Blue Meridian Partners is a pioneering philanthropic model for finding and funding scalable solutions to the problems that limit economic mobility and trap America’s young people and families in poverty.

We know solutions exist, but even the most promising strategies cannot reach far enough, fast enough without significant, long-term investment. We bring an innovative investor mindset backed by a decades-long track record to the pursuit of upward economic mobility for individuals and communities. By pooling resources, our Partners can unlock substantial philanthropic capital and invest effectively and efficiently.

Anchored by our tested and continuously improving, performance-based investing approach, Blue Meridian makes strategic, long-term investments across multiple portfolios aimed at boosting economic mobility from cradle to career. We support nationwide and place-based strategies to amplify impact across the country and within specific communities. We identify visionary social sector leaders who address key drivers of poverty and invest the flexible, upfront capital they need to dream bigger and exponentially expand their reach, influence, and impact.

We are constantly learning, exploring, and seeking out new collaborations in relentless pursuit of creating lasting impact at scale that can change the life trajectories of millions of young people and families in America. Blue Meridian is staffed by an experienced team of results-focused leaders, and we welcome other mission-driven champions to join us.

Position Type

Exempt

Location

New York City. Hybrid working arrangement allowed.

Primary Responsibilities

The Portfolio Lead oversees and manages, delegating and working with other team members where appropriate, activities that may include but are not limited to the following:

Lead Portfolio Strategy for Place-Based Initiatives

• Lead the development of Blue Meridian’s place-based investment strategy and business plans, and the continuing evolution of its investment practices. Stay abreast of trends that affect Blue Meridian and its investments.

• Lead the development of an outcomes framework and deliver strategic outcomes related to investments in place-based efforts and related catalytic supports investments.

• Lead refinement and continuous improvement of the place-based capital aggregation efforts in partnership with Investor Relations.

• Integrate policy considerations into portfolio strategy, including how places and states interact on policy and how public funding can be integrated to improve economic and social mobility at the federal, state, and local levels.

• Serve as the primary communicator of portfolio strategy, investment practices, and outcomes to Blue Meridian’s partners community, clearly articulating the rationale for strategic choices, investment theses, and portfolio-level priorities.

• Capture ongoing learning from investments and broader trends to continuously inform and improve Blue Meridian’s and investee’s strategy and operations.

Lead Portfolio-Level Accountability

• Serve as the accountable leader for portfolio-level goals, ensuring that the portfolio as a whole is tracking toward its strategic and impact objectives. Set clear performance expectations, monitor progress across investees, and take ownership of portfolio-level outcomes.

• Hold ultimate accountability for team people and culture outcomes within the portfolio, including talent recruitment, development, engagement, team effectiveness, and a healthy, inclusive working environment. Model and reinforce Blue Meridian’s Ways of Leading across the portfolio team.

• Craft portfolio-level insights by synthesizing investee performance data, impact evidence, and field learning. Translate these insights into clear narratives for team members, internal leadership and external stakeholders, and propose strategic or operational changes to maximize portfolio impact.

• Manage and deepen the organization’s relationship with key strategic investors, maintaining an ongoing and appropriately detailed flow of information on portfolio investments, strategy, future opportunities, and budget. Build long-term understanding and buy-in through clear, connective communication that integrates the contributions of the Place Matters team.

• Drive internal communication within the Place Matters team and across other BMP teams to increase clarity on interdependencies and ability to succeed.

• Lead and oversee cross-functional collaboration essential to portfolio success, serving as the primary point of integration with Finance, Investor Relations, and Marketing to ensure aligned planning, reporting, and communications in support of portfolio goals.

• Serve as an external spokesperson/representative of Blue Meridian across multiple contexts, leading and navigating leader-to-leader relationships with the most senior public- and private-sector leaders, including governors, mayors, and CEOs, and assist as needed with fundraising, prospective Partner engagement, and other activities.

Develop and Lead Relationships with Investees

• Actively identify and assess a pipeline of new investment opportunities that meet Blue Meridian standards and advance portfolio objectives.

