Principal - Ventures (Porfolio)

Role Profile
This is a senior leadership role focused on maximisingoutcomes across a portfolio of high-growth, earlystagecompanies. Rather than sourcing newdeals,your primary responsibility will be to drive value post-investment-working closely with founders, boards, andinternal teams to unlockoperational scale, shape long-termstrategy, and guide companies through growth, capital raises, and ultimately exits.

You will be a key member of the Ventures team, bringing strategic insight andoperational rigour to portfolio management. This role offers theopportunityto shape how we accelerate companies towards meaningful, durable success.

Key Responsibilities
Portfolio Leadership
• Provide oversight and manage a diverse portfolio of venture-backedcompanies, with a focus on performance, resilience, and long-termvalue creation.
• Act as a strategic advisor to founders and executive teams, applyingcommercial judgment to navigate key inflection points.
• Operational & Strategic Execution
• Actively problem-solve with founders to drive improvements, removeexecution roadblocks and implement scalable processes.

Growth & Exit Preparation
• Partner with founders on exit strategy, M&A discussions, and readinessfor trade sale.

Fundraising & Capital Strategy
• Lead or support follow-on fundraising processes including investmentcase preparation, valuation, negotiation, and execution.
• Help shape scenario modelling to support board-level decisions.

Board Engagement
• Serve as a board observer, building strong relationships with founders,NEDs, and co-investors.
• Provide internal reporting and insight into portfolio health andperformance trends.

Internal Leadership
• Play a senior role in shaping the evolution of our portfolio supportfunction-improving tooling, frameworks, and operating models.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the overall capabilityof the Ventures team.

Essential Experience
• Strong track record in venture capital, growth equity, or in operationalleadership roles at high-growth startups or scale-ups.
• Demonstrated experience supporting founders and executive teamsacross growth, fundraising, and strategic pivots.
• Familiarity with board governance, venture economics, and exit pathways(M&A, secondary sales, trade exits).
• Excellent commercial and operational judgment, with the ability tobalance founder empathy with execution urgency.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills-able to influence,challenge, and support founders and stakeholders effectively.

Desirable Background
• Experience as a founder, COO, CFO, or strategic operator in aventure-backed business.
• Exposure to UK venture ecosystems and understanding of investordynamics at Seed through Series B+ stages.

Qualifications
• Degree-qualified (2:1 or above or equivalent experience) in business,finance, science, engineering, or technology.
• Additional qualifications (e.g., ACA, CFA, MBA) welcome butnot essential.

Why Join Us?
This is a senior, hands-on role in a fast-moving environment where you canhave a tangible impact on high-potential companies. You'll join asupportiveand experienced team with a clear focus: to help founders execute, grow, andraise capital more effectively.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early, should we receive sufficient applications.

Blackfinch is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice or any other perceived differences. A copy of our Equal Opportunities Policy is available upon request.

Location Gloucester/Hybrid Salary £90-120K DOE Application Deadline Tuesday, July 8, 2025 Job Summary

Role Profile
This is a senior leadership role focused on maximisingoutcomes across a portfolio of high-growth, earlystagecompanies. Rather than sourcing newdeals,your primary responsibility will be to drive value post-investment-working closely with founders, boards, andinternal teams to unlockoperational scale, shape long-termstrategy, and guide companies through growth, capital raises, and ultimately exits.

You will be a key member of the Ventures team, bringing strategic insight andoperational rigour to portfolio management. This role offers theopportunityto shape how we accelerate companies towards meaningful, durable success.

Key Responsibilities
Portfolio Leadership
• Provide oversight and manage a diverse portfolio of venture-backedcompanies, with a focus on performance, resilience, and long-termvalue creation.
• Act as a strategic advisor to founders and executive teams, applyingcommercial judgment to navigate key inflection points.
• Operational & Strategic Execution
• Actively problem-solve with founders to drive improvements, removeexecution roadblocks and implement scalable processes.

Growth & Exit Preparation
• Partner with founders on exit strategy, M&A discussions, and readinessfor trade sale.

Fundraising & Capital Strategy
• Lead or support follow-on fundraising processes including investmentcase preparation, valuation, negotiation, and execution.
• Help shape scenario modelling to support board-level decisions.

Board Engagement
• Serve as a board observer, building strong relationships with founders,NEDs, and co-investors.
• Provide internal reporting and insight into portfolio health andperformance trends.

Internal Leadership
• Play a senior role in shaping the evolution of our portfolio supportfunction-improving tooling, frameworks, and operating models.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the overall capabilityof the Ventures team.

Essential Experience
• Strong track record in venture capital, growth equity, or in operationalleadership roles at high-growth startups or scale-ups.
• Demonstrated experience supporting founders and executive teamsacross growth, fundraising, and strategic pivots.
• Familiarity with board governance, venture economics, and exit pathways(M&A, secondary sales, trade exits).
• Excellent commercial and operational judgment, with the ability tobalance founder empathy with execution urgency.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills-able to influence,challenge, and support founders and stakeholders effectively.

Desirable Background
• Experience as a founder, COO, CFO, or strategic operator in aventure-backed business.
• Exposure to UK venture ecosystems and understanding of investordynamics at Seed through Series B+ stages.

Qualifications
• Degree-qualified (2:1 or above or equivalent experience) in business,finance, science, engineering, or technology.
• Additional qualifications (e.g., ACA, CFA, MBA) welcome butnot essential.

Why Join Us?
This is a senior, hands-on role in a fast-moving environment where you canhave a tangible impact on high-potential companies. You'll join asupportiveand experienced team with a clear focus: to help founders execute, grow, andraise capital more effectively.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early, should we receive sufficient applications.

Blackfinch is an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religious practice or any other perceived differences. A copy of our Equal Opportunities Policy is available upon request.

Blackfinch Group is an award-winninginvestment specialist. Built on over 20years of investment track record, thename Blackfinch first came intobeing onthe anniversary of Darwin's birth, 12thFebruary 2013. A trusted provider, we workin partnership with advisers. Our businessescover tax-efficient solutions, early stageinvesting, managed portfolio services,property financing and renewable energy.We're proud to be entrusted with over£850 million in assets under management.