Head Of Strategic Partnerships & Development

U+ Nova focuses on setting up and operating investment funds, portfolio management and delivery support, acceleration and scaling of new ventures, and strategic and operational management. We’ve managed 3 investment funds with over $100b investment portfolio, managed a $37b annual ops budget, and worked with family offices, CVCs, and private equity firms. U+ Nova is led by Dr. Christine Gulbranson, a serial entrepreneur who began her investment career over 20 years ago as a VC in Silicon Valley, has worked for two family offices, and led a large university system investment portfolio.

Some of our current activities include launching an Index Fund focused on Generative AI investments and supporting a corporate client in the spin-out of an incubated startup venture. We seek an experienced Head of Strategic Partnerships & Development to work alongside Dr. Gulbranson.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree; MBA preferred
• Adept financial knowledge, including experience overseeing operating budgets and driving decisions around profit and loss.
• Expert analytical, critical thinking, recognition/avoidance/resolution skills.
• Possess solid business acumen and experience at a senior leadership level
• Effective negotiator that can outline and defend deal structures, negotiate partnerships, and is comfortable communicating at the Executive level of organizations
• Adept at using advanced fundraising concepts, planning and direct complex large-scale fundraising campaigns that include multiple components
• Well-versed in family offices, private equity, and venture capital
• Ten+ years of experience in fundraising, including designing, developing, delivering, and administering fundraising programs
• Advanced project management skills with strong attention to detail; must be able to successfully organize, plan, prioritize and manage multiple competing priorities and work within a fast-paced environment
• Comfortable in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment without the analytical support or infrastructure generally available in larger organizations
• Excellent relationship-building skills and demonstrated confidence working with corporate and financial leaders
• Expert communicator able to convey information clearly and concisely in both written and oral presentation, which includes creating high-impact presentations of complex information and issues with brevity, clarity and accuracy

Key Responsibilities:

Development/Fundraising:

• Write proposals for solicitation of individual, corporate, and/or foundation prospects.
• Develop fundraising briefs and pitch decks in a manner that effectively and clearly communicates the opportunity to facilitate bringing investment to a close
• Conduct industry, competitive and technology research to develop strategic positioning for potential partnerships and investments, as well as validate value creation
• Ensure that predetermined fundraising goals are met.
• As assigned, recruit, train, and support key volunteers and support staff who assist in advancement efforts.
• Make at least 10+ monthly substantive contacts (e.g., significant moves that advance a relationship). Qualify major private equity, corporate, and family offices to solicit and obtain funding directly.
• Develop and manage a multi-million-dollar portfolio.
• Write proposals for solicitation of private equity and corporate prospects
• Identify new investor prospects based on the investment profile
• Develop marketing plans and/or strategies for cultivation and solicitation of prospects
• When applicable, attend functions and meetings representing Dr. Gulbranson/NOVA
• Utilize CRM to track fundraising metrics, update investor information and notes, and create analytical reports to determine fundraising strategies
• Work collaboratively with other NOVA team members to accelerate capital raise efforts and meet strategic goals, including providing direction for required analysis and research
• Develop and manage large-scale fundraising campaigns

Strategic Planning:

• Participate in the development and implementation of annual and long-range fundraising plans designed to achieve strategic goals
• Support all U+ NOVA initiatives designed to secure funding
• Provide analysis and information of complex results or activities, and make recommendations to upper management for program changes or development of new programs as required.

Communication:

• Develop fundraising briefs/pitch decks and effectively communicate content to investors.
• Develop, create, write, implement, and/or evaluate individualized marketing plans and/or strategies for cultivation and solicitation of investors (strategies typically require a high degree of innovation).
• Work collaboratively with members of U+ leadership by facilitating meetings, developing presentations, sharing strategies and best practices, and assisting with closing investments.

What you can look forward to:

• Fully remote position based in the US and able to work Pacific time zone hours, but willing to travel for conferences and client meetings
• You will be a key member of a highly skilled team that builds globally innovative products from zero to scale and support ventures across all industry verticals
• You will be able to take part in our online learning sessions, where we invite experts in their field to pass on their knowledge and experiences

At the U+ Group of Companies, we thrive on demanding projects requiring us to use our experiences and critical thinking skills, explore new solutions, and utilize new technologies. We cultivate a culture of thinking without limits, agility, and experimentation, where failure is seen as a learning opportunity, and we focus on constant growth in all our team members.

• Cover letter required
• Full remote with travel expected to conferences and client meetings
• Consulting contract