Associate, Special Projects

Overview

Associate, Special Projects Jobs in New York, NY at bedari collective

Title: Associate, Special Projects

Company: bedari collective

Location: New York, NY

Company Description Founded by Co-Founder of Global Infrastructure Partners Matt Harris, the Bedari Collective invests in regenerative systems and infrastructure. Regenerative systems rethink how we design, build, and operate systems to support both communities and the natural world they rely on. They are intentionally designed to give back rather than extract: restoring ecosystems, strengthening resilience, and weaving human development back into the fabric of the living world. Bedari Collective uses a spectrum of for-profit and non-profit models to craft systematic solutions across four main focus areas: Integrated Conservation, Infrastructure, Technology, and Nature-Inspired Consciousness. We are looking for a highly effective Associate to join our growing team.

Role Description The Associate will play a central role in advancing Bedari’s most important active priorities. This is a high-ownership role suited to someone who thrives in ambiguity, can work across financial and programmatic contexts, and brings the rigor of a professional services or operational background alongside genuine interest in impact. The Associate will need the ability to flex across various organizational needs but will primarily focus on project management and portfolio operations for Bedari’s existing portfolio.

Main responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Drive existing projects forward with meaningful ownership. The Associate will be the internal point of accountability for active initiatives, ensuring project advancement while navigating multiple stakeholders. They will shape strategy at the project level, coordinate with international stakeholders, anticipate and navigate roadblocks, and ensure projects continue moving on their intended timelines. The ideal candidate will be expected to make judgment calls, draft key documents, present in front of high-level international and domestic partners, and represent Bedari in external conversations when appropriate. This is not a coordination or note-taking role – the Associate will have full accountability for existing multistakeholder portfolio activities. Note: Several of Bedari’s most important projects involve counterparties in sovereign or quasi-sovereign contexts: government ministries, conservation authorities, international development actors, and institutions. The Associate will build and maintain these relationships with professionalism, cultural intelligence, and adaptability.
• Contribute to organizational development as relevant. Bedari is still growing and shaping itself. There will be ambiguity and evolution in this role and in the organization overall. The right candidate will provide valuable input into the organization’s strategic direction, help create materials and processes to implement agreed upon strategy, and thrive in ambiguity.
• Program design, monitoring and evaluation, and impact reporting. The Associate will sit across Bedari’s active non-profit, for-profit, and hybrid initiatives. They will develop strategic frameworks in partnership with implementors, establish frameworks to measure progress, coordinate grant processes and reporting, and serve as the reporting lead for multi-party programs involving NGOs, government partners, co-investors, and community stakeholders. The ideal candidate will be comfortable translating complex qualitative outcomes into clear narratives for leadership.
• Strong quantitative skills and financial acumen. The Associate will contribute to financial analysis across Bedari's portfolio, including supporting models for existing investments and programs, helping evaluate new opportunities, and producing analysis to guide internal decision-making. The ideal candidate is comfortable in Excel, fluent in financial statements, and able to operate at the intersection of commercial return and impact.
• Spearheading portfolio operations. The Associate will serve in a hands-on operating capacity, stepping into portfolio companies or projects where Bedari’s direct involvement may be needed to stabilize or accelerate operations. This may involve identifying and resolving operational gaps, implementing financial controls and reporting infrastructure, managing partner relationships, and advising on internal processes at organizations in early or transitional stages. The ideal candidate will be comfortable operating in ambiguous environments and will have experience driving execution with limited support, ideally through prior experience in program management at a social impact organization or startup.
• Conduct research to support strategy and decision-making. The Associate will proactively research themes, trends, and opportunities relevant to Bedari’s focus areas and distill findings into concise memos and presentations for internal and external use.

Skills and Experience

• Proactive and independent with a track record of working with minimal direction
• Strong financial literacy, including familiarity with Excel and financial modeling, investment analysis, and budget management; ability to move fluidly between financial and programmatic contexts
• Ability to operate effectively in a small, fast-moving, high-ambiguity environment and create structure where it does not yet exist
• Capacity to collect and synthesize large volumes of qualitative and quantitative information and surface clear recommendations
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to produce concise memos, briefing materials, and presentations
• Strong interpersonal skills and cultural fluency; comfortable engaging with government officials, NGO leaders, operators, and investors across geographies; comfortable with long-distance international travel
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive information and representing the organization externally
• High curiosity and genuine interest in the intersection of capital, systems change, and impact

Qualifications

• 3-6 years of work experience; direct operating experience at a startup, or as a program coordinator at a development, nonprofit, or social impact organization strongly preferred
• Undergraduate degree in economics, finance, international development, political science, environmental studies, or a related field; demonstrated ability to work with both qualitative and quantitative data; graduate degree a plus but not required
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects, especially with international dimensions
• Authorized to work in the United States
• Fluent in English

This is a full-time, in-office role based in Manhattan, with hybrid flexibility. The base salary range for this role is $80,000-120,000, commensurate with experience. Base salary is one component of Bedari’s total compensation package, which typically includes discretionary bonus compensation, comprehensive health benefits, and paid time off.

To apply, please email Kristen.sparhawk@Bedari .com with a resume and cover letter. The email subject line should be 2026 Associate Application. Emails with the incorrect subject will not be considered.