Sr. Director, NY Ventures, Fund Partner Progr

Empire State • Albany, NY

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position will oversee the execution and strategic scaling of NY State’s venture fund partnerships, including the Emerging and Regional Manager and Community Partner funds. The role involves directing the recruitment and management of fund partners to expand capital access for entrepreneurs statewide. Working under the leadership of the NY Ventures Managing Director, the individual will collaborate with an integrated team to provide investment reporting, foster cross-agency collaboration, and develop future initiatives to drive New York’s high-growth innovation economy. The Emerging and Regional Partner and Community and Regional Partner program funds are "fund of funds" programs created and administered by NY Ventures. Funded with $144M of State Small Business Credit Initiative capital from the US Treasury, these programs aim to increase access to capital for innovative start-up companies with high growth potential across New York State, addressing gaps in venture capital access due to location, industry, or background. NY Ventures is the venture capital group within the Small Business & Technology Development Division at Empire State Development (ESD), New York State's economic development agency. The team manages over $300M in funds for direct investments in startups and its fund of funds programs, with a mission to fuel innovation and startup growth in strategic sectors across NYS through venture capital investing that drives long-term economic progress.

Requirements

• Graduate degree in business administration, public policy, urban planning, business administration, or related field.
• 5+ years' experience working in venture or investment fund administration and management, economic or business development particularly as it relates to work within the innovation sector and ecosystem, partner and relationship development and management.
• Excellent program management, writing, research, and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong understanding of venture capital fund operations, high growth innovation programs, venture finance, policy, and public/private/nonprofit stakeholders.
• Understanding of economic development issues and policy as it relates to building and supporting innovation communities’ start-ups.
• Computer and organizational skills including experience and knowledge of venture capital specific programs such as Carta and Pitchbook.
• Knowledge of and interest in the application of AI to streamline workflows and processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the effort to recruit, identify and select investment funds including diligence process, coordinating with other team members for evaluation and preparing final investment recommendations to the Managing Director and the ESD Board of Directors.
• Cultivate and manage industry partner relationships to grow and build awareness and pipeline of applications for the multi-fund programs, especially those focused on serving Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI)-led companies.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the program including relationships with fund managers and supporting the success of their operations.
• Coordinate with outside and internal legal counsel to secure Limited Partner Agreements for new investment funds.
• Develop, track, monitor and report success of overall program outcomes to internal and external stakeholders, including quarterly and annual reports to US Treasury.
• Represent ESD and/or NY Ventures at conferences and meetings, make presentations and participate in panel discussions regarding building and scaling startup companies and communities to build awareness of all NY Ventures programs.
• Travel an average of 30% of time, primarily in state.
• Working effectively with other colleagues within ESD and the State to further the development of the work of NY Ventures and the Small Business and Technology Development Division including developing new programs that support startup companies and communities.
• Manage other projects as needed and requested by the NY Ventures Managing Director within the Small Business and Division.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director