Purpose Capital is seeking a Consultant to join its Impact Advisory practice. This role provides an opportunity to be part of a growing team at a leading impact investment advisory firm, to lead and support client projects and market-building initiatives.

About Purpose Capital

Purpose Capital is an impact investment advisory firm that mobilizes all forms of capital — financial, physical, human and social — to accelerate social progress. Founded in 2010, the firm has grown to become the leading impact investment advisory firm in Canada, with a presence in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. We currently work with clients across Canada, the US, and internationally on projects and mandates that cover a range of developed and emerging markets.

Through the Impact Advisory practice, Purpose Capital works with asset owners, asset managers and social finance intermediaries to design impact investment strategies, support the implementation and evolution of these approaches, and evaluate their impact. We currently advise some of the leading impact investors, foundations, financial institutions, and social finance intermediaries. We regularly publish sector-leading research, and contribute frequently to market-building activities through education, training and capacity building.

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly entrepreneurial individual to join our team, who will play an important role within the Impact Advisory practice. The Advisory practice has grown significantly in terms of the type, scope and ambition of the projects we undertake ourselves, and in partnership with our clients. This is an exciting opportunity to actively engage with, and influence, the emerging field of impact investing in the coming years.

Responsibilities will include:

• Managing and supporting client engagements across a range of research, advisory, measurement and market-building projects. You will work closely with clients to understand their needs and the problems they seek to solve, deliver on project objectives with excellence and diligence, and develop and nurture trusted relationships with clients and partners.
• Managing and supporting the work of analysts in executing client deliverables, while providing coaching and learning opportunities. You will be responsible for building and managing project work plans and budgets, allocating tasks to members of the team based on expertise, skills and availability, and consolidating feedback and suggestions.
• Strengthen the firm’s service offerings and market positioning to the impact investing, financial and philanthropic sectors across North America and globally. You will contribute to the development of new frameworks, tools, research and data that can be applied to support clients in designing, implementing and monitoring their impact investment strategies.
• Support the development and implementation of strategic priorities and collaborative projects, in conjunction with the Applied Innovation practice. You will have opportunities work with our team, partners and advisors to champion and lead new initiatives – focused on a specific issue, sector, client segment, or region – in this emerging market.

The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications:

• Strong commitment, knowledge and 3-5 years of relevant experience in impact investing, financial advisory, management consulting, social entrepreneurship or philanthropy (preferably across more than one of these areas)
• Proven capabilities to take on challenging and complex problems, and design and implement a clear process that demonstrates diligence, excellence, novelty and honesty
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including managing yourself within a fast-paced environment, and working with a range of clients and/or stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute on a diverse range of priorities and projects, multi-task, prioritize and adapt quickly to changing client needs under tight timelines
• Demonstrated analytical abilities, including comfort with quantitative and qualitative data, and ability to distill large amounts of information into clear and relevant trends and insights
• Exceptional written, communication, and presentation skills, including being able to succinctly convey relevant information to decision makers through a range of media
• Undergraduate degree required with strong academic credentials; Masters degree and relevant certifications (e.g. CFA, CFP, etc.) strongly preferred

The ideal candidate will also have the following personal and professional characteristics:

• Passionate about applying market-based principles to accelerate social progress
• High energy and engaging, with a good sense of humour
• Comfort in a fast-paced, evolving and self-directed working environment
• Independent work style, and a high level of comfort with cross-functional teams
• Ability to effectively and efficiently prioritize among competing demands
• Deep interest in educating, training and mentoring team members
• Humility and curiosity, with a deep commitment in continuous learning
• Ability to integrate well and quickly into a small, closely-knit team

Additional Details

• A full-time position based in Toronto, with occasional travel across Canada and the US.
• The anticipated start date is November 2015, with some flexibility if required.
• This role is a 12-month contract that may be renewed, or convert to a permanent position.
• Compensation is commensurate with experience, combining base salary and performance-based incentives, and includes health and dental coverage.

Application Process

• Email a CV, cover letter, and a 2-5 page writing sample (preferably related to this role), in a single document to info @ purposecap.com by 5pm EST on September 4th, 2015.
• Include “Consultant Application – Firstname Lastname” in the subject line of the email.
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview in late September.
• No phone calls please.