Senior Investment Manager

With one foot in academia and the other in industry, Oxford University Innovation’s professionals undertake a wide variety of tasks, from licensing university ideas, consultancy and finding investment for spinout companies to setting up social enterprises and supporting student entrepreneurship. The Investments and New Ventures team (OUI-INV) acts as the growth catalyst for companies emerging from Oxford University through early-stage investment and support. The main responsibilities of the team include translational funding, supporting new company formation, equity fundraising, fund management and portfolio management. The team manages the shareholdings in over 200 companies created by the University of Oxford, valued at over £200m.

The Opportunity:
We now have a unique opportunity for a dynamic and motivated Senior or Investment Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Head of Investments and New Ventures, the successful candidate will demonstrate knowledge and expertise for university innovation and spinout equity management. They will possess the right skills to deploy early-stage investments and manage a portfolio of investments that will help our companies flourish. The successful candidate will have a business, economics, or relevant science degree (or equivalent), and ideally have experience working in early-stage venture finance.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Company formation – Maintaining a seamless approach to spinout activities by proactively collaborating and supporting the Licensing and Ventures team in the creation of spinout, startup, and social enterprises.
• Fund management – Supporting the management and expansion of the commercial funds, including the Spinout Equity Management Fund and the Parkwalk University of Oxford Innovation Fund. Reporting to the investment committees of the Funds and identifying new companies to support.
• Portfolio management – Acting as a spinout company Board-level observer/director where appropriate and working closely with Boards to build sustainable business platforms.
• Supporting the innovation ecosystem – Acting as an ambassador for Oxford University Innovation and the University of Oxford, raising its profile within the investment and industry audiences. Supporting the raising of funds within the investment ecosystem for the University and its investment portfolio.
• Reporting – Obtaining and monitoring information submitted by spinouts and creating advisory reports to enable the University to be aware of the value of its assets, and of opportunities to invest further capital.

About You:
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate proven competence in the following:

• Early-stage investment – a proven track record working in the early-stage investment market.
• Project management – Conscientious, detail-oriented with the ability to prioritise workloads and multiple projects.
• Financial evaluation- Equipped to handle the financial and commercial aspects of managing a venture capital portfolio, including financial analysis and reporting valuations.
• Commercial analysis – Designing, developing, and critiquing business strategies based on sound judgement and good analysis.
• Communicating with confidence – Weighing up alternative courses of action, making firm decisions and persuading others. Able to influence and engender respect from a wide range of stakeholders, both verbally and written.
• Relationship with others – The ability to contribute to the OUI-INV team. To be able to either work independently or as part of a small team. Supporting the personal development of members with the OUI-INV team and the wider OUI organisation.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:
Oxford University Innovation is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive culture which promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a supportive working, learning and social environment, in which the rights and dignity of all its staff are respected, and where everyone can be themselves and are empowered to reach their full potential. This commitment is linked to and reinforces the OUI values of integrity, collaboration, and empowerment. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures.
OUI is accredited with the Investors in People Silver status.

Our approach to hybrid and flexible working:
We believe that our employees are our most valuable asset, and we are committed to attracting and retaining the very best talent. We also appreciate that the UK workforce is becoming increasingly diverse and includes a high percentage of parents and individuals with caring responsibilities, as well as those whose interests and aspirations impact on their time.
We recognise the importance of helping our employees balance their work and home lives by offering flexible working arrangements that enable them to balance their work commitments with other priorities. This includes hybrid working and flexible working.

How to apply
If you are interested in applying for this role, please download the application form from the Oxford University website (careers section) and send it together with a copy of your CV and cover letter to Roy Bennett, our recruitment partner – roy@adlib-recruitment.co.uk job ref 251. Information about our culture and working life at OUI can be found here https://innovation.ox.ac.uk/about/careers/

The salary for this role is commensurate with experience and will range from £42,000 – £50,000 with excellent benefits including 10% pension contribution, 30 days holiday + 8 bank holidays, hybrid working, rewards scheme and private healthcare.

The closing date is midday Friday 2nd August 2024