Strategic Finance & Investments Lead

AJAIA•Fort Lauderdale, FL

About The Position

The Head of Strategic Investments will serve as the primary financial and deal-structuring lead for the organization. This individual will be responsible for evaluating opportunities, developing financial models, structuring transactions, and leading the execution of investments and acquisitions. The role will work closely with RDI, the founder/CEO, and leadership to analyze opportunities and lead transactions from concept to closing. This role is ideal for a mid‑career investment professional who understands how deals are structured and executed and is excited about applying those skills in an entrepreneurial environment within the education sector.

Requirements

5–10 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, venture capital, corporate development, or a similar transaction-focused role.
Strong financial modeling and valuation skills with experience analyzing complex business transactions.
Experience supporting or leading acquisitions, investments, joint ventures, or other strategic transactions.
Ability to translate complex financial structures into clear explanations for non-financial stakeholders.
Experience working with legal and financial advisors during transaction execution.
Entrepreneurial mindset with interest in building a growing investment capability inside an innovation platform.
Strong analytical thinker with practical deal judgment.
Comfortable operating with ambiguity while structuring new types of transactions.
Collaborative and able to work closely with senior leadership on complex strategic decisions.

Responsibilities

Lead financial evaluation of investment opportunities incubator and accelerator participants.
Build and maintain financial models to evaluate investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships.
Support decision-making with valuation frameworks and scenario analyses.
Structure transactions including minority investments, majority acquisitions, recapitalizations, and joint ventures.
Analyze complex financial arrangements and help leadership understand the risks, economics, and potential outcomes of proposed deals.
Manage the end-to-end execution of transactions from initial evaluation to closing.
Coordinate financial, operational, and market diligence for prospective investments or acquisitions.
Work closely with legal counsel to help translate business terms into investment agreements and transaction documents.
Participate in negotiations with founders, investors, and counterparties.
Support the structuring and execution of special situations such as investor buyouts, recapitalizations, or strategic mergers.
Evaluate strategic opportunities connected to the organization's ecosystem, including potential acquisitions or partnerships that could strengthen the platform.
Assist RDI leadership and the founder/CEO in analyzing proprietary opportunities that arise within the education sector.
Support the development of repeatable approaches for structuring investments as LaunchEd continues to expand its portfolio of companies.