Senior Associate, Investments & Fund Partnerships - Third Derivative

About this role

Job Description:
Senior Associate, Investments & Fund Partnerships

Third Derivative Overview
Third Derivative (D3), a program of RMI, accelerates climate innovation by bringing together startups, investors, corporations, and technical and market experts to help promising climate technologies reach commercial scale.
Through our global accelerator and broader ecosystem, D3 works with hundreds of climate technology companies across major emissions sectors and a network of leading venture investors, corporations, and other capital providers.
Access to the right type of capital at the right stage is one of the most important challenges facing climate technology companies. D3 is building a comprehensive approach to helping startups navigate that challenge—supporting companies in developing effective capital strategies, connecting them with relevant investors and funding partners, and developing new capital solutions where gaps exist.
We are seeking a Senior Associate to help drive this work.

Position Overview
The Senior Associate, Investments & Fund Partnerships will help D3 startups access the capital they need to grow and scale.
Working across D3's portfolio, the Senior Associate will identify companies' financing needs and help develop and deliver the right solutions. This may mean working directly with founders to develop their fundraising strategy and connecting them with relevant investors and capital providers; or, where existing sources of capital do not adequately meet portfolio needs, helping D3 design and launch new financing solutions, partnerships, or investment vehicles.
The role sits at the intersection of startup finance, investor engagement, and capital innovation. The Senior Associate will develop a strong understanding of both startup financing needs and capital-provider mandates and use those insights to connect the two—and to identify where new solutions are needed.

Key Responsibilities
Deliver capital solutions to D3 startups

• Work directly with D3 startups to understand their financing needs, readiness, and potential capital pathways.

• Advise founders on fundraising strategy, including the appropriate type and timing of capital, investor targeting, financing trade-offs, and preparation for investor conversations.

• Connect startups with relevant investors and capital providers across venture equity, strategic capital, debt, project finance, non-dilutive and catalytic capital, and other financing pathways.

• Help companies understand investor requirements and what needs to be true to successfully access different forms of capital.

• Track portfolio financing needs and outcomes to identify recurring challenges and opportunities for D3 to provide additional support.
Build and activate the capital ecosystem

• Develop and deepen relationships with investors and capital providers relevant to D3 startups.

• Build a strong understanding of investor mandates, investment criteria, and emerging areas of interest to enable targeted, high-quality introductions.

• Create opportunities for meaningful engagement between D3 startups and capital partners, including curated introductions, investor sessions, and other targeted programming.

• Use insights from investors and startups to identify gaps between the capital available in the market and the financing needs of climate technology companies.
Support D3’s investment and capital solutions strategy

• Support the deployment and management of D3’s existing investment vehicles and contribute an investor perspective to startup selection and portfolio strategy.

• Track portfolio financing needs and outcomes to identify recurring capital gaps and opportunities for D3 to provide additional support.

• Where relevant, research and evaluate potential new capital solutions, partnerships, or investment vehicles that respond to portfolio needs.

• Support the design, fundraising, structuring, and implementation of new capital initiatives as opportunities emerge.

• Turn company- and portfolio-level experience into insights, tools, and recommendations that strengthen D3’s broader approach to supporting startups’ capital needs.
Minimum Qualifications

• 4+ years of relevant professional experience in venture capital, impact investing, investment banking, private credit, project finance, startup finance, entrepreneurial support, or related field.

• Solid understanding of how early- and growth-stage companies raise and structure capital and how investors evaluate opportunities.

• Strong financial and analytical skills, with comfort interpreting company financials, capitalization structures, investment terms, and financing scenarios.

• Experience working directly with startups, investors, or other capital providers.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex financial concepts for different audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams independently and operate effectively in ambiguous or evolving environments.

• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively across entrepreneurs, investors, technical experts, and internal teams.

• A systems-oriented mindset: ability to identify patterns across individual situations and translate them into repeatable tools, processes, or solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience investing in or supporting climate technology companies.

• Experience across multiple forms of capital beyond traditional venture equity, such as venture debt, project finance, asset-backed finance, non-dilutive capital, or blended/catalytic finance.

• Experience designing or launching investment vehicles, financing products, or capital programs.

• Experience working with technically complex or capital-intensive companies.

• Familiarity with climate technology markets and the financing challenges associated with scaling new technologies.

• Existing relationships across the climate investment and financing…