Investment Analyst and Investment Manager (Physical Sciences): Cambridge Enterprise Ltd

Do you have the vision, ambition and determination to build and fund some of the most exciting deep-tech companies of tomorrow? 

About Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds:

Sitting at the heart of Europe’s most successful technology cluster, Cambridge Enterprise Seed Funds is the venture investing arm of the University of Cambridge. We are responsible for finding, creating and funding spin-outs from the most exciting and innovative technology emerging from the University.  These roles are within the Physical Sciences side of the Seed Funds team.

All our companies have the potential to change the world and make a difference. Our portfolio includes contains clean energy, sustainable materials, quantum computing, next generation batteries and optimisation software. The CESF team plays a vital part in translating the technology into commercial success and to date these spin-outs have gone on to raise more than £2bn from other investors.

The roles:

In either position, you will play a direct and crucial role in developing these emerging technologies companies which can change the world for the better. As an Analyst, you will develop a strong early-stage investment skillset in one of the world-leading University investment funds. As a Manager, you will be driving these deals forward, joining the boards and bringing in other investors. 

In both roles, you will be engaged in all parts of the investment process: deal generation, initial assessment, due diligence, writing investment papers and closing financing rounds. The Analyst will learn from other experienced members of the team and the Manager will be able to guide the junior members as well as learning from more senior colleagues. 

A key part of the role will be finding the opportunities and assessing their potential. This will involve developing relationships with departments and their academics and working with them to build their opportunities.  

Your skills: 

The key elements of both these roles are vision, ambition and determination  

Vision – you will have a background in software or physical sciences and will be able to demonstrate your interest in the translation of emerging technologies into commercial opportunities. 

Ambition – you will be able to assess these opportunities, help shape their business plan and then articulate the potential impact to the seed funds team as well as to external investors. 

Determination – creating spin-outs is not straightforward. You will need to be tenacious in your approach and balanced when liaising with both founder teams and co-investors. You will recognise the impact of these companies and work with them to succeed.  

Benefits: 

The Analyst role is ideal for those wishing to start a career in early stage deep–tech venture investing. Such positions are difficult to find and here you will be working with a team of experienced investment professionals who will help you learn and work independently. As a Manager, you will leading deals created from technology emerging from one of the world’s leading universities and you will have a fundamental role in shaping these companies. The manager will be expected to sit on the boards of these companies and the associate will gain experience such that in the future they will be able to join such boards.  Working for a subsidiary of the University of Cambridge, you will be offered a competitive salary with performance-related pay, generous holiday, a University pension and flexible hybrid working. 

Location:

Our office base is at the Hauser Forum, West Cambridge Site. However, due to our flexible and remote working ethos, we are also open to applications from outside of the Cambridge area.

Application and interview process:

In your cover letter, please indicate which of the two roles you would like to apply for. Or, if you aren’t sure, please indicate you are interested in either role, and we will consider which role we think your skills and experience are best suited to.

Closing date for both positions is Sunday 23 January 2022.  

We will hold a two-stage interview process for each role.

For the Investment Analyst role, the first interview will be held on Monday 31 January 2022, and the second on Monday 7 February 2022.

For the Investment Manager role, the first interview will be held Wednesday 2 February 2022, and the second on Wednesday 9 February..

Closing date: 
Sunday, January 23, 2022
Originating organisation: