Investment Associate
Climate Investment (CI)
Climate Investment (“CI”) is an independently managed specialist investor focused on accelerating the decarbonization of heavy emitting sectors. Operational since 2017, its team of investment and technical experts has built a portfolio of over 36 outstanding technology and business model innovations. Collectively, its portfolio delivered ~90 MT CO2e of cumulative greenhouse gas reduction (GHG) in the period 2019-2023. CI deploys two investment strategies: 1) Catalyst Fund: focused on early-stage, catalytic investments and 2) Decarbonization Acceleration Fund (DAF): focused on post-venture, growth-stage private equity investments.
Climate Investment was founded by member companies of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (“OGCI”) and its investor base has since been expanded to new industrial investors. Visit www.climateinvestment.com for more details.
JOB FUNCTION
The Investment Associate will join an experienced and entrepreneurial Investments Team that is making significant venture and growth-stage investments in companies with cost-effective technologies, solutions and business models for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-emitting sectors.
The Investment Associate will report directly to the Head of Growth, interact with the broader Investments Team daily, and will frequently interface with our Catalyst, Legal, Impact/Strategy, Commercialization, and Marketing Teams. Experience in this role will advance your financial, commercial, transactional, and technical understanding of key decarbonization solutions in the focus areas of methane and carbon dioxide emissions reduction, carbon capture, use & storage, energy efficiency and transportation.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Participate in and contribute to all aspects of the deal process with key responsibility for initial quantitative and qualitative analysis of deal pipeline.
- Perform detailed sector and thematic research and analysis to help increase the amount of quality deal flow.
- Lead market analysis, risk assessments, and competitive landscape overviews.
- Play an active role in due diligence, including financial modelling and scenario analysis to assist with deal execution and transaction management.
- Prepare investment returns analyses.
- Prepare materials for the investment committee and other internal meetings.
- Manage fundraising activities.
- Manage stakeholder engagement activities such as venture days and other events to help promote deal flow.
- Cooperate and coordinate with potential partners/co-investors.
- Work across various team functions e.g., legal and finance to support investments.
- Track portfolio reporting, valuation and process management and address any specific requests for action or approval.
- Liaise with finance with regards to reporting of portfolio and year-end valuations.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
- Relevant degree in finance, accounting, economics, engineering or sciences.
- Masters in a relevant field of study a plus but not required.
Additional Specialised Knowledge and Skills
- Demonstrated passion for, and knowledge of, climate and decarbonization issues.
EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
- Minimum 2 years’ investment banking experience.
- Relevant professional experience in energy, industry and/or finance which can include but not be limited to: private equity, venture capital, project finance, investment banking, or corporate finance, or management consulting.
- Strong performance track record in previous roles, ideally with global organisations.
- Excellent organization skills, including project management and prioritization.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to produce concise and accurate written reports and memos.
- Strong analytical and quantitative skills.
- Ability to demonstrate a strong mix of commercial, financial and technical experience and aptitude.
- Strong commercial sense and ability to identify key risks.
- Significant expertise creating and presenting analyses and presentations with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SPECIAL APTITUDES
- Self-motivated individual willing to go beyond immediate responsibilities.
- Ability to work independently and achieve deliverables according to deadlines.
- Highly adaptable, with strong interpersonal skills and able to deal with ambiguity and changing priorities.
- Excellent teamwork and networking skills, clear and effective communicator.
- Flexibility and efficiency to ensure the roles and responsibilities are met in a timely and effective manner.
- Team player with the ability to work effectively with a diverse team.
- Detail-oriented.
- Ability to judge and maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion on sensitive issues.
- Fluent in English; other languages a plus.
Special Aptitudes or Personality Attributes
- Demonstrated passion for, and knowledge of, climate and decarbonization issues.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Position is based in Houston, TX. A candidate with a network local to this area is preferred.
- Eligibility to live and work in the US is mandatory.
- We operate a hybrid working arrangement for all our office-based roles.
- Domestic and international travel will be required.
- Diverse office locations of CI may result in meetings/calls outside of “normal” business hours and a need to flex daily work schedule.