Managing Director, Enabling Strategies (BMP)

Blue Meridian Partners; New York (NY); On-site; USD 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Meridian Partners is seeking a Managing Director to lead the Enabling Strategies portfolio, shaping regional investment strategy and partnerships across public and private sectors. The role demands strategic leadership, deep sector experience, and a track record of driving complex initiatives to scale impact.

You will oversee investments, collaborate with senior leaders, and help communicate the organization’s mission while supporting fundraising and stakeholder engagement across a national

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced studies preferred.
• 20+ years of professional experience in varied environments.
• Experience leading regional and community-based initiatives.
• Ability to work with senior executives, boards and investors.
• Willingness to travel frequently.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy and investments across enabling strategies portfolio.
• Co-develop outcomes framework and investment recommendations.
• Source and conduct due diligence; make investment recommendations.
• Manage portfolio performance and learn from investments.
• Represent Blue Meridian externally and assist fundraising.
• Develop relationships with investors and aligned organizations.
• Oversee recruitment and development of top talent.
• Coordinate with other Managing Directors for portfolio alignment.
• Contribute to board materials and meetings.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Relationship management

Board experience

Communication skills

Fundraising

Change management

Team leadership

Financial acumen

Willing to travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Managing Director, Enabling Strategies (BMP)

Posted on January 28, 2020

Background

Blue Meridian Partners is a pioneering philanthropic model for finding and funding scalable solutions to problems that trap America’s young people and families in poverty and limit economic mobility. We bring philanthropists together to make significant, multi-year investments that make it possible for social sector leaders to take their successful interventions to regional or national scale.

Today, Blue Meridian is evolving and extending its early vision for integrating the work of expanding solutions nationwide with regional and local strategies to produce the strongest possible outcomes for children and families. We are deeply aware of a growing body of research that highlights how place and economic mobility are inextricably linked and pervasive racial gaps in outcomes. We believe more cross-sector solutions are required to realize the potential of compounding benefits of coordinated work in communities.

In response to the needs identified by community leaders and a study of the challenges that seem to have stymied prior efforts, Blue Meridian is assembling a team to unlock significant new private and public resources for practitioners in order to accelerate place-based work across the country.

Position Description

Position Profile

Managing Directors provide strategic leadership and help execute and innovate on critical business priorities for Blue Meridian Partners, including sourcing and leading Blue Meridian’s relationships with select investees.

Managing Directors are members of a dynamic leadership team. Operating with great flexibility and freedom while working closely with other Managing Directors, the CEO and Chief Investment and Impact Officer (CIIO), as well as Blue Meridian’s investment Partners they provide the leadership necessary to advance Blue Meridian’s mission.

Reporting to the CIIO, the Managing Director of the Enabling Strategies portfolio will refine and launch this new portfolio as a part of the team focused on the next generation of Blue Meridian’s regional investment strategy.

Position Type

Exempt

Location

New York City preferred.

Primary Responsibilities

The Managing Director will oversee and manage, delegating and working with other team members where appropriate, activities that may include but are not limited to the following:

Lead Strategy and Investments

• Partner with the CIIO to refine and continuously improve the Enabling Strategies elements of Blue Meridian Partners’ regional investment strategy.
• Co-develop an outcomes framework and own, and deliver on strategic outcomes related to investments in enabling supports and strategies including outcomes related to the progress in place-based efforts served.
• Source, conduct and manage due diligence to explore opportunities and make investment recommendations, developing, with team, compelling and feasible investment recommendations.
• Manage the Enabling Strategies portfolio of investments overseeing and supporting their impact and performance.
• Capture ongoing learning from investments and broader trends to continuously inform and improve Blue Meridian’s and investees’ strategy and operations.
• Serve as an external spokesperson/representative of Blue Meridian and assist as needed with fundraising, BMP Partner engagement, and other activities.
• Develop relationships and partnerships with other relevant investors and aligned organizations to increase information flow and sourcing, leverage additional expertise or resources, and extend the reach and impact of the portfolio and strategy.

Lead Relationships with Investees

• Ensure investee leaders and their teams receive excellent relationship management and support from Blue Meridian.
• Earn and maintain the respect of investees and serve as a trusted partner and advisor to their CEOs and boards. This includes representing Blue Meridian Partners with investee boards and advising on strategy and scaling plans; evaluation and evidence building; board development; fundraising; organizational design; and human capital and communications.
• Develop and implement creative scaling strategies and plans. Craft performance milestones with investees and chart a roadmap to success.
• Develop and present regular progress reports to the Blue Meridian board and other Partners. Review and approve materials and talking points for Partner updates.
• Design and facilitate investee meetings, strategy sessions and performance reviews.
• Identify advisors, consultants and other resources to ensure robust support for investees.

Manage team and ensure tight alignment across Blue Meridian

• Oversee and participate in the recruitment, development and management of top talent to build and sustain a high performing team.
• Partner closely with other Managing Directors to ensure ongoing strategic alignment of portfolios.
• Oversee aspects of the board book content, contribute to and participate in board, Partner and committee meetings.

Qualifications

• Managing Directors must believe in Blue Meridian’s mission and be driven by personal values that align closely with Blue Meridian’s core values.
• At least 20 years of professional experience, ideally in for-profit, government and nonprofit environments, either in significant line‑leadership roles managing initiatives or parts of organizations, or as strategy, financial and/or change‑management consultants to the senior leadership of high‑growth organizations. Experience with regional and community‑based initiatives is essential. A Bachelor’s degree is required, an advanced studies or demonstrated derivation of overarching lessons and approaches from related experiences preferred.
• Perspective from direct experience living or working in communities with significant low income or otherwise disenfranchised peoples preferred.
• A track record of playing a significant role in an organization’s achievement of innovative results, demonstrating the ability to formulate and execute effective strategies, chart clear courses of action that require complex, multi‑disciplinary teamwork, and the measurement of and accountability for results.
• Strong skills in developing and managing external and internal relationships and partnerships, working directly with senior executives, boards of directors and investors, leading teams, building and stewarding relationships, networks and agreements, and managing complex business associations.
• A superior ability to analyze, assess and conceptualize the implications of quantitative and qualitative data, sometimes amid disparate and even contradictory information.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, comfortable engaging with and presenting at senior levels
• Highly energetic, self‑motivated and entrepreneurial, able to balance a meticulous and highly rigorous professional approach with a flexible and empathetic responsiveness to the needs of others. While skilled at thinking and working independently and advocating own point of view, respects and solicits the contributions of others.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a professional, accessible demeanor, and the ability to work with and lead people with different backgrounds and experiences including in complex contexts and power dynamics.
• Strong computer skills with facility using popular document, spreadsheet, presentation, email, filesharing and other communication software.
• Willing to travel frequently.

Salary & Benefits

Total compensation includes an annual base salary, the potential for an annual incentive award based on performance, and an exceptional benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 403b retirement plan with employer contributions and generous time off. Base salary will be set commensurate with chosen candidate’s knowledge, skill and experience.

Blue Meridian Partners, Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, disability, age, military or veteran status, familial status, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

[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.