Investment Director

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Investment Director — Strategic Capital  

About the Role 

As a member of the team, you will help grow our portfolio of early-to-late stage companies shaping the future of financial services. Our team makes direct investments in startup companies, facilitates partnerships between startups and our business units, and drives operational insights in all directions.  In this role, you will be responsible for intensively collaborating with the investment team to surface the right companies, general partners, and strategies to drive venture-quality returns and that are also of high strategic importance to Nationwide. You will also provide insights to Nationwide's business unit partners into emerging technologies, markets, and new business models that are of importance to Nationwide's future business models and operations. 

• Lead or co-lead the third-party LP investment program, including strategy, portfolio construction, fund sourcing, diligence, GP selection, commitment sizing, and ongoing manager monitoring across stages and themes aligned to our strategic priorities. 

• Build and operationalize the connective tissue between capital allocation and the direct team, ensuring fund managers are selected and managed effectively. 

• Co-Own GP relationships end-to-end, negotiating LPA terms, side letters, advisory board seats, information rights, and co-invest economics that maximize strategic optionality for both the LP and direct functions. 

• Serve as a thematic intelligence engine for the direct team, translating signal from underlying portfolios (50 – 200+ companies seen quarterly across managers) into market maps, deal referrals, and early but important signals. 

• Role success is centered on harmonization of LP and Direct strategies, not just standalone returns: number and quality of co-invests sourced into the direct pipeline, direct deals referred from GP network, thematic coverage gaps closed via fund commitments, joint diligence cycles run with direct team, and blended LP + direct IRR/MOIC against a unified strategy. 

• Location: This role is full-time in Columbus, Ohio.   

• Experience/Background: 2 to 5 years of manager selection / capital allocation experience is ideal.  Bachelor’s degree in related field is highly preferred.  Interest and/or experience using advanced technologies and strong learning orientation.  

The hired associate must reside within 35 miles of the following location:

Columbus: One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus OH, 43215

Work schedule: 2-3 days in office, non-office days remote.

This role does not qualify for employer sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the STEM OPT extension program.

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Job Description Summary

As a senior member of the Nationwide Ventures team, you will help grow our portfolio of early-to-late stage companies shaping the future of insurance and financial services. Nationwide Ventures makes direct investments in startup companies and facilitates partnerships between startups and Nationwide’s business units to help protect and improve the financial security of Nationwide’s customers.

In this role, you will be responsible for sourcing, evaluating and investing in early-to-late stage companies that have the potential for venture-quality returns and are of strategic importance to Nationwide. The work includes financial and strategic analysis of prospective investments and portfolio companies, sourcing new opportunities, and providing guidance to portfolio companies as needed. You will also provide insights to Nationwide’s business unit partners into emerging technologies, markets, and new business models that are of strategic importance to Nationwide's future business models and operations.al and Open Innovation

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Works as an integral member of Nationwide Ventures team in all aspects of venture capital investment process.

• Identifies investment prospects; reviews and analyzes business plans; performs business, financial, and industry due diligence on transactions; researches industries and competitors; and documents findings.

• Builds financial models and conducts sensitivity analyses on prospect and portfolio companies.

• Supports portfolio companies, including shepherding partnerships and pilots within Nationwide.

• Manages portfolio company reporting and review processes.

• Performs in-depth industry examinations and produces written research/analyses utilized by Nationwide Ventures and internal partners to support and promote investment decisions. This includes: screening and underwriting memos, white papers, blog posts, executive summaries, and marketing presentations.

• Identifies technological, business, and operational disruptions and develops offensive and defensive investment strategies to address them.

• Assists with development of Nationwide Ventures investment strategy, day-to-day operations, and reporting requirements.

• Interacts with venture capital firms and other external partners that assist with generating deal flow.

• Supports operational activities including internal business partner management, internal and external marketing efforts, and participates in conferences and other external events to promote Nationwide Ventures in the entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystem.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned..

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred, Master degree desired.

Experience: At least five years of work experience in a related field, i.e. venture capital, private equity, entrepreneurship, investment banking, management consulting, etc; experience in performing early stage company due diligence and producing strategic, highly analytical, and compelling deal screens and investment underwriting memorandums; operations and/or technical experience in the financial services or insurance industry sectors a plus.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Excellent solid understanding of venture capital evaluation processes, including opportunity screening, due diligence, cash-flow and valuation modeling, and portfolio management; knowledge of financial services, banking, or insurance industry is a plus. Outstanding financial, analytical, and quantitative skills and proficiency in spreadsheet modeling, including cash-flow analysis and investment valuation techniques. Superior strategic-thinking skills, combined with impeccable business judgment and the ability to challenge and question perceived norms. Experience building and maintaining relationships with senior executives and market/industry professionals. Interest in early stage companies, growth equity, and impact investing. Ability to work both independently and on a team under tight timeframes in a fast paced and constantly evolving environment. Passion for identifying promising high-margin, high-growth businesses. Excellent personal rapport and ability to engender trust and respect across Nationwide. Excellent communication, and strong business and creative writing skills.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional travel. Non-standard or extended work may be required based on project needs.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.

The national salary range for Sr Investment Professional - Venture Capital - 222291 : $116,000.00-$174,000.00

The expected starting salary range for Sr Investment Professional - Venture Capital - 222291 : $116,000.00-$174,000.00