2026 Associate Position

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  Lead projects that support decision making within our portfolio organizations by working closely with our Managing Directors, Portfolio Support team, and entrepreneurs on a project basisProjects include go-to-market strategy, expansion, pricing, cost analysis, financial modeling and impact analysis 

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  Potential to work closely with our Senior Director of Portfolio Fundraising Strategies to lead follow-on funding relationship management, acting as a navigator to help connect the DRK portfolio with aligned funders across our network. 

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  Participate in check-ins with portfolio organizations

• Help us keep a wide-open lens with our open application process, reviewing online applications and identifying high potential opportunities.

• Build your own network and use ours to keep a pulse on where great leaders are entering the field of social change.  

• Use your insight, curiosity and analytical skills to help us learn about social entrepreneurs and their ventures, and to help us determine their fit for our portfolio.   

• Stay on top of social movements, social issues and opportunities for high impact change on a broad range of issues including education, criminal justice, climate change, economic opportunity, and health.

• Drive a diligence process that is rigorous, welcoming, fair, insightful and inclusive; includes both grantmaking for nonprofits and investments in for-profit social enterprises

• Set goals with the team that make us better each year at finding, funding and supporting a diverse and extraordinary group of entrepreneurs.

• Iterate on systems that keep us running smoothly as a team.  

• Use the DRK platform to build a social impact career (ongoing)

• Take the opportunity to lean into your strengths while adding value to DRK.  There will be opportunities to take on projects and initiatives that build on your individual strengths and interests.  We are committed to supporting your individual career path.  

• Get exposed to an unparalleled range of organizations and issues, particularly around how to design and build organizations for impact at scale.  

To apply for the role, please apply using our Lever form. We will consider applications on a rolling basis, with an initial deadline of May 15, 2026. We believe deeply in transparency, and wanted to share our current plan for the hiring process. It is fairly extensive since we want to make sure we make the right hire.

• The hiring committee will review applications on a rolling basis

• We typically have 3-4 interview rounds (30-45 minutes, all virtual), where senior team members will assess professional and skill alignments

• Applicants will complete a case study exercise at the 2nd interview round 

• Approximate interviewing process will take 1-1.5 months 

We are deeply committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcomed, valued and supported.  We actively recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a broad candidate pool. DRK is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all experiences, abilities, and perspectives to apply.

Don’t meet every single requirement? At DRK, we are dedicated to building an inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

We are a global organization with staff in Africa, Europe and across the U.S. This role would be based out of either our Menlo Park, CA or Boston, MA offices with strong preference for candidates interested in Menlo Park, CA. This posting is planned as a 2/3 model, with required 2 days a week in office (we are in the office on Tuesday and Thursday as a full team) and three flexible days where staff are able to work from home if desired. 

Expected Start Date: We are looking for candidates ready to jump right in with an expected start date in Summer 2026 (July/August). Exact date to be determined with the candidate. 

Salary Range: Base salary will be $130,000 - 135,000  in total for this role depending on years of experience after a graduate degree. In addition, there will be an annual bonus target of $5,000 and DRK will make 10% base salary + bonus contribution to your 401K. DRK also offers medical, dental, disability and vision insurance and currently pays 100% of premiums for certain plans and may make a contribution to your health savings account up to the IRS maximum should you choose the High Deductible Health Plan. Full-time employees accrue 15 days annually of paid time off. DRK also observes 13 paid holidays each year, 2 floating holidays, 3 Summer Friday office closures, and a holiday office closure in December.