Job description
Strada Education Foundation has an immediate opening on our Strategic Investments team for a full-time Summer Associate for a paid 10-week internship (with the possibility of extension). Best suited for mission-driven MBA candidates seeking a career in impact investing, venture capital, or private equity, this role will support Strada’s investment efforts by screening and analyzing mission-aligned investment opportunities in the areas of postsecondary education and workforce development. This role will also perform market maps and develop tools and processes for collecting relevant market insights to inform Strada’s work.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Strada Education Foundation is a nonprofit social impact organization dedicated to improving lives by strengthening the connections between education and economic opportunity. We focus on helping individuals, particularly those facing the greatest barriers, navigate postsecondary education pathways that lead to good jobs.
Our work spans research, philanthropy, strategic investments, and public policy, with a sharp focus on five mission-aligned areas: clear outcomes, quality coaching, affordability, work-based learning, and employer alignment. We partner with education and training providers, nonprofits, employers, policymakers, and innovators to support more equitable, effective education-to-career pathways.
WHY IS THIS POSITION OPEN?
Strada’s Strategic Investments team invests in mission-aligned early-stage companies and fund managers. Our portfolio of direct minority investments spans edtech, workforce tech, HR tech, future of work, and economic mobility.
We’re looking for a Summer Associate to be an integral part of our distributed team of four, supporting on both deploying capital, analyzing the ecosystem and synthesizing market insights.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Source, screen, and conduct due diligence on venture capital investment opportunities.
- Perform financial analysis and build financial models to assess potential investments, including analyzing scenarios with different capital structures and operating performance of prospective transactions.
- Develop written memos and presentation materials summarizing investment perspectives for the investment committee.
- Conduct industry research to develop and test investment theses.
- Develop tools and processes to collect, distill and distribute relevant market insights.
- Learn to use Affinity CRM and manage deal flow within the platform.
- Support the overall investment process from initial lead identification through execution and monitoring.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEED. MUST-HAVE
- Currently enrolled in a top-tier MBA program or recently graduated (within the past 6 months).
- 3–5 years of prior professional experience in investment banking, private equity, management consulting, or a related field with strong analytical rigor.
- Demonstrated interest or experience in impact investing, education, workforce development, or related social impact sectors.
- Strong financial modeling and investment analysis skills, including proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
- Professional oral and written communication skills with an ability to synthesize large amounts of data and information in a clear and concise manner.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects independently in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
- A bias towards organization, details and maintaining systems that track workflow.
- Demonstrated ability to integrate generative AI into workflow for market analysis, presentation development, or due diligence.
- Familiarity with impact measurement frameworks (e.g., IRIS+, GIIRS, IMP).
- Passion for using capital as a tool for social change, particularly in advancing equitable access to education and career opportunities.
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN US
- At Strada, you’ll be part of a dedicated team committed to transforming the education-to-employment ecosystem in the U.S. You’ll help us invest in scalable solutions that further our mission and teach us about what’s working in the ecosystem.
ADDITIONALLY YOU WILL GAIN
- Significant at-bat deal experience across multiple stages of the investment process.
- Exposure to a wide variety of direct investment opportunities.
- Hands-on experience in financial analysis, due diligence, and portfolio management.
- Opportunity to build a professional network through interactions with leading industry professionals.
- Experience using industry-standard tools such as Affinity CRM.
- Insight into impact investing strategies and the intersection of education, workforce development, and capital markets.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
- Candidates based anywhere in the U.S. are welcome to apply. Preference given to candidates.
- Flexible start date; early-mid June preferred.
- Full-time schedule required (40 hours per week) with potential to extend to a part-time capacity during the school year.
Compensation: $25 per hour
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to Strada’s organizational vibrancy, employee experience, and mission. Strada is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workplace-certified by Diversity for Social Impact, a strategic professional and organization development company dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion to drive social impact worldwide. We strongly encourage applicants from people of color/the global majority, immigrant, bilingual, and bicultural individuals; people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ and gender nonconforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. We believe every member on the team enriches our workplace by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver critical insights and solutions.
