About the Position

Defence Builder is a Ukrainian defence-tech ecosystem built on three integrated pillars - accelerator, early-stage VC fund, and capabilities unit - designed to serve every major stakeholder in the defence market through one entry point at the intersection of capital, expertise, and infrastructure. We're looking for a Portfolio Manager to take ownership of portfolio communications, progress tracking, and support across active and alumni cohorts.

Role Overview

The accelerator has run its active phase and portfolio companies are moving into their next stages. Someone needs to hold the relationship, track progress, and make sure nothing falls. The President focuses on strategy and international track; this role owns the operational layer of portfolio management.

Responsibilities

Portfolio Communications & Tracking

Own regular touchpoints with portfolio companies - structured updates (monthly/quarterly), check-ins, calls
Build and maintain a portfolio tracker: KPIs, milestones, fundraising status, key risks
Prepare consolidated portfolio reports for fund investors and the board
Flag issues early, escalate blockers to the President

Portfolio Support

Facilitate introductions to investors, corporates, and strategic partners when needed
Coordinate support requests: legal, accounting, HR, product - route them to the right resource
Assist founders with investor materials, grant applications, and program participation
Maintain an up-to-date database of portfolio company profiles and news

Cross-ecosystem Coordination

Identify portfolio companies eligible for grants, partnerships, or capabilities engagements
Coordinate with the right resource on deal flow and grant support
Share portfolio highlights and stories with the communications function for socials, reports, and events

Portfolio Operations & Coordination

Serve as the operational hub for all portfolio-facing processes - own the full coordination layer between Defence Builder and its companies
Send, track, and follow up on all outbound requests to portfolio companies: information requests, document submissions, deadline reminders, survey responses
Manage newsletter and update distribution to portfolio companies - ecosystem news, programme opportunities, relevant calls-for-applications, partner announcements
Maintain a master operations tracker across the portfolio: open requests, pending responses, deadlines, owners

Expected Outcomes (First 6 Months)

30 Days:

Full map of active portfolio and alumni: status, needs, contacts
Regular reporting cadence established with all portfolio companies

60 Days:

KPI dashboard live, first investor report drafted
Gaps in portfolio support identified and addressed

90 Days:

Smooth handover from accelerator team complete, no relationships dropped
Portfolio communication operating independently

6 Months:

Portfolio Manager is the primary relationship owner for all DB portfolio companies
Recognized by founders as a reliable, proactive point of contact

Candidate Profile

Background

2+ years in a portfolio management, investor relations, startup operations, or program management role
Experience working with early-stage startups as a founder, operator, or accelerator team member
Familiarity with the venture or defence-tech ecosystem (Ukraine or international)
Fluent Ukrainian and English - written and spoken

Skills & Style

Structured and proactive - builds systems, doesn't wait to be asked
Strong written communication - can synthesize updates and write clearly for different audiences
Empathetic but accountable - founders trust you, but you hold them to commitments
Comfortable with ambiguity and a fast-moving environment

What We're Not Looking For

Pure analyst with no startup or founder-facing experience
Someone who needs a detailed playbook and fully-defined processes from day one
Passive coordinator - this role requires initiative and ownership

We Offer

Front-row seat at the intersection of defence tech, venture, and national security
Direct access to Ukrainian and international defence-tech founders and investors
Participation in international events, delegations, and ecosystem activations
High autonomy and the opportunity to build the portfolio function from scratch

About the Company

Defence Builder ECOSYSTEM:

MAINMAIN

ACCELERATORACCELERATOR

FUNDFUND

CAPABILITIESCAPABILITIES

DB Ecosystem is powered by:

SIGMA SOFTWARE GROUPSIGMA SOFTWARE GROUP

KYIV SCHOOL OF ECONOMICