Greenwood Project
The Greenwood Project was founded in 2016 based on two core principles:
“Students can’t be what they can’t see”
and
“There is no lack of talent, only a lack of opportunity.”
GP’s mission is bold, essential and long overdue. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for qualified Black and Latino college students to attain high-trajectory careers in financial services through rigorous training and internships. At Greenwood Project, we don’t just talk about change; we are the catalyst for it, breaking barriers and building a more inclusive and diverse financial industry. Our people are the foundation that allows us to achieve our ambitious goals. Becoming part of the Greenwood Project team means joining a group of driven, passionate, and intellectually curious individuals. To work here is to be crucial to the organization’s success.
Investment Banking Career Coach (Part-Time)
Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Investment Banking Career Coach plays a central role in supporting Greenwood Project scholars as they pursue career pathways in investment banking, private credit, venture capital, private equity, and equity research. This role focuses on preparing scholars for successful finance internships and positioning them for full-time job offers upon graduation.
Day-to-Day Impact
As an Investment Banking Career Coach, your work directly prepares Greenwood Project scholars for the rigor and expectations of competitive finance internships and early career roles. You may begin the week reviewing scholar progress on their assignments, following up on technical skill gaps, and conducting extra interview preparation with some scholars. Later in the week, you might lead professional development sessions focused on finance workplace norms, evaluate internship performance feedback from partners, or meet one-on-one with scholars navigating demanding summer roles.
This role blends hands-on coaching with program building. You are not only supporting students individually, but also shaping the systems, curriculum, and feedback loops that ensure scholars consistently perform at a high level in the demanding fields of investment banking, private credit, private equity, venture capital, and equity research environments.
Every coaching session, workshop, and assignment review session helps scholars prepare for and navigate a highly competitive finance recruiting process, secure and succeed in a finance internship, and ultimately position themselves for a full-time job that can change their career trajectory.
What Makes This Role Distinct
This is not a general career coaching role. The Investment Banking Career Coach brings direct finance industry experience into the coaching conversations and program design. Scholars rely on your understanding of real-world expectations, technical rigor, and workplace dynamics to prepare them for environments where performance standards are high, and feedback is direct.
You will help define what “ready” looks like for finance internships and ensure our systems, coaching, and programming consistently deliver that standard as the program scales.
As a core member of the Greenwood Project team, the Investment Banking Career Coach contributes to the design and continuous improvement of learning pathways, student roadmaps, curriculum, evaluation tools, and key impact measures. This position is closely tied to student experience, program outcomes, and long-term scholar success.
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Support and coach a cohort of Greenwood Project scholars through hybrid, virtual, and in-person programming with the goal of scholars securing and successfully completing a junior year finance summer internship.
- Provide structured one-on-one coaching focused on professional readiness, interview preparation, internship performance, and long-term career development.
- Facilitate small group and large group professional development sessions designed to prepare students for the rigor, expectations, and day-to-day demands of finance internships and long-term careers in the industry.
- Evaluate and track scholar progress using internal rubrics, learning pathways, and roadmaps.
- Collect, manage, and analyze data related to student performance, engagement, and outcomes, and regularly summarize and report findings to internal teams and relevant stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain systems for student support that reflect best practices in coaching, cohort management, and talent development.
- Research best practices across education, workforce development, and financial services organizations and apply insights to improve coaching methods, systems, and scholar experience.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with scholars to support retention, engagement, and success throughout their participation in the Greenwood Project.
- Develop and oversee feedback systems with finance partners to monitor scholar performance during internships and address development needs in real time.
- Support the strategic growth of the program by contributing to scalable systems, structures, and processes that enhance student development and finance internship outcomes.
- Perform additional duties as assigned in support of program goals.
A note to potential candidates: Multiple studies have shown that BIPOC and other candidates from marginalized populations are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications in a job description. Greenwood Project is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and finding the best candidate for the job. We would strongly encourage interested individuals to apply, even if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described below.
Required:
- Completed bachelor’s degree or equivalent required.
- Minimum of two years of professional experience within the financial services industry required, specifically in investment banking, private credit, private equity, venture capital, or equity research.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and to think critically about the relationship between identity, access, and job performance.
- Experience designing feedback loops, performance reviews, or development protocols focused on improving workplace outcomes.
- Proven ability to work cross-functionally and collaborate with multiple stakeholders to align programs, systems, or services.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data to inform decisions and measure impact.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly to different audiences.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Preferred:
- Master’s degree in a relevant subject area.
- Experience designing systems to track and monitor performance data.
- Strong Excel and AI skills.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The Greenwood Project is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion, ancestry, marital status, familial status, or any other legally protected classification federally or in the State of Illinois. The Greenwood Project does not discriminate in its activities, educational programs, hiring practices, or employment practices as required by Title VI, IX, and Section 504.
Compensation and Location
This is a Chicago-based role with remote work options. Pay: $45/hour.
Shared Values
Cultural Competency: All team members strive to build a working knowledge of the historical, social, and economic history of this country with a particular value for diverse identities, ideas, and experiences. As team members, we consistently work to acquire and apply cultural knowledge and adapt to the cultural context of various communities. We are reflective and often think about the impact of our actions, words, and thoughts on various components of their and others’ intersectional lines of identity. We strive to self-monitor our various layers of privilege and push the organization to be the strongest collection of voices possible.
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Influence and Impact: We value learning about the working styles and preferences of others and strive to adapt our approach to maximize the success of everyone on the team.
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Strategic Thinking: We critically analyze inputs and think through the long-term outputs of the organization, working to create systems and structures that are scalable and sustainable.
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Self-Direction: Our team members operate with both initiative and follow-through to ensure that we can operate in ways that build trust in each other.
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Balance: We value in-person collaboration and independent, flexible work. For our Chicago-based employees, we have a hybrid schedule, with most associates finding a balance between office and home.
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- Growth: We want your career to be satisfying for the long term. If you want to try a new project or attend a meeting with another group, we welcome it. We want you to learn, stretch and grow as much as you want.
If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and are eager to be part of a team dedicated to creating opportunities for qualified college students while driving meaningful change, we encourage you to apply for this role at Greenwood Project.
Greenwood Project is a non-profit organization that envisions a finance industry without barriers to entry or advancement. The organization is on a mission to introduce Black and Latino college students to careers in finance through rigorous training and internships. With over 70 percent of Greenwood Project scholars entering the field, the organization seeks industry partners to open their doors for internships.
