Blue Forest
Location
Remote | Canada
Job description
Location: Remote; preference for Western US
Reports to: Director of Investments
Salary: $68k-$80k
Position Type: FTE
Travel: Approximately 10-20%; tailored to project responsibilities
About Blue Forest
Blue Forest is a conservation finance non-profit whose mission is to accelerate the pace and scale of ecological restoration. Since 2018, Blue Forest has managed investor capital through its flagship financial product, the Forest Resilience Bond (FRB), which deploys private capital to finance forest restoration projects on private and public lands to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. More recently, Blue Forest has also established Blue Forest Asset Management (BFAM), an investment management platform connecting investors to compelling, mission-aligned opportunities in a broader set of asset classes beyond FRB projects, such as private equity and private credit investments.
Blue Forest is an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, foresters, finance and communications professionals. We are harnessing financial innovation and building partnerships with investors, non-profits, private companies, and the public sector to design sustainable solutions to systemic climate resilience challenges faced by vulnerable communities and ecosystems. As we grow and develop new financial solutions to pressing environmental problems, we are committed to promoting social equity and amplifying historically excluded voices in the burgeoning field of conservation finance.
Position Summary
The Investment Analyst/Associate performs financial analysis, market research and reporting on investment opportunities to support Blue Forest Asset Management’s investment activities. This role requires attention to detail, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to work independently on multiple projects simultaneously. Workstreams include research, financial modeling, and qualitative and quantitative analytical support across various areas such as private markets investments, portfolio and asset management, and impact and investor reporting. The primary goals of this position at Blue Forest include: (1) evaluate investment opportunities for BFAM and growth opportunities for Blue Forest broadly, and (2) contribute to a reputation of collaboration, diligence, and top-notch analysis on the fast-growing Investment team at Blue Forest.
Qualifications
Blue Forest will prioritize the following qualifications in the hiring process; however, we only expect candidates to fulfill some criteria and encourage all interested candidates to apply.
Private equity, private credit, structured finance, or project finance;
Forest products, bioenergy/biofuels, or other forestry- and natural-resource adjacent sectors
Robust financial modeling and Excel skills are a must!
Experience with investment transactions, including sourcing, due diligence, modeling, and closing
Willingness and ability to travel throughout California and the Western US, including in rural and hard-to-reach areas
Clear written and verbal communication
Exposure to fixed-income investments and/or forestry and climate finance is a plus
Demonstrated interest in and commitment to environmental conservation and climate resilience
BENEFITS
100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision coverage; subsidized coverage for dependents
Access to a 401k retirement plan with a 4% employer match
Starting 3 weeks paid vacation and 17 paid holidays; paid sick leave and volunteer time
3 months of paid family leave
Employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance
Access to Dependent Care FSA
Public Lands Exploration stipend (reimbursements for visits to National Forests, county parks, etc.)
Monthly Home Office stipend or co-working space provided
Travel and partial dependant care costs provided for business travel
Additional stipends for health & wellness; home internet and cell service; and professional development
COVID VACCINE REQUIREMENT
All Blue Forest staff are required to be “fully vaccinated” against COVID-19, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines that term. Proof of full vaccination shall be a condition of employment and must be provided prior to starting work, except where prohibited by law. Blue Forest is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and the company will engage in the interactive process regarding reasonable accommodations for candidates who cannot be vaccinated due to a disability/medical condition; a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance; or a claimed exemption under applicable state law.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply to this position, submit a resume on recruitee. People from historically underrepresented populations and candidates with non-traditional career paths are especially encouraged to apply. The application period will end on March 15th, 2024.
If participating in the interview process would require you to incur additional expenses to participate, such as childcare, please let us know, and we are happy to reimburse for reasonable expenses incurred up to $30/hour for twice the length of each interview in which you participate. There will be space to request this reimbursement upon offer of an interview.
Blue Forest provides equal employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States.
Responsibilities & Duties
Investment Due Diligence and Financial Modeling (60%)
Perform detailed financial analysis of investment opportunities, including building and populating accurate and effective financial models in Microsoft Excel
Screen potential investments and write clear, concise memos to convey findings to internal audiences, including the Executive Team and Investment Committee
Support Investment team members in all aspects of due diligence, including market research, reviewing third-party consultant reports, legal document review, and financial due diligence broadly
Coordinate Blue Forest’s impact strategy for its investment, including impact quantification efforts
Ongoing Investment Management (30%)
Coordinate ongoing payments flows, such as loan drawdowns, interest payments, etc. (including with third-party service providers as relevant)
Monitor covenants and other operational elements of deals
Build and maintain financial models as inputs into the Blue Forest portfolio management function
Contribute to investor reports and other Blue Forest collateral
Financial Systems and Processes (10%)
Continuously improve BFAM Investment team policies, procedures, and playbooks
Execute key portions of business processes, including budgeting, fund portfolio management, and ongoing investment management
Create and maintain systems, trackers, and processes for the Finance and Investment teams
Explore new conservation finance products and opportunities, expanding the financial opportunity set for ecosystem restoration
Additional Information
Blue Forest is a remote company with staff distributed in some geographies where we can focus our impact and located across all four continental US time zones. This job is remote; however, due to travel around the Western United States for due diligence, there is a preference for a candidate based in the Western US. The Investment Analyst/Associate will be expected to be online during their respective standard working hours.
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