"Portfolio Manager, Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator"

Salary Range

$68,000.00 - $120,500.00

Posted

03-Jan-26

Location

New Haven, Connecticut

Overview

The Portfolio Manager will play a crucial role in launching, managing and expanding the portfolio of faculty ventures in the Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator. This accelerator aims to translate innovative Yale faculty technologies into market-ready solutions addressing critical planetary challenges, particularly those related to climate change. The role encompasses strategic oversight of awarded funds, facilitation of technology translation, building and maintaining relationships with key partners, and management of a student fellow program. Additionally, the position includes shared responsibilities in proposal development, operations management, and budget tracking to ensure the accelerator’s smooth functioning.

Project Guidance and Funding Oversight

• Administer and manage awarded funds, ensuring systematic tracking and reporting of project milestones, deliverables, and compliance.
• Support the Director in making investment and award decisions through comprehensive investment memos and market research.
• Conduct regular check-ins with funded projects, providing strategic guidance and addressing commercialization barriers.
• Analyze and evaluate potential investment opportunities, conducting due diligence on ventures and market research.
• Monitor the performance of portfolio projects, including financial health and operational milestones.

Relationship Management

• Cultivate relationships with founders and key stakeholders within Yale faculty labs and their portfolio companies.
• Liaise between the university’s lab-to-market accelerator program and external partners.
• Represent the program at university events to enhance visibility and attract new applicants.

Support for Technology Translation

• Assist in activities related to technology translation, including licensing and new venture formation.
• Help project teams develop commercialization strategies and prepare pitches for investors and corporate partners.

Student Fellow Program Management

• Recruit, train, and supervise a cohort of 6-8 students annually.
• Oversee students’ involvement in market research, technology assessment, and proposal preparation.

Reporting, Analysis and Administrative Support

• Generate regular performance reports for the portfolio, highlighting key metrics and areas for improvement.
• Prepare presentations and updates for stakeholders, including university leadership and advisory boards.
• Provide administrative support for fund operations, maintaining databases, and organizing meetings.

Shared Responsibilities with Director

Proposal Development and Solicitation

• Participate in the annual solicitation process to engage Yale faculty researchers.
• Mentor faculty innovators in proposal development to ensure scientific rigor, market viability, and impact potential.

Operations Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the accelerator.
• Handle logistical details of the accelerator’s activities and events.

Budget Tracking

• Monitor and track budget spending across various projects.
• Ensure financial accountability and transparency.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Bachelors degree in a relevant field such as engineering, environment sciences, or energy systems.
2. Minimum 4 years' experience in climate and clean technology commercialization, venture capital, startup incubation, or related entrepreneurial roles.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated leadership abilities in managing complex projects, teams, and stakeholder networks.
2. Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to evaluate the technical and market viability of early-stage innovations.
3. Proven track record in securing and managing funding for technology-driven initiatives.
4. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate complex ideas to diverse audiences.
5. Highly organized, with the capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously
6. A passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and translating academic discoveries into market solutions
7. Established relationships within the climate and clean tech investment community.
8. Familiarity with academic innovation environments and experience turning university research into commercial ventures.
9. Experience mentoring early-career professionals and graduate students.

Principal Responsibilities

Assists with managing the process leading to the creation and cultivation of a portfolio of commercial development projects identified and financially supported by the Fund. Plays a key role in ensuring projects remain within budget, scope, and schedule requirements. Develops tactical plans, including planning and scheduling to efficiently support teams through project. Gathers and analyzes information to prepare status reports. Ensures that assignment and scheduling of work follows internal policies and procedures as well as regulatory requirements. Evaluates current procedures and recommends changes to improve the efficiency of planning and scheduling of projects. Coordinates with the financial teams to track and record expenditures. Supports the request for proposal (RFP) process with the fund director. Collaborates with the business development team, the faculty innovation team and principal investigators to support development plans, document specific objectives for awarded projects Supports the fund director and principal investigators to prepare the presentation of final presentations for the t Advisory Board Supports contract development for outsourced and/or collaborative arrangements. Monitors timelines and financial resources to ensure alignment with funded project’s goals and objectives . Tracks and communicates barriers to technical progress of funded projects in order to minimize and/or eliminate risks Provides regular communications with key Accelerator stakeholders, including university administration, faculty, Accelerator advisory committee and other external audiences. Works with team in Yale Ventures, on the commercialization of selected projects as new ventures and/or licensing if possible. Other fund related duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in business or fund focused technology and 4 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.