UFP Ventures Associate

Do you love thinking analytically? In this role, you can use your financial knowledge and analytical skills to ensure the financial health of UFP's companies.

Job Summary

The UFP Ventures Associate is responsible for helping Build the future at UFP through investing in organic and inorganic ventures. This includes strategy execution, market analysis, sourcing, deal flow, and working with portfolio companies.

Location: Can be located in Grand Rapids, St Louis, Detroit, Chicago, Minneapolis

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Investment Opportunity Sourcing
• Screen and evaluate investment opportunities
• Manage the opportunity pipeline to ensure growth objectives
• Oversee CRM tools utilization and administration
• Develop relationship networks (inbound and outbound)
• Investment Support and Research: Analyze industry and market trends for opportunity areas
• Due Diligence Support: Collaborate with Ventures team on due diligence process
• Portfolio Tracking and Insights: Collect, curate, and analyze financial data and KPIs across investments
• Ensure successful exit of ventures and return of UFP fund

Business Environment

Main characteristics:
This position must be an ambitious self-starter, strong team player, inspiring and collaborative with excellent
networking and relationship-building skills, gritty and resilient, demonstrating a fact-based structured approach
with high sense of urgency and ability to see the “big picture”.

Key dimensions:
Executing the ventures strategy for UFP from sourcing/cradle of new ventures to exit (external, M&A, or new
business line)

Key contacts:
Internal: Principals, Managing Director, Finance, Business units, Sales, Procurement, and Legal Teams.
External: Portfolio companies, Venture Capital Firms, Industry Experts, Consultants, Agencies, Contractors

Qualifications

• BA in Business, Bachelor of Science or Engineering or related technical science a plus
• English language fluency is mandatory. Other languages are desirable.
• A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in ventures, M&A, strategy, commercial, sales, business, innovation, or entrepreneur
• Technical, Commercial, and Sales expertise. Experience in Construction, Venture Investing, M&A, Marketing, Sales, Strategy is a plus
• Technical, Commercial, and Sales expertise. Experience in Construction, Venture Investing, M&A, Marketing, Sales, Strategy is a plus
• Innovation, Ventures, and Development Strategies. Understanding of the principles and application of Innovation & Development strategies and approaches (Gating, Design Thinking, Seed Launch Grow) a plus
• An ambitious self-starter, strong team player, inspiring and collaborative, with excellent networking and relationship skills, gritty and resilient, demonstrating a fact-based structured approach with high sense of urgency and ability to see "big picture"