Temporary Professional - Strategic Investment & Capital Planning Consultant, Office of Strategic Innovation

The Office of Strategic Innovation (OSIN) at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

The Capital Stack Development & Strategic Planning Lead serves as a strategic partner to institutional leadership, project developers, and research-driven initiatives by structuring, aligning, and advancing capital strategies for complex, first-of-a-kind (FOAK) and infrastructure-scale opportunities.

This role bridges technical, financial, and strategic domains-translating early-stage concepts into financeable, execution-ready opportunities. The position goes beyond traditional financial analysis by integrating capital stack design, investor alignment, risk assessment, and long-term strategic planning into a cohesive development pathway.

The role requires deep experience in project finance, capital markets, and stakeholder coordination, along with the ability to guide initiatives from early concept through investment readiness and execution.

Roles

1. Capital Stack Architect
2. Strategic Planning & Investment Advisor
3. Technical-Financial Translator
4. Stakeholder Alignment lead
5. Investment Process & Governance Builder

Responsibilities:

1. Capital Stack Development & Structuring. Responsible for designing and optimizing capital stacks across equity, debt, grants, and alternative financing sources to support project development and execution.
2. Strategic Planning & Investment Readiness. Responsible for guiding initiatives from early-stage concept through investment readiness by developing actionable strategies, sequencing milestones, and aligning capital deployment with project risk profiles.
3. Financial & Technical Translation. Responsible for translating complex technical, engineering, and operational inputs into clear financial models, investment narratives, and decision-making frameworks.
4. Stakeholder Alignment & Investor Engagement. Responsible for coordinating across internal leadership, external investors, developers, and advisors to ensure alignment on strategy, risk, and execution pathways.
5. Investment Process Development & Governance. Responsible for establishing and maintaining diligence standards, investment committee materials, and governance processes that support disciplined decision-making.
6. Market Intelligence & Strategic Positioning. Responsible for evaluating market trends, policy environments, and emerging technologies to inform capital allocation strategies and institutional positioning.
7. Other Duties as Required. Supports additional strategic, financial, and development activities that advance institutional priorities and project outcomes.

Duties:

• Capital Strategy & Financial Structuring
  • Design integrated capital stacks incorporating venture, growth equity, project finance, and public funding sources
  • Develop and maintain financial models to evaluate project feasibility, returns, and risk
  • Construct data rooms, investment memoranda, and capital-raising materials
  • Advise on capital sequencing and financing pathways for early-stage and FOAK projects
• Strategic Planning & Development
  • Define development roadmaps from concept through commercialization
  • Identify key risks and develop mitigation strategies across technical, financial, and execution domains
  • Support go-to-market and scaling strategies for emerging platforms
  • Align capital strategy with long-term organizational and project objectives
• Stakeholder Coordination & Execution
  • Serve as liaison across executives, investors, boards, legal teams, and technical advisors
  • Facilitate alignment between developers, capital providers, and operational stakeholders
  • Support negotiation of commercial agreements and financing terms
  • Provide clear, decision-oriented updates to leadership and investment committees
• Investment Process & Diligence
  • Lead technical, commercial, and market diligence efforts
  • Develop standardized evaluation frameworks and decision criteria
  • Prepare investment committee materials and recommendations
  • Track performance and support post-investment strategy and execution
• Market Engagement & Positioning
  • Build relationships across venture, infrastructure, and project finance ecosystems
  • Identify co-investment opportunities and strategic partnerships
  • Represent the organization in investor, industry, and public forums
  • Support fundraising strategy and external communications

Expectations:

• Operate effectively in ambiguity and early-stage environments with evolving information
• Balance multiple complex projects and competing priorities
• Deliver clear, actionable insights under tight timelines
• Exercise strong judgment in capital allocation and strategic decision-making
• Maintain high standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and stakeholder trust

NOTE: This position is 100% grant funded and contingent on continued grant funding. This position may involve travel. This 1.0 FTE (up to average 40 hours per week) position is short-term and temporary, expected to conclude work and not extend beyond June 30, 2026.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Finance, Economics, or related field
• 8-10+ years of experience in project development, investment, or infrastructure finance
• Demonstrated experience in capital stack structuring and financial modeling
• Experience working across technical and financial domains
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional stakeholder processes

• Professional Engineer (PE) or advanced technical background
• Experience with early-stage or FOAK infrastructure projects
• Background in climate, energy, or industrial sectors
• Experience with institutional fundraising and investor relations
• Track record of leading investment processes and closing transactions

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $58.00 per hour.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

The Temporary Professional title is ungraded within the Global Grading System.
University Title: TEMPORARY PROFESSIONAL
To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

For best consideration, please submit application in full by April 29, 2026.

This position is not eligible for University benefits. Individuals in non benefit eligible positions may choose to participate in the Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (403b). For information about this plan, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 816-235-6910.