Senior Associate, Strategic Partnerships & Corporate Development

Job Description Summary

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking.

In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences.

We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm.

HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer.

This position will be a hybrid work arrangement. You will receive 18 remote workdays per quarter to use at your discretion, subject to manager approval. For example, you may choose to work in the office 4 days per week and take one remote day weekly (typically 13 weeks per quarter), leaving 5 additional remote days to be used as needed.

The Senior Associate, Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Development will work directly with senior partnership leaders to source, evaluate, structure, and carry out high-impact partnerships that broaden HarbourVest's distribution reach and product platform. The role covers distribution alliances with wealth platforms and intermediaries, strategic product collaborations, and other transactions that advance the firm's growth agenda.

This position is ideal for a current or former investment banking analyst or associate, or a similar corporate development, transaction advisory, or buy-side professional. The role offers the chance to apply transaction skills within a top private markets platform. It includes direct interaction with senior leaders and significant responsibility for complex deals from origination through closing.

Key Responsibilities:

Deal Execution

• Own workstreams across partnership opportunities, from initial sizing and commercial diligence through negotiation, structuring, and onboarding
• Build financial models, returns analyses, and economic sensitivities to evaluate proposed partnership structures
• Prepare executive memos and decision-grade materials for senior leadership and the firm's investment and partnership committees
• Partner with Legal on term sheet and definitive agreement negotiation

Strategic Analysis

• Develop investment theses on prospective partners, distribution channels, and product opportunities
• Benchmark competitor activity, industry trends, and emerging partnership models across the alternatives landscape
• Convert market insights into actionable recommendations for senior leadership

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Drive cross-functional working groups across Product, Marketing, Sales, Legal, Client Operations, and Investor Relations to move opportunities to close
• Manage partner relationships post-close, tracking performance against agreed economics and deliverables

Performance & Reporting

• Develop benchmark frameworks, dashboards, and analyses to measure partnership impact and economic contribution
• Maintain a disciplined pipeline and execution tracker in internal systems (Salesforce)

The Ideal Candidate Is:

• A strong analytical problem solver who can move comfortably between modeling, memo-writing, and partner engagement
• A self-starter who operates independently while partnering closely with senior leaders
• Highly organized with strong follow-through in a fast-paced, deal driven environment
• Genuinely interested in private markets, alternative investments, and platform growth

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required
• 2–6 years of experience in investment banking, corporate development, transaction advisory, management consulting, or strategic partnerships/business development at a financial services company
• Strong financial modeling, structuring, and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including presenting to senior audiences
• Experience working cross-functionally on complex transactions or initiatives
• Prior experience in financial services, alternative investments, or professional services preferred

Base Salary Range

$120,000.00 - $130,000.00

This USD base salary range represents only one component of total compensation for this role and is provided in accordance with local requirements. This role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, which is determined based on individual and overall firm performance. In addition to salary and bonus, total compensation may include eligibility for long-term reward programs and a comprehensive total rewards package that may include retirement, health, insurance, paid time off, and wellness programs. Our total rewards offerings are influenced by several business factors, and eligibility for certain components will vary by position and geography. Please note the posted ranges do not apply outside the U.S. and should not be converted to other currencies as a proxy for compensation in other countries.