Senior Associate, Strategic Partnerships & Corporate Development

HarbourVest Partners•Boston, MA

5h•Hybrid

About The Position

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking. In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences. We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm. HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer. This position will be a hybrid work arrangement. You will receive 18 remote workdays per quarter to use at your discretion, subject to manager approval. For example, you may choose to work in the office 4 days per week and take one remote day weekly (typically 13 weeks per quarter), leaving 5 additional remote days to be used as needed. The Senior Associate, Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Development will work directly with senior partnership leaders to source, evaluate, structure, and carry out high-impact partnerships that broaden HarbourVest's distribution reach and product platform. The role covers distribution alliances with wealth platforms and intermediaries, strategic product collaborations, and other transactions that advance the firm's growth agenda. This position is ideal for a current or former investment banking analyst or associate, or a similar corporate development, transaction advisory, or buy-side professional. The role offers the chance to apply transaction skills within a top private markets platform. It includes direct interaction with senior leaders and significant responsibility for complex deals from origination through closing.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
2–6 years of experience in investment banking, corporate development, transaction advisory, management consulting, or strategic partnerships/business development at a financial services company
Strong financial modeling, structuring, and analytical skills
Excellent written and verbal communication, including presenting to senior audiences
Experience working cross-functionally on complex transactions or initiatives

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in financial services, alternative investments, or professional services preferred

Responsibilities

Own workstreams across partnership opportunities, from initial sizing and commercial diligence through negotiation, structuring, and onboarding
Build financial models, returns analyses, and economic sensitivities to evaluate proposed partnership structures
Prepare executive memos and decision-grade materials for senior leadership and the firm's investment and partnership committees
Partner with Legal on term sheet and definitive agreement negotiation
Develop investment theses on prospective partners, distribution channels, and product opportunities
Benchmark competitor activity, industry trends, and emerging partnership models across the alternatives landscape
Convert market insights into actionable recommendations for senior leadership
Drive cross-functional working groups across Product, Marketing, Sales, Legal, Client Operations, and Investor Relations to move opportunities to close
Manage partner relationships post-close, tracking performance against agreed economics and deliverables
Develop benchmark frameworks, dashboards, and analyses to measure partnership impact and economic contribution
Maintain a disciplined pipeline and execution tracker in internal systems (Salesforce)