As a Ventures Manager, you will lead relationships with start-ups, venture capital firms, and accelerators to identify and negotiate investments that support business growth. Collaborating with internal teams, you’ll provide expert guidance, deliver innovative solutions, and communicate insights to senior leaders.
You’ll also oversee investment performance, lead strategic projects, and foster professional development within your team. If you’re passionate about shaping the future through innovation and strategic partnerships, this role offers a dynamic and impactful opportunity.
Responsibilities
· Provide effective leadership to form new, and nurture existing, relationships with start-up companies, venture capital firms, and accelerators to gain insights on potential targets for investment
· Effectively collaborate with the Innovation Group Scouting Team to follow up on potential investments
· Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to consult with State Farm business areas to deliver relevant solutions and external connections to support their incremental improvement efforts
· Identifies and communicates challenges and abstract ideas clearly and independently, including presenting to internal stakeholders, end users, public audiences, and senior executives
· Supports the Executive Leadership Team in communicating strategies, priorities and monitoring progress towards Enterprise/Department goals
· Negotiate investments in start-up companies
· Monitor the Ventures Office investments on Performance, Financial Health, Strategy Development, Business Acumen and marketplace issues
· May serve on industry committees and boards of external organizations
· Promotes the training, personal growth, professional development, succession planning and effectiveness of direct reports within area of responsibility.
· Provides leadership and support for complex, strategic, and department and companywide related projects, while also seeking ways to find efficiencies in team processes.
· Administer cost effective management of activities
Qualifications
· Relationship Building & Networking – Ability to foster strong connections with venture capital firms, startups, accelerators, universities, and industry organizations.
· Ecosystem Development – Experience in building company networks, benchmarking best practices, and forming strategic partnerships.
· Strategic Communication – Skilled in developing and executing communication strategies for key initiatives.
· Industry & Technology Awareness – Knowledge of industry trends, architecture, and technology solutions to align with enterprise strategies.
· Business Acumen & Market Insight – Strong understanding of business challenges, end-user needs, and external customer demands to anticipate future solutions.
· Technology & Business Process Expertise – Understanding of technology, business processes, enterprise risk, and strategic alignment.
· Executive Consulting & Trend Analysis – Ability to advise senior leaders on the impact of external trends on company strategies.
· Effective Leadership - Modeling behaviors that encourage curiosity, collaboration, advance technical understanding, inspire ideas, and drive actions and results.
SPONSORSHIP: Applicants for this position are required to be eligible to lawfully work in the U.S. immediately; employer will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work authorization (e.g. H-1B visa) for this opportunity.
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Our Benefits
Because work-life balance is a priority at State Farm, compensation is based on our standard 38:45-hour work week!
- Potential starting salary range: $130,000-$220,000
- Starting salary will be based on skills, background, and experience
- High end of the range limited to applicants with significant relevant experience and specific geographical locations.
- Potential yearly incentive pay up to XX% of base salary
At State Farm, we offer more than just a paycheck. Check out our suite of benefits designed to give you the flexibility you need to take care of you and your family!
- Get Paid! On top of our competitive pay, you are eligible for an annual raise and bonus.
- Stay Well! Focus on you and your family’s health with our robust health and wellbeing programs. State Farm pays most of your healthcare premium, and we offer multiple healthcare plan options, including a high deductible plan. All medical plans provide 100% coverage for in-network preventative care, AND you and your family have access to vision, dental, telemedicine, 24/7 mental health professionals, and much more!
- Develop and Grow! Take advantage of educational benefits like industry leading training programs, top-notch tuition assistance programs, employee resource groups, and mentoring.
- Plan Ahead! Plan for those big moments in life with benefits like fertility/IVF/adoption assistance, college coaching, national discount programs, interactive monthly financial workshops, free financial coaching, and more. You can also start a savings account or consider financing through our State Farm Federal Credit Union!
- Take a Little “You” Time! You will have access to our generous time off policies designed so you can plan around holidays, family events, volunteering, or just to take a relaxing day off. With the opportunity to initially earn up to 20 days annually plus parental leave, paid holidays, celebration day, life leave (40 hours/year), bereavement leave, and community service/education support days, there will be plenty of time for you!
- Give Back! We offer several ways to give back through our Matching Gift Program, Good Neighbor Grant Program, and the Employee Assistance Fund.
- Finish Strong! Plan for retirement using free financial advisors and a 401(k) plan with company contributions of up to 7% of your salary.
