Operations Associate, Venture Investing

San Francisco, CA / Palo Alto, CA
Venture – Venture Investing /
Full-time /
On-site
Overview

Emerson Collective is a company that invests in entrepreneurs and innovators driven by purpose and a sense of possibility, working to create a world of abundance for future generations. 

Complex challenges in education and economic mobility, immigration and the environment require audacious ideas, rigorous thinking and hard work. At EC, we are proud to partner with those taking big swings – with humility (about our role) and hustle (because it’s about damn time).

As with the whole of Emerson Collective, what matters most is that we work with people who are not only the very best at what they do, but also the kindest.

About the Venture Investing Team

The Emerson Collective Venture Team invests in consequential companies delivering generational impact and venture-scale returns, across all stages. As venture investors, we focus where the biggest market opportunities meet the most meaningful levers of impact: climate, healthcare, fintech, edtech, work, and media. We harness the power of the Collective to help our companies scale over the long-term. Emerson Collective is a place where great leaders come to do difficult things.

The Opportunity

Our early-stage investing team is looking for an Associate focusing on operations to help us run 10x better through sharp and strategic execution. This role reports to the Managing Director of Early-Stage Investing, and collaborates with other venture team members and cross-functionally across Emerson Collective. 

There aren’t many “typical days,” but you’ll be the glue that holds our team together and empowers us to operate at a higher level. We’re looking for a fast learner who is energetic, detail oriented, can handle the unexpected, and most importantly, is eager to pitch in wherever, and whenever help is needed.

Roles and Responsibilities

    • Oversee and optimize our team’s pipeline to ensure companies move efficiently through the investment process and that our technology systems are kept up-to-date throughout the process 
    • Plan and execute offsites and events that range from networking receptions to hands-on tactical workshops for company leaders; Book venues, track RSVPS, and manage vendor relationships
    • Provide high level operational support to the team, including managing to-do’s, communications, team scheduling, and contact management; respond to messages and scheduling requests quickly and maintain a tight list of follow-ups
    • Execute and oversee day-to-day and one-off tasks to enable our team to operate at the highest level
    • Collaborate with other Emerson Collective colleagues to implement and update systems for backend operations
    • Welcome guests to the office and facilitate in-office meetings (setup, breakdown, A/V logistics)

Ideally you have some, or all of the following:

    • 5-7 years’ experience in complex operations management, with proven experience in optimizing processes
    • You are passionate about our mission to back entrepreneurs who are delivering generational impact and venture-scale returns
    • You are a self-starter who thrives working independently in a collaborative environment; you can work both within a team on independently on a day-to-day basis
    • You thrive in ambiguous environments, enjoy working on small teams, and are low ego
    • You’ve worked in a startup environment or other customer-facing role
    • You are organized, detail-oriented, and never let things “fall through the cracks” 
    • You have stellar communication skills that help you connect with a range of people, from analysts to c-level executives, customers to investors.   
    • Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook and Google Suite
    • Experience planning and managing events Experience with database management
    • You are flexible to work in both Palo Alto and San Francisco (we spend approximately 2 days per week in each location)

Role Progression

    • Within 1 month, you’ll have completed a comprehensive onboarding process to help you understand how our team works. You’ll be ready to pitch in wherever you can. 
    • Within 3 months, you’ll be fully ramped and supporting our team with day-to-day management, dealflow processes, and events.
    • Within 6 months, you’ll be proactively helping our team perform 5x better, become a superuser of our internal tech tools, and help to manage large-scale events.
This position requires being up to date on COVID vaccination consistent with current CDC guidelines, subject to documented religious and/or medical exemptions.

Building a diverse and inclusive workforce is key to our mission and values as we strive to create systemic change and open possibilities for all of the communities we serve. To that end, we provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.