Job Description
About Elemental Excelerator
Elemental Excelerator is on a mission to redesign the systems at the root of climate change. We are a leading nonprofit investor focused on scaling climate solutions and social impact for all communities. Elemental fills two fundamental gaps to tackling climate change: funding first-of-a-kind projects for climate technologies in real communities, and embedding equity and access into climate solutions.
As a nonprofit with over a decade of experience in scaling technologies, we are uniquely positioned to provide much-needed support and services to overcome the valleys of death to scale the technologies we need to tackle the climate crisis. Elemental has been innovating on the traditional investment model for over a decade. We do more than simply write a check; we offer a full suite of hands-on services, support, coaching and introductions across the value stream to support growth and deployments. The organization has stood up a half-dozen programs to break down barriers to climate tech innovation through its robust portfolio, policy, equity & access, career pathways, investors/philanthropy and strategic partnerships.
About the role
Elemental is looking for a highly collaborative, organized and experienced individual to work with our Portfolio Team leading the recruitment, diligence and management of Elemental’s water and industry portfolio companies. For this position, we are looking for an individual who can help develop a set of investment themes, recruit companies, design projects, manage deliverables and reporting, provide thought-partnership on portfolio company strategy, and work with the other Directors of Innovation across sectors and organization functions.
This role will focus on Elemental’s companies across the industry, drinking water and wastewater portfolios, and will report to the Managing Director, Portfolio.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Portfolio Management
- Directly support Elemental portfolio companies; problem-solve with entrepreneurs to help them achieve key inflection points, facilitate introductions where relevant, act as a board observer
- Co-design and manage projects that are transformational for portfolio companies as well as partners and communities
- Lead calls with active and alumni companies to provide strategic advice and act as a conduit for company updates back to the Elemental Team
- Collaborate with internal teams to write portfolio company project summaries/case studies, resolve questions, requests, and challenges related to Elemental programs and events
- Coordinate with the Elemental Portfolio and Finance teams on contracting documents, term sheets, new financing vehicles and agreements processing
- Develop and maintain a network of climate investors and enthusiasts
Pipeline
- Oversee identification, evaluation, and analysis of potential industry and water sector investment opportunities
- Help craft Elemental’s investment strategy and criteria for industry and water related companies
- Identify, evaluate, and analyze potential industry and water sector funding opportunities, including market research and risk assessments
- Work with the Pipeline team to target and recruit top startups in the industry and water sectors
- Lead industry and water due diligence and portfolio selection process, including applicant correspondence, coordination, references, internal diligence documentation, and subsequent onboarding processes
Partnerships and Ecosystem Support
- Collaborate with team tracking and synthesizing trends across the industry and water sectors to identify portfolio and pipeline opportunities
- As needed, present pipeline and portfolio companies to our government, corporate and other funding partners. Maintain relationships with water and industry corporations.
- Serve as thought leader on industry and water technology deployment and represent Elemental at industry events, and compile materials for speaking engagements and publications
Additional Responsibilities & Opportunities
- Work with interns, fellows, and consultants throughout the year
- Work closely with the Portfolio Ops and Communications teams to support pipeline, portfolio companies, announcements, and more
- Collaborate with the partnerships (Navigator) team to develop additional funding opportunities between our applicants and corporate partners (e.g. Innovation Challenges, Deep Dives, introduction requests)
- Support onboarding process for the final cohort of selected companies
- Co-host portfolio and Investor events
About You
You could be a great addition to our team if you have deep commercial experience in the industry and water space. You know the space, and at some point have probably tried to figure out how to sell into the US water market, have been a technical operator and/or understand the key risks with engineered solutions in frontline communities. You have experience deploying technology in frontline communities with low-income customers. You are skilled in quickly task-switching, building and managing relationships, leading and helping others. You believe deeply in a just transition to a low-carbon world - and believe that transition has to happen with utmost speed. Finally, you know and are excited about technologies impacting the water and industry space - as broad as that is!
Qualifications (even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, we still encourage you to apply!)
Desired skills:
- Interest and experience in the industry and/or water sector
- Experience working with (or at) startups, venture capital, or accelerator programs
- Understanding of how justice, equity and inclusion relate to climate work
- Experience deploying technology in frontline communities with low-income customers
- Strong interpersonal skills, proven ability to work optimally in a nimble, flexible and fast-paced environment
- Attention to detail with outstanding organizational skills and a passion for teamwork that includes phenomenal follow-through and documentation
- Creative and proactive in solving problems
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Standout skills:
- Significant knowledge in business administration, economics, environmental science or engineering
- Experience providing financial assistance in low-income communities
- Experience convening / leading events and conversations
Location
We will consider candidates located anywhere in the US. Elemental has a hybrid working model and if you are within a reasonable distance to one of our offices in New York, DC, Bay Area, or Honolulu, we are asking employees to come into the office at least one day a week to build community with the team. Currently, most people come in 1-2 times a week, but we encourage those who are interested to come in more often if they’d like. If you are not, you will be expected to travel infrequently to our HQs (e.g., ~quarterly). Other travel may sometimes be required for conferences or meetings.
Compensation & Benefits
This is a full-time "at-will" position working at least 40 hours per week. You will be asked to travel for work periodically.
The salary range for this role is $97,400 - $163,500, which is based on market data and the organization's compensation philosophy. Individual salary offers will depend on and may vary with location, relevant education, knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer comprehensive employee benefits, including a professional development stipend and three weeks paid time off (more details here).
Other Details
We will accept and review applications on a rolling basis. Although all applications will be considered, we may be unable to respond to all inquiries. Please note that we do read cover letters, so we advise spending adequate time on them to share your relevant stories and experiences with us. We also ask that you refrain from using tools like Chat GPT and keep the cover letter to 1-2 pages long.
Elemental Excelerator is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and has a strong commitment to diversity. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Candidates from the following groups are especially encouraged to apply: Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC); members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities; people who have disabilities; people from low-income backgrounds; people who identify as nonbinary; and women.