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.
Based in the HarbourVest Zurich office, the Associate will be part of the Global Private Wealth – Investor Relations Team, which is responsible for building new and broadening existing relationships with private wealth channels across the region.
This position supports wealth business development and fundraising across the DACH region and demands a high degree of collaboration with the global wealth team and colleagues based around the world.
The ideal candidate is someone who is:
- Has financial products distribution/sales experience for a large asset manager or platform, preferably with demonstrable knowledge of the private markets ecosystem.
- Possesses an understanding of diverse wealth management client profiles such as private banks, asset managers, fund distribution network platforms, multi-family offices, and independent financial advisors in the DACH region.
- Is fluent in English, with German and/or French language skills being a distinctive plus.
- Demonstrates strong analytical and quantitative abilities with careful attention to detail.
- Holds strong academic credentials and has a long-term career ambition to be client-facing, seeking quantitative measures of success.
What you will do:
- Support senior salespersons in the DACH Wealth team across all aspects of the fundraising cycle, including managing the pipeline of fundraising opportunities, client questionnaires, presentations, due diligence meetings, and closing investor capital commitments.
- Handle investor due diligence requests and coordinate investor queries.
- Manage client segmentation and competitor analysis to improve market penetration in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
- Conduct market research, competitor analysis, and track new product launches, new structures to better position HarbourVest’s products
- Collaborate closely with the Wealth Product Management Team, Client Services team, and other firm-wide functions to win new clients and service existing clients.
- Exhibit a strong degree of entrepreneurship and independence from an early stage.
What you bring:
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and balance multiple projects.
- Highly passionate and motivated (self-starter).
- Ability to “see the bigger picture” and rapidly get to the heart of issues.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
- A willingness to collaborate within a group setting, often while managing tight deadlines.
- Strong work ethic; genuine passion for excellence and constant improvement.
- Personal and professional integrity of the highest order.
Education Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree with strong academic background in finance, accounting, economics or a similar, relevant field.
- Master’s degree is a bonus.
- CFA or CAIA is a plus
Experience:
- Min 3 years of experience in asset management and/or private markets distribution fundraising or product specialist roles, primarily targeting the wholesale and wealth client segments.