About the position
ADP is hiring a Sr. Manager/ Director, ADP Ventures – Investments & AI
This role is hybrid onsite 3 days a week in NY, NY.
The Director will be a key member of the ADP Ventures investment team,
responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and executing venture investments in
technology startups aligned with ADP’s strategic priorities. This role will work
closely with senior investment leadership and ADP business stakeholders to lead
diligence processes, support investment decisions, and help build a
high-quality, strategically aligned portfolio.
The ideal candidate brings prior experience in venture investing or adjacent
investment roles, along with the technical fluency needed to critically assess
modern software and AI-enabled businesses. With a strong understanding of how AI
is applied in real-world enterprise and SMB contexts, this role will help ADP
Ventures distinguish durable innovation from hype, evaluate technical and
product risk, and partner effectively with portfolio companies as they scale.
Responsibilities
• Source, evaluate, and execute venture investments in technology startups
aligned with ADP’s strategic priorities, with a focus on AI-enabled software,
data-driven platforms, and modern SaaS solutions.
• Lead end-to-end diligence for investment opportunities, including market
analysis, competitive positioning, business model evaluation, and assessment
of technical and product capabilities.
• Apply technical judgment to evaluate AI architectures, data strategies, model
usage, and product feasibility, helping the team distinguish durable
innovation from hype and assess technical risk.
• Partner closely with ADP business units, product leaders, and subject matter
experts to assess strategic fit, validate customer and operational relevance,
and identify meaningful partnership opportunities.
• Act as a bridge between startup teams and ADP stakeholders, translating
technical concepts, product roadmaps, and AI capabilities into clear business
implications for non-technical audiences.
• Develop investment theses and perspectives in collaboration with senior
investment leadership, informed by ADP’s strategic priorities, internal
stakeholder input, and emerging technology trends.
• Prepare clear, high-quality investment materials, including investment memos
and diligence summaries, to support internal alignment and investment
committee decision-making.
• Support portfolio companies post-investment by facilitating introductions,
guiding partnership discussions, and helping navigate ADP’s internal
landscape to drive mutual value.
Requirements
• 5–10 years of relevant experience in venture capital, corporate venture
capital, private equity, investment banking, management consulting, or
operating roles with direct exposure to venture investing and transaction
execution.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing, evaluating, and supporting venture
investment opportunities, including leading or materially contributing to
diligence processes and investment recommendations.
• Technical fluency and sound judgment required; formal engineering or computer
science training is helpful but not mandatory.Candidates should be able to
critically evaluate modern software and AI-enabled products, assess technical
risk, and engage credibly with founders and technical stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of AI-enabled business models, data-driven software, and
modern SaaS architectures, with the ability to distinguish durable innovation
from hype.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build
trust, influence without authority, and navigate differing perspectives while
maintaining forward momentum.
• Demonstrated ability to stay focused, prioritize effectively, and push key
initiatives forward in environments with competing priorities and ambiguity.
• Experience working cross-functionally with product, engineering, legal, and
commercial stakeholders to drive alignment and informed decision-making.
• Strong analytical skills, including market sizing, competitive analysis, and
financial evaluation of technology businesses.