Vice President, Investments – Agriculture

Arena Investors, LP (“Arena”) is a global investment firm and merchant capital provider that seeks to generate attractive, risk-adjusted and uncorrelated returns by investing in a highly diversified portfolio across the entire credit spectrum in areas where conventional sources of capital are scarce.

Arena is seeking to expand its investment team through the addition of a Vice President focused on the agriculture sectors to join its Corporate Private Credit group. Strong analytical and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to work well with limited supervision are of critical importance. In addition, the ideal candidate will have superior communication skills and be comfortable meeting demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment. This position presents candidates with a unique opportunity to join a growing group that offers significant exposure to all phases of the investment process. The Vice President will actively market, source and develop new relationships and source transactions from intermediaries, sponsors, origination partners and directly with borrowers. The Vice President will also provide support for the sourcing, underwriting and credit analysis of potential new private credit investments as well as opportunities involving leveraged loans, high yield bonds, stressed and distressed credit, and other long and short credit investments specifically involving assets and issuers in the natural resources sectors.  In addition, the Vice President will assist in deal closings and be involved in post-closing portfolio management and investment monitoring. This position will report to the Managing Director of Natural Resources.

Responsibilities:

• Generate investment opportunities and present recommendations to investment committee
• Research and evaluate new deal opportunities.
• Build and update financial models and prepare written investment memos with detailed asset reviews.
• Monitor performance of existing investments.
• Maintain frequent communications with management team executives, engineering consultants, deal attorneys, commercial and investment banking professionals, buy and sell-side analysts, hedging counterparties, and various investment professionals.
• Participate in the transaction closing process.
• Assume transaction post-closing responsibilities.
• Coordinate with internal functions including Asset Management and Operations.

Qualifications:

The individual will have demonstrated an ability to work in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment with an ability to think broadly about the business, incorporating continual improvement of processes and procedures with a goal of excellence while focusing on accuracy and efficiency.

• Minimum of five to seven years of experience as an analyst or associate with a top investment firm, investment bank, global commodity trading firm, institutional investment manager or similar organization, which might include experience in private equity, leveraged finance, merchant banking, buy-side M&A and/or principal investing experience.
• Preference given to candidates with previous experience in the agriculture, grains, farmland and land development sectors.
• Strong interest in the natural resources industries with an inquisitive mindset to understand the key value drivers for transactions and transaction metrics.
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree required; Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credentials strongly preferred.
• Team player with intellectual curiosity, a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, an innovative bent and persistent attention to detail. Self-motivated and driven; entrepreneurial with ability to work effectively in a collegial, fast moving, demanding, and dynamic environment. 
• Ability to analyze financial statements, reserve reports, investment risks, corporate structures, business quality, competitive positioning, and valuation.
• Skilled at evaluating complex credit documentation including indentures and credit agreements.
• Advanced MS Excel modeling skills and proficient in Bloomberg and Capital IQ.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills Impeccable integrity and trustworthiness.
• Strong attention to detail.