Principal Strategic Investing

Northwestern Mutual • Milwaukee, WI

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

This role is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and executing early-stage startup investments that align with Northwestern Mutual’s strategic focus on fintech and AI. The Principal Strategic Investing drives corporate growth by managing the full investment lifecycle, building founder relationships, and presenting opportunities to the investment committee. This position offers the unique benefit of operating within a well-resourced corporate entity while maintaining the agility and investment discipline of a traditional venture capital fund. It is ideal for an individual with a proven track record in venture capital who is ready to lead significant investment initiatives. Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures operates as the corporate venture capital arm of Northwestern Mutual, a Fortune 100 financial services firm that helps Americans achieve financial security. This role operates within the broader Corporate Strategy team and may be based in San Francisco or Milwaukee with regular travel expected.

Requirements

• 5+ years in venture capital, corporate development, strategy consulting, or investment banking and a history of academic excellence.
• Proven ability to analyze competitive landscapes, market trends, and business models.
• Strong ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with various stakeholders, including startups, venture capitalists, and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and interpret financial data and other technical information, including proficiency in valuation, financial modeling, and investment structuring.
• Demonstrated superior written and verbal communication skills with ability to build rapport and gain acceptance at all levels of an organization. Strong presentation skills with an ability to synthesize, distill and summarize complex information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Possess a balance of analytical ability and social fluency, a sense of urgency, and deep intellectual curiosity.
• Future focused.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and engage with promising startups, entrepreneurs, and co-investors to generate a robust pipeline of investment opportunities aligned with Northwestern Mutual’s strategic interests.
• Lead comprehensive market, product, technology, and financial due diligence processes. This includes conducting in-depth analyses, building financial models, and presenting detailed investment recommendations to the investment committee.
• Structure, negotiate, and close new venture capital investments, including term sheets, shareholder agreements, and other definitive documentation.
• Actively support portfolio companies’ post-investment, including monitoring performance, providing strategic guidance, and facilitating introductions to relevant Northwestern Mutual business units where appropriate. This involves working closely with founders and management teams to foster growth and achieve strategic milestones.
• Serve as a key liaison between Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures portfolio companies and Northwestern Mutual’s internal business units, identifying and cultivating opportunities for collaboration.
• Develop and maintain deep expertise in relevant technology sectors, identifying emerging trends, competitive landscapes, and disruptive innovations that could impact Northwestern Mutual’s core businesses.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships within the venture capital ecosystem, including founders, limited partners, co-investors, and industry experts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees