Portfolio Manager, Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator

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Salary Range

$68,000.00 - $120,500.00

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.

Job Posting Date

01/05/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Supervisor; Senior Associate (24)

Time Type

Part time

Duration Type

Staff Fixed Duration (Fixed Term)

Work Model

Hybrid

Location

101 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.