, sound judgment, responsiveness, and genuine understanding of their businesses
Engage founders as thoughtful investment partners, asking incisive and empathetic questions to understand business models, leadership dynamics, growth opportunities, and operational challenges
Advise founders on capital strategy, financing options, and investment structures that support business sustainability and long-term growth
Connect founders with relevant relationships, resources, and ecosystem partners that can strengthen their businesses and expand opportunities
Navigate difficult conversations and challenging company circumstances with steadiness, clarity, and respect, maintaining investment discipline while supporting constructive outcomes
Ensure founder engagement reflects ICA’s mission and commitment to overlooked and underestimated entrepreneurs
Serve as a member of ICA’s executive leadership team, contributing to enterprise-level strategy, organizational effectiveness, and cross-functional decision-making
Assess the investment function’s organizational needs, existing capabilities, and future requirements to determine the appropriate team structure, roles, and staffing priorities
Recruit and build a high-performing investment team with the expertise, judgment, and complementary capabilities required to execute ICA’s evolving investment strategy
Establish clear expectations, OKRs, decision rights, and accountability structures that enable effective execution and sound investment judgment
Build a team culture grounded in collaboration, rigorous thinking, trust, resilience, and continuous improvement, encouraging thoughtful challenge and learning from setbacks
Foster meaningful development opportunities and a culture of ownership, accountability, and professional growth as the team and investment function evolve
Establish effective operating rhythms, workflows, and cross-functional partnerships that strengthen coordination with the CEO, Operating Partner, Portfolio team, and other organizational functions
Integrate AI and data tools into standard investment workflows, promoting efficiency while maintaining high standards for accuracy, confidentiality, and verification

Requirements

Deep personal commitment to ICA’s mission of supporting overlooked and underestimated founders
10-12+ years of investment experience, with substantial depth in debt and credit, including private credit, CDFI lending, venture and growth equity, or related investment environments
Demonstrated track record of sourcing, structuring, negotiating, and closing investments across debt, equity, and hybrid instruments
Strong financial modeling, credit analysis, underwriting, and investment structuring capabilities, including the ability to evaluate risk, assess business fundamentals, and exercise sound investment judgment
Demonstrated strategic ownership and the ability to translate organizational priorities into investment strategies, decisions, and measurable outcomes
Experience leading Investment Committees or comparable investment decision-making and governance processes, with the ability to communicate complex investment considerations clearly and persuasively
Proven ability to cultivate relationships with founders, co-investors, capital providers, and other external stakeholders, and to negotiate strategic partnerships that expand access to capital
Strong understanding of credit markets, capital structures, and loan syndication, with the ability to evaluate opportunities to mobilize capital and expand financing capacity
Demonstrated ability to build and scale a function or team, including assessing organizational needs, defining team structure and capabilities, establishing roles and performance expectations, and recruiting high-caliber talent
Proven people leadership skills, including developing talent and fostering a high-performing culture of collaboration, trust, constructive challenge, ownership, and accountability
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, evolving environments, navigate complex stakeholder dynamics, and exercise sound judgment with incomplete information
Exceptional communication, emotional intelligence, and relationship management skills, including the ability to navigate difficult conversations and maintain credibility through challenging circumstances