The Associate, Portfolio Company Management supports the Farmland Plus strategy by working closely with the Senior Director of Portfolio Company Management and portfolio company leadership teams to drive value creation across vertically integrated agricultural platforms.

The primary focus of this role is partnering with portfolio company executives to develop and execute strategic and operational initiatives that accelerate growth and enhance investment returns. The Associate supports Board engagement, provides insights and analytical materials to help portfolio managers communicate effectively with investors, and contributes to transaction execution and key strategic projects across the portfolio.

This is a highly visible role that requires strong analytical, strategic, and relationship management capabilities. The ideal candidate has developed a strong foundation in investment banking or consulting and has subsequently gained experience within an operating company or alongside operating partners in a private equity environment.

Essential Responsibilities

Portfolio Company Management & Value Creation

• Partner with portfolio company CEOs, CFOs, and leadership teams to develop and execute strategic plans and operational initiatives that drive growth and value creation.
• Support value creation efforts, including operational improvements, revenue growth, cost optimization, and capital allocation initiatives.
• Monitor the execution of value creation plans, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and identify opportunities to accelerate business performance.
• Support the integration of new investments into existing platforms, including strategic planning, operational onboarding, and alignment with MIMTA objectives.
• Serve as a trusted day-to-day partner to portfolio company leadership teams, helping resolve business challenges and advance strategic priorities.

Transaction & Project Execution

• Support portfolio company leadership teams in executing strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, mergers, financings, and major capital investments, and facilitate required stakeholder and Board approvals.
• Develop and refine analyses, presentations, and recommendations for portfolio company Boards, MIMTA investment committees and client/portfolio approval processes to support investment and strategic decision-making.
• Contribute to transaction due diligence efforts by providing operational, commercial, and strategic insights to inform investment decisions.
• Support post-approval execution and implementation efforts, helping to ensure projects are delivered on schedule and aligned with strategic objectives and value creation plans.

Board Engagement & Stakeholder Communication

• Prepare and coordinate materials for portfolio company Board meetings, strategic reviews, and executive leadership discussions.
• Support engagement with portfolio company Boards, including meeting coordination, governance activities, and follow-up on key decisions and action items.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration across MIMTA teams, including investment, asset management, portfolio management, operations, and finance, to ensure alignment on strategic priorities and execution.

Investor Reporting & Valuation Support

• Develop and maintain reporting dashboards and performance metrics that provide portfolio managers with clear insights into portfolio company performance.
• Ensure portfolio managers have timely, accurate, and actionable information to support investor communications and reporting requirements.
• Support semi-annual portfolio company valuation processes by serving as a liaison among portfolio companies, MIMTA's internal valuation team, and independent third-party valuation providers.
• Coordinate the collection, validation, and delivery of financial and operational information required for valuation activities.
• Partner with portfolio companies to enhance reporting processes, standardize data, and improve the quality, consistency, and accuracy of information.

Position Requirements:

• 5–7 years of progressive professional experience in private equity, investment banking, management consulting, corporate finance, corporate development, strategy, FP&A, or a related field.
• Experience in an operating company role (e.g., strategy, business development, corporate development, or FP&A) and/or experience supporting portfolio value creation initiatives within a private equity environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work directly with senior executives and drive strategic initiatives from concept through execution.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, including experience with financial modeling, business case development, performance analysis, and KPI tracking.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for Boards of Directors, investment committees, and other senior stakeholders.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High attention to detail and a proactive, results-oriented approach to problem solving.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in agriculture, agribusiness, food production, natural resources, or other asset-intensive industries.
• Exposure to mergers and acquisitions, debt or equity financings, capital deployment initiatives, or other complex strategic transactions.
• Familiarity with vertically integrated agricultural operations, permanent crops, farmland investing, or related real asset sectors.
• Experience developing reporting tools, dashboards, and performance analytics using platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar business intelligence tools.
• Experience working across multiple geographies and cultures, particularly within North America, South America, or Australia.
• MBA or other relevant advanced degree.
• Spanish language proficiency is beneficial but not required
  

When you join our team:

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact hr@manulife.com.

Referenced Salary Location

Salary range is expected to be between

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact hr@manulife.com for the salary range for your location.

Manulife/John Hancock offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.

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