Job Information
Wellington Deal Lead, Growth Lending in Chicago, Illinois
About Us
Wellington Management offers comprehensive investment management capabilities that span nearly all segments of the global capital markets. Our investment solutions, tailored to the unique return and risk objectives of institutional clients in more than 60 countries, draw on a robust body of proprietary research and a collaborative culture that encourages independent thought and healthy debate. As a private partnership, we believe our ownership structure fosters a long-term view that aligns our perspectives with those of our clients.
About the Role
As part of the continued expansion of our Private Investing capabilities, we are seeking to recruit a Deal Lead for our new Growth Lending Team. Wellington has been investing in private markets since 2003, and the Firm launched its first dedicated private capital fund in 2014. Today, the Private Investing Team manages over $8 billion in assets across four growth equity/venture funds and private placement debt separately managed accounts. It is the fastest growing investment group within Wellington. Growth Lending will be our second strategy in private credit, and this new fund will focus on lending to growth stage private companies across the life science/healthcare and technology sectors.
The Deal Lead, Growth Lending will be responsible for building our investment pipeline, including thematic research-based outbound origination, as well as helping to develop our external network by building relationships directly with co-investors, industry experts and private issuers with their respective sectors. In addition to generating deal flow, the ideal candidate will conduct in-depth underwriting of select deals, develop investment recommendations, and manage portfolio positions and relationships. We expect this individual to leverage his or her insight and experience during the investment process, while working closely with others across our investment platform, including our Private Equity and Industry Research teams.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS
The following essential skills are required for the role:
• Investment acumen and passion – The Deal Lead will have a successful track record of lending to growth and/or venture stage private companies, along with a deep understanding of their respective sectors. The ideal candidate will be passionate about lending and will emphasize a fundamental/thematic, research-oriented, bottom-up approach to underwriting. The Investment Professional will also have deep experience with financial markets and employ a fundamental, research oriented, bottom-up approach to lending to private companies and the ability to implement those ideas through a highly analytical and detailed approach.
• Superior collaboration and influencing skills – The successful candidate will enjoy being an individual contributor within a highly collaborative team and embrace the benefits of overlapping lines of idea generation. The Deal Lead will build strong trusting relationships externally with issuer management teams, industry contacts, clients and prospects as well as internally with colleagues. The ability to take risk and challenge investment views is critical, as is the humility to admit mistakes and a desire to learn from others; the Deal Lead must recognize the benefits of diverse perspectives. The ability to communicate (both verbally and in writing) action-oriented opinions clearly and with conviction and contribute to an open investment dialogue is important.
• Intellectual curiosity, capacity for differentiated thinking, and a growth mindset – The flexibility and openness to continue learning, evolving, and growing as an investor is important. The Deal Lead will have a global perspective and creative approach for analyzing growth lending transactions. Success in this role will open progression opportunities within the Growth Lending team and broader Wellington.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Additional qualifications and individual characteristics are likely to include:
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience on the buy- or sell-side within private credit or credit research. An understanding of the US growth/venture lending market is preferred;
• Established industry relationships and network to originate deal flow in relevant issuers;
• Strong academic credentials: an undergraduate degree in finance, economics or accounting is preferred;
• Strong bottom-up fundamental approach to research;
• Track record of developing, negotiating, and monitoring bespoke covenants;
• Strong work ethic and attention to detail;
• Ability to organize, manage, and prioritize time well;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and make decisions in the face of uncertainty;
• Independence of thought, an entrepreneurial nature, and a global perspective;
• Sound judgment, strong work ethic and highest personal and professional integrity; and
• Willingness to travel.
Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? That’s ok. If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply and welcome a chance to review your background. We are dedicated to building and maintaining a diversified workforce and considering a broad array of candidates with a variety of skill, workplace experiences, and backgrounds.
As an equal opportunity employer, Wellington Management ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to r ace, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, creed, national origin, age, ancestry, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, citizenship, marital status, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law . If you are a candidate with a disability, or are assisting a candidate with a disability, and require an accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, please email us at GMWTalentOperations@wellington.com .
At Wellington Management, our approach to compensation is designed to help us attract, inspire and retain the best talent in our industry. We strive to pay employees fairly and competitively across all levels and roles. Our approach to compensation considers all aspects of total compensation; all employees are eligible to receive salary, variable compensation, and benefits. The base salary range for this position is:
USD 100,000 - 225,000
This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered when making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets; role; skills and experience; certifications; and education. This range is an estimate, and further details on salary and total compensation aspects will be shared with candidates during the recruitment process.
Base salary is only one component of Wellington’s total compensation approach. Other rewards may include a discretionary Corporate Bonus and/ or Incentives, if eligible. In addition, we offer a comprehensive and high value benefit package to meet the unique needs of our employees and their families, and we are committed to fostering a flexible work environment that enables employees to thrive personally and professionally. Examples of our benefits include retirement plan, health and wellbeing, dental, vision, and pharmacy coverage, health savings account, flexible spending accounts and commuter program, employee assistance program, life and disability insurance, adoption assistance, back-up childcare, tuition/CFA reimbursement and paid time off (leave of absence, paid holidays, volunteer, sick and vacation time)
Tracing our history to 1928, Wellington Management is one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms. We serve as a trusted adviser to clients in over 60 countries, visit our website to see our assets under management. Our innovative investment solutions are built on the strength of proprietary, independent research and span nearly all segments of the global capital markets, including equity, fixed income, multi-asset, and alternative strategies. As a private partnership whose sole business is investment management, our long-term views and interests are aligned with those of our clients. We are committed to attracting a talented and diverse workforce, and to fostering an open, collaborative culture of inclusivity because we believe multiple perspectives lead to more informed investment and business decisions. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we welcome people with diverse life experiences, fresh ideas, and specialized subject-matter expertise.
For more information, please visit https://www.wellington.com/en/ (https://www.wellington.com/en/about-us)