Americas Ventures Regional Lead

Joining Arup

Arup’s purpose, shared values, and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world.

The Americas Ventures Regional Lead supports the growth of commercial opportunities that provide Arup with the potential for outsize profit margins beyond the regular consulting business. This includes equity investments into external companies, royalty-based compensation, growth and scaling of Arup's intellectual property, and the legal structures and strategies to support this work.

The Opportunity

Entrepreneurial and curious venture builder to lead early-stage investments and company incubation. Work with senior Arup leadership, along with external entrepreneurs and investors, to identify, support and launch a series of new, strategically relevant, high potential technology businesses.

This person must possess a passion for building new businesses, along with the curiosity, vision, optimism, empathy, and rigorous strategic mindset required to assess, shape, and support emerging startups. Experience operating within large enterprises to drive meaningful strategies is critical. Previous experience as a founder and/or early stage startup investor or early employee would be highly beneficial.

This team member is humble, genuine, strategic, articulate, and professional. They possess the requisite technical understanding and versatility to nimbly leap from the nuances of competitive landscape to deep technical topics, with the fearlessness to engage comfortably with the most senior leaders or leading startups, investment firms, or Arup. 

• Work with the Regional and Global Ventures leadership to develop and deliver the Ventures strategy in the region and more widely
• Work with the Ventures team, Arup leadership, and startup ecosystem to identify the most promising new opportunities and problem statements to seed new venture explorations and support newly launched tech ventures.
• Partner effectively with a variety of internal and external collaborators to steer and shape nascent business ventures to contribute to our financial and strategic goals
• Conduct the research, develop the strategic pitch and articulate the shape of a new venture, partnership or other structure to help Arup to engage deeply with the startup ecosystem.
• Work with startups to help develop their business and products, considering the technical hurdles of integrating into the built environment.
• Partner across the Arup Ventures and Corporate Services teams, as well as external advisors, to develop the best deal, contract or term agreement to both help Arup and your investments succeed.
• Oversee the Ventures Scouts program, which represents a cohort of promising junior staff in each of our region's major offices
• Ability to adeptly manage a high-performing and diverse team supporting Arup’s legacy of innovation

• At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective – in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives and ideas.  
• You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning – to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

Is this role right for you?

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree in Business Administration or Engineering, or Juris Doctor preferred
• At least 10 years of professional experience in a relevant field
• Strategic Leadership: Develop strong relationships with Arup business leaders. Understand their strategic priorities, challenges and needs and serve as a subject matter expert and thought leader. Surface high potential investment and incubation opportunities.
• Diligence & Steering: Leverage your understanding of technology, business models, and emerging trends to evaluate potential investments and direct startups in directions that would create the most shared value.
• Investing: Lead Ventures team in order to identify, vet, and execute venture investment transactions. Establish a feeder to produce promising new internal ventures in which Arup should invest.
• Community Building: Engage with the startup ecosystem to build mutually beneficial relationships with promising startups and investors. Cultivate and support the entrepreneurial community around Arup.
• Significant experience as an investor, entrepreneur, or leader of strategic partnerships in one or more of the following domains: A/E/C, climate tech, energy, mobility
• Passion for working with startups and patience for working with large enterprises
• Hunger to learn about and understand complex technology and business problems, and experience developing and evaluating new business strategies
• Fluency with investment structures, concepts, and terminology
• Commitment to helping make new things happen outside of business as usual
• Please note that all applicants must apply directly via the job portal. If this role is not quite what you are looking for, but you are interested in other opportunities for a future with purpose, please sign up to our Talent Community where you will be kept up to date with roles suitable for you to shape a better world.

What we offer you

At Arup, we care about each member’s success, so we can grow together. 

Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognizes the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive – through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do.  

We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup’s legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts.  

Benefits at Work - At Arup, we have a comprehensive and valuable benefits program that works for our employees and their families while keeping costs low. These benefits provide health and welfare security for you as well as paid time off for rest and renewal. As a member of Arup, everyone shares in our success through a global profit share scheme (payments are dependent on the firm’s financial performance). Our Global Profit Share Plan (paid bi-annually) provides an opportunity for you to share in the success of the Firm. As a valued employee of Arup, you can also choose to participate in our 401(k) plan with up to 10% company match to help you save for your future 

Flexible Working - We believe that flexible arrangements create a more inclusive way of working that supports our diversity and the wellbeing of our people. Options for alternative schedules and the ability to work outside of the office for a portion of your workweek are available 

New York Hiring Range – The good faith base salary hiring range for this job if performed in New York is $175,000 to $190,000 per year. This range is commensurate with experience, educational background, and skill level. Benefits are not included in the base salary. Please note hiring ranges for candidates performing work outside of New York will differ.

Different People, Shared Values

Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas – this drives our excellence.  

Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion – we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.  

Our Application Process

We will be reviewing our candidates for this position on a rolling basis. Once you have applied you will be evaluated and potentially moved on to the next round, at which point a member of the talent resourcing team will reach out to you directly. 

Arup is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, spouse of a protected veteran, or disability. 

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