• Ensure investee leaders and their teams receive excellent relationship management and support from Blue Meridian. This includes coaching team members as well as directly serving as a trusted advisor to investee CEOs and boards by advising on strategy, scaling plans, and milestones; evaluation and evidence building; board development; fundraising; organizational design; and human capital and communications.

Lead Innovation Initiatives

To expand its work and enhance its competitiveness, Blue Meridian will develop from time to time “innovation initiatives.” These will usually be staffed on a part-time basis by Blue Meridian team members, depending on their skills and experience as well as their interests wherever possible.

A Portfolio Lead may lead or co-lead one or more innovation initiatives and oversee activities including:

• Conduct research and engaging in landscaping exercises to determine opportunities in a given field.

• Develop concepts, strategies and proposals for future areas of potential investment.

• Plan, manage, and evaluate initiatives.

• Provide guidance and direction to other team members.

Supervision

Perform direct people management duties including recruiting, coaching, developing, and providing oversight to staff including three Managing Directors and the Director of Operations.

Required Qualifications

• Portfolio Leads must believe in Blue Meridian’s mission and be driven by personal values that align closely with Blue Meridian’s core values.

• At least 15 years of professional experience, with a demonstrated track record of leadership within place-based partnerships, philanthropy, and/or government. Experience ideally spans the public and non-profit sector, and across silos that impact economic and social mobility (i.e. education, economic environment, built environment, public sector transformation)

• A deep understanding of the concepts and evidence base underlying economic and social mobility, with the demonstrated capability to leverage a variety of data to make evidence-based decisions and to apply established research to strategy and action. These capabilities may have been developed through a range of educational, professional, and lived pathways; no specific degree is required.

• Experience working at the intersection of policy and place, including an understanding of the role of federal and state policy in driving economic and social mobility and of how public funding can support and fit into the capital stack for place-based efforts.

• A track record of leading organizations or portfolios to innovative, measurable results — with demonstrated ability to set strategic direction, navigate complexity and ambiguity, and hold accountability for outcomes across diverse teams and stakeholders. Experience serving as a primary strategic voice to investors, funders, or board-level stakeholders — communicating with clarity and confidence on strategy, methodology, and performance.

• Strong skills in developing and managing external and internal relationships and partnerships, working directly with senior executives, boards of directors and investors, governors, mayors, and other senior public officials, leading teams, building and stewarding relationships, networks and agreements, and managing complex business associations.

• Proven experience building and leading high-performing teams, with accountability for people and culture outcomes including talent development, engagement, and inclusive team effectiveness. A visible and consistent model of values-aligned leadership.

• Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex performance and impact data across a portfolio of organizations, draw actionable insights, and translate those insights into clear strategic recommendations for senior and external audiences.

• Deep credibility in and knowledge of the place-based field, including existing relationships with key leaders and organizations working at the intersection of place, economic mobility, and systems change. Highly energetic, self-motivated, and entrepreneurial, able to balance a meticulous and highly rigorous professional approach with a flexible and empathetic responsiveness to the needs of others. While skilled at thinking and working independently and advocating own point of view, respects and solicits the contributions of others.

• Strategic understanding of AI applications relevant to the role, including experience guiding teams in responsible AI adoption, evaluating AI tool effectiveness, and ensuring appropriate use of AI technologies in professional contexts.

• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a professional and genial demeanor, and the ability to work with and lead people with different backgrounds and experiences

• Strong computer skills with extensive knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and the ability to master new software quickly. Experience with Salesforce and SharePoint is a plus.

• Willing to travel frequently.

At Blue Meridian, we value building a diverse, inclusive workplace. Even if your experience does not fully align with our preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply.

Hiring Salary

Blue Meridian Partners aims to provide a comprehensive and competitive total compensation package.

The hiring salary for this position is $417,000. In addition to the base salary, each member of Blue Meridian is eligible to receive a performance based variable incentive bonus.

Blue Meridian also provides generous benefits including:

• Employer contributions to a retirement savings plan

• Medical, dental and vision coverage with minimal employee contribution

• Life and disability insurance

• Paid time off including vacation/personal days, paid holidays, half-day summer Fridays, and week-long office closures in the summer and winter

• Internal and external professional development opportunities

• Home Office set-up allowance

• Tuition reimbursement

• Hybrid work arrangement