Portfolio Director, Place Matters

About Us

Blue Meridian Partners is a pioneering philanthropic model for finding and funding scalable solutions to the problems that limit economic mobility and trap America’s young people and families in poverty.

We know solutions exist, but even the most promising strategies cannot reach far enough, fast enough without significant, long-term investment. We bring an innovative investor mindset backed by a decades-long track record to the pursuit of upward economic mobility for individuals and communities. By pooling resources, our Partners can unlock substantial philanthropic capital and invest effectively and efficiently.

Anchored by our tested and continuously improving, performance-based investing approach, Blue Meridian makes strategic, long-term investments across multiple portfolios aimed at boosting economic mobility from cradle to career. We support nationwide and place-based strategies to amplify impact across the country and within specific communities. We identify visionary social sector leaders who address key drivers of poverty and invest the flexible, upfront capital they need to dream bigger and exponentially expand their reach, influence, and impact.

We are constantly learning, exploring, and seeking out new collaborations in relentless pursuit of creating lasting impact at scale that can change the life trajectories of millions of young people and families in America. Blue Meridian is staffed by an experienced team of results-focused leaders, and we welcome other mission-driven champions to join us.

‎

Position Profile

The Portfolio Director (“the Director”), reports to a Managing Director within the Place Matters Portfolio and works closely with Place Matters team members to source and manage Blue Meridian’s relationships with investees and develop innovative scaling plans to help them achieve greater impact. The Director will work across the Place Matters’ strategy with a focus on supporting Catalytic Supports and Places investees. Working independently with limited oversight and guidance from Managing Directors and other senior leaders, the Director will contribute significantly to advancing Blue Meridian’s mission and Place Matters’ next phase of its investment strategy. The Place Matters strategy is anchored on advancing mobility through Place-based Partnerships and expertise in this space is desired.

Primary Responsibilities

The responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to the following:

Places and Catalytic Supports Investments

• Co-lead or lead sourcing, due diligence, and creation of strong investment recommendations across the Place Matters investment strategy in both Places and Catalytic Supports.
• Partner with others on the team to capture ongoing learnings from investments and broader trends to continuously inform and improve Blue Meridian’s and investees’ strategy and operations.
• Lead coordination across Catalytic Supports investments in Core Partners (national networks and technical assistance providers that support cradle-to-career place-based partnerships across the country).
• Provide support to the Managing Directors in managing relationships and partnerships with other relevant investees, investors, and aligned organizations.

Own Relationships with Investee Organizations – Places and Catalytic Supports

• Lead investee relationships with Managing Director’s advisory support.
• Contribute to, and sometimes lead, the development and support of investee scaling plans and performance milestones and chart a roadmap for success.
• Review investee bi-annual performance reports, capturing current performance, risks, and future potential.
• Contribute to the annual performance and impact report for the Place Matters Portfolio.
• Partner to design investee meetings, strategy sessions, and performance reviews, delegating where appropriate. Participate and facilitate in the sessions.
• Identify advisors, consultants, and other resources to support investee growth and development.
• Manage financial plans and budgets for area of responsibility.

External Partner Management

• Co-lead external partner engagement and foster transparent communication with organizations (including investors) who are critical co-creators of the Place Matters strategy.
• Consistently execute commitments, ensuring partnership principles are upheld.
• Develop and maintain feedback channels for continuous improvement.
• Monitor and evaluate partnership effectiveness through regular check-ins.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing and coordination among external partners.

Supervision

• Direct Associates and Portfolio Managers on various projects and investments and serve as an effective coach and mentor.

Qualifications

Required

• Aligned with Blue Meridian’s mission and core values.
• At least 12 years of relevant professional experience, plus a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong skills in developing and managing external and internal relationships with diverse constituencies in diverse environments. Track record of working directly with senior executives, boards of directors and investors.
• Demonstrated ability to provide direction, encouragement, and support to others, and to create a collaborative environment for hearing multiple viewpoints.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, comfortable engaging with and presenting at senior levels.
• Strong ability to analyze and assess complex quantitative and qualitative data, with experience in performance measurement and evaluation.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with a strong track record of delivering against agreed goals and milestones, and for making process improvements.
• Brings a deep understanding and analysis of the root causes of unequal outcomes and demonstrated commitment throughout career to achieving impact across a range of different contexts.
• Ability to balance a meticulous and rigorous professional approach with a flexible and empathetic demeanor responsive to others' needs.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a demonstrated commitment to and history of building strong relationships and supportive and positive team cultures as well as proactively supporting other team members and stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and the ability to learn new software quickly.
• Willing to travel, as required.

Preferred

• Working experience in for-profit, non-profits environments, and the public sector.
• Experience working with complex, high-growth organizations, either in a leadership role or as a strategy, financial, and/or management consultant to senior leadership and boards of directors.
• An advanced degree in a related subject desirable.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in of the Place-based Partnership, Collective Impact, Cradle to Career continuum of solutions, and the ability to show broader application of work to achieve strategic business outcomes.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics or Salesforce CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and SharePoint is a plus.

At Blue Meridian, we value a variety of perspectives. Even if your experience does not fully align with our preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply.

Hiring Salary

Blue Meridian Partners aims to provide a comprehensive and competitive total compensation package.

The hiring salary for this position is $221,000. In addition to the base salary, the position is eligible for a performance-based variable incentive bonus.

Blue Meridian also provides generous benefits including:

• Employer contributions to a retirement savings plan
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with minimal employee contribution
• Life and disability insurance
• Paid time off including vacation/personal days, paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and week-long office closures in the summer and winter
• Internal and external professional development opportunities
• Home Office set-up allowance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Hybrid work arrangement

‎

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.

Blue Meridian Partners is committed to equal employment opportunity, without regard to race, color, gender, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran status, prior record of arrest or conviction, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. These opportunities include all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including (but not limited to) recruiting, hiring, job assignment, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, promotion, and termination.