Associate, Public Sector Practice

Social Finance•Washington, DC

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser expanding economic opportunity in America. We bring government, philanthropy, and business leaders together to improve systems and put capital to work in new ways. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized more than $500 million to create measurable results in workforce and education, health, and housing. We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion. Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach. Through our Public Sector practice, we work alongside impact-focused leaders to build innovative funding structures and implement data-driven practices that deliver better results for people and communities.

Requirements

2-5 years of full-time professional experience in a role with relevant and transferrable skills, which may include those focused on research, consulting, finance, project management, social impact, or other
Strong analytical and quantitative skills; basic statistical knowledge is a plus
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Ability to quickly research, synthesize and summarize key takeaways on unfamiliar topics
Experience with AI tools or platforms in a professional setting (e.g. prompt engineering, AI-assisted workflows, or data infrastructure)
Ability to communicate and work closely with many types of partners across multiple sectors; willingness to constructively express your point of view and hear the point of view of others, both internally and externally
Commitment to high-quality work and accuracy, with an ability to manage multiple and competing priorities simultaneously
Capacity to work independently while contributing to team projects as appropriate
Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of or willingness to learn about key issues in nonprofit management, social interventions, government services, and/or impact investing
Ability to adapt, be flexible and operate with a growth mindset
Commitment to enhancing a team culture of inclusion, belonging and equity
Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Nice To Haves

Experience in or with the systems we seek to impact
Advanced PowerPoint experience
Advanced experience in Excel

Responsibilities

Conduct research, analyzing data, and reviewing evidence to support project design decisions, test hypotheses, and drive recommendations to optimize operations and help achieve project outcomes
Exercise progressing project management skills to include scheduling meetings, aiding in the execution of work plans, overseeing project timelines, coordinating team tasks, and ensuring effective communication within the team.
Create, deliver and present materials, analyses, key findings and recommendations for both internal team and external partners; Lead interviews and facilitate discussion groups
Conduct economic cost-benefit and other forms of analyses
Support the drafting and review of contract, governance and scope-of-work documents; Write summaries, reports and email correspondence, etc.
Research potential project partners; analyzing their performance and ability to achieve future outcomes to identify promising programs and support project design
Collaborate with evaluation firms, when needed, to identify and measure key performance outcomes
Write blog posts and support the creation of white papers and reports that publish key learnings and findings from our work
Contribute to and support research efforts in social issue areas and interventions
Apply technical expertise in AI tools and infrastructure to help test and implement improved processes across systems and active projects
Support analysis and writing for responses to proposal documents (i.e. Requests for Proposals) and concept notes for potential business development opportunities
Create communications materials and preparing managers for external calls that could lead to new opportunities
Contribute to capacity-building initiatives, such as recruiting, professional development, knowledge management, fundraising, or other internal projects
Provide real-time feedback to team members to support professional growth and contribute to high-quality deliverables
Support senior management, internal functional teams, and Social Finance project teams as needed
Support our goal to foster a culture of well-being and belonging

Benefits

Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; Employee Healthy Actions programs and more
Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies
Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements
Hybrid work model (in office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad-hoc basis as needed)
Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition
Annual budget for external professional development opportunities
Mentorship and onboarding programs
Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, San Francisco, Austin and Washington, D.C.; New York, NY. This position can be hired in Austin, Boston, San Francisco or Washington D.C.
Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)
Paid parental leave
A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals