Innovation is at the core of CJ Group’s strategy for growth across its portfolio of businesses, including food, biotech, entertainment, and logistics. We truly believe that CJ America’s Open Innovation team is the tip of the spear in this front, relentlessly identifying and sourcing the most promising startup companies with which to partner, or in which to invest.
Reporting to the Director of Investment (*Head of Open Innovation Team), the Investment Manager will play a critical and highly visible role in establishing and developing relationships within the startup and venture capital communities, with the goal of identifying and sourcing investments and partnerships aligned with CJ Group’s priorities and needs.
Responsibilities:
- Monitor trends, themes, technologies, and innovations and synthesize holistic impact on CJ’s businesses as well as various industries including food tech, biotech, digital media, eCommerce, etc.
- Examine and assess economic and market trends, earning prospects, financial statements, and various other indicators and factors to determine appropriate investment strategies
- Research, analyze and evaluate investment and business development opportunities (including new startups) and prepare reports for internal business leaders and stakeholders
- Identify and develop relationships with relevant startup community stakeholders such as entrepreneurs and investors, and establish a solid pipeline of potential partnership and investment opportunities
- Participate in conducting investor company reviews including interviewing management and core personnel, reviewing business plans, business feasibility, marketability, product & services, financial status, management, corporate value, and conducting onsite visits
- Assist and manage the overall investment process including sourcing, structuring, negotiation, diligence, execution, and post-investment management
- Communicate in a manner that strongly coheres to CJ’s corporate culture when exploring potential strategic opportunities with portfolio companies to develop sound relationships with CJ Group, which involves close communication with various business units of CJ affiliates and understanding corporate strategies to find the right strategic fit
- Work collaboratively and persuasively across functions, teams, and business divisions to achieve objectives
- Create ad-hoc and routine documents both in English and Korean and closely communicate with various group affiliates in Korea on a regular basis
- Other Open Innovation-related responsibilities assigned from time to time
Skills and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, economics, or other relevant fields (MBA a plus)
- Minimum 4 years of experience in corporate venture investing, strategy consulting, investment banking, or corporate development
- Solid understanding of business, business models, financials, and early-stage investment deal structures
- Familiarity with food, media & entertainment, or biotechnology industries a plus
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
- Excellent communication skills and strong attention to detail
- Bilingual strongly preferred (English & Korean both professional level)
The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in New York is $130K to $150K. The final salary offered to a successful candidate will be subject to several factors that may include but are not limited to the type and length of the candidate’s experience within the job; type and length of experience within the specific industry; educational background; and the location of employment. This salary range may not reflect the pay scale for employees who work in other states.
[NOTICE: Fraudulent Recruitment Offers]
Recruitment fraud is on the rise and affecting a number of companies, including CJ America and its affiliates. What is recruitment fraud? It is a sophisticated scam that offers fake job opportunities to job seekers. It has been brought to our attention that fake/scam job offers have been circulated by certain individuals or organizations claiming to represent CJ America, its affiliates, partners, and/or brands. These scammers may try to obtain financial information, payment for job offers, or other personal information through various methods such as email, text message, or social media.
In order to identify recruitment fraud, please note that CJ America and its affiliates:
- NEVER conduct phone interviews via WhatsApp or other direct messaging platforms
- NEVER sends job offers from free email services such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, Zoho, etc.
- NEVER requests payment, fees, reimbursement, or other monetary compensation from prospective candidates for employment
- NEVER requests that prospective candidates purchase their own equipment or tools
- ONLY responds from an official cj.net email address
- ALWAYS makes direct offers of employment and not through third parties
CJ America is not responsible for any fraudulent offers. If a suspicious offer or contact has been received, we ask that you contact us via the CJ America website – https://cjamerica.com/careers/. We cooperate with all relevant law enforcement agencies to take appropriate action as necessary. You may also contact the FTC or the FBI to report recruitment fraud directly.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
CJ is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected category under the state and federal law.
