Proofing Station seeks an Investment Manager to join our growing team. The role is a crucial hire to expand our organization’s capacity and to meet the financial needs of highly impactful food and agricultural enterprises in the midwest. We are looking for a unique and seasoned investment professional who has the skills to analyze and execute transactions, alongside a deep commitment to Proofing Station’s mission, plus the creativity to imagine new solutions to serve underserved, early and mid-staged enterprises in the food system.

Position Overview

The Investment Manager will be responsible for leading the key investment activities of the fund. The position will be a high-responsibility role, working closely with Proofing Station’s Executive Director and Investment Committee to lead and manage each step in the deal flow process, including screening, analyzing, executing, and monitoring investment opportunities with an emphasis on relationship management and customer service along the way. The Investment Manager will be exposed to and recommend the deployment of a full array of integrated capital products and strategies to meet the fund’s impact and financial goals, including debt, equity, credit enhancement, and some targeted grants.

Key Responsibilities:

Investment Strategy, Deal Flow, and Fund Activities:

• Implement Proofing Station’s mission-aligned investing strategy and lead the overall investment activities of the fund, including: impact assessment, intake, screening, financial and commercial diligence, deal structuring, financial modeling, execution, and monitoring.
• Proactively evaluate new investment opportunities including screening for mission alignment, analyzing the competitive landscape, conducting impact and financial due diligence, and determining the value and optimal structure under various finance and operating scenarios.
• Lead all aspects of due diligence and perform rigorous analysis such as financial modeling, analyzing budgets, financial and operational risk assessments, testing assumptions, and evaluating deal specific sensitivity models.
• Partner with external counsel to structure and negotiate investment financial and legal terms.
• Manage, implement, and organize all fund operations systems and processes, including software, platforms, files, and tools.
• Ensure all activities are in compliance with applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures, and support the Investment Committee in developing and updating fund investment policies.
• Stay informed about trends and risks in the Midwest food system, and synthesize and summarize complex information in the industry related to Proofing Station’s impact areas.

Relationship Management and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Present opportunities and deals, including writing high-quality screening and investment memos and supporting materials for Investment Committee (IC) consideration and approval.
  Interact and collaborate with various stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, farm and food business owners, lenders/funders/investors, Board and IC members, and industry experts.
• Serve as the consistent face of Proofing Station for all interested applicants, proactively and respectfully managing the relationship from the initial point of contact through to a decision-point (whether that is a decline or through execution and monitoring).
• Provide consistent communication, customer service, and feedback to applicants throughout.
• Strategically expand Proofing Station’s pipeline to expand Proofing Station’s reach to interested and strongly aligned applicants across the Midwest.

Portfolio Services and Reporting:

• Analyze and track performance and the individual enterprise and portfolio levels, including synthesizing financial models, impact dashboards, and presentations.
• Assist in preparing quarterly financial reports and annual impact measurement reports for internal and external stakeholders to communicate the impact of our investments.
• Support the development and deployment of targeted technical assistance offerings or other resources/services to provide to our network of portfolio enterprises.

Required Qualifications:

While we recognize that experience and expertise come in many forms, below are the qualifications that are required for this role and that we anticipate will be needed for a candidate to be successful in achieving the duties and goals of this position:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; MBA or relevant graduate degree preferred.
• 5+ years of lending or investment experience in impact investing, banking, or CDFI lending.
• First-hand experience with lead sourcing, due diligence, underwriting, negotiating, and closing/deal execution.
• Advanced financial, mathematical, accounting, and financial modeling skills.
• Fluent communicator, with the ability to present complex qualitative and quantitative information in various forms (written memos, decks, presentations) that can drive collaboration and decision-making.
• Highly motivated, team-player with the ability to work independently and collaboratively, self-managing individual workstreams and timelines while leveraging external team expertise.
• Detail-oriented with attention to deadlines and strong project management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

While not required, an ideal candidate would also possess the following qualifications or characteristics that would help them further align with Proofing Station’s mission and values:

• Transaction experience with small businesses, farmers, food businesses, underserved borrowers, or other communities who lack access to traditional finance.
• Familiarity with the food and agriculture sector, particularly in the Midwest region.
• Prior transactional experience with philanthropic and public finance institutions, or programs related to community development finance or agricultural finance.
• Track record of structuring intricate, multi-lender deals that align with investee needs while promoting measurable impact criteria.

Location:

Candidates must reside in Proofing Station’s geographic region of the Upper Midwest (MN, WI, IA, IL, MI, IN). Currently, the core team is based in Chicago and occasional travel will be expected to Chicago and throughout the Upper Midwest for deal related activities.

Compensation and benefits:
The salary range for this position is $75,000-$100,000, based on candidate experience. The position is full-time and has the flexibility to operate remotely within the Midwest. Proofing Station offers an array of benefits for full-time employees, including contributions towards health insurance premiums, retirement matching, generous PTO and holiday closures, professional development, and parental leave. Our team values purpose, mission-alignment, integrity, flexibility, collaboration, and creativity.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and a brief statement outlining your interest in Proofing Station to info@proofingstation.org with the subject line “Investment Manager Application.” Applications are strongly encouraged by August 15, 2025.

About Proofing Station

Launched in 2023, Proofing Station is an Illinois 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation focused on increasing access to capital for entities that support the Midwest regional food and agriculture supply chain. Proofing Station supports enduring funding gaps for food and agriculture entities, which have historically been underserved and marginalized, and offers financial products and technical assistance that support these entities while advancing ecological sustainability, social and racial equity, and economic resilience.

The name “Proofing Station” draws from baking, where the process of allowing dough to rest and rise is called proofing and the proofing station is a dedicated place where that magic happens. Similarly, we think of Proofing Station as a place for food businesses to grow, and where the necessary ingredients can interact to make something new and impactful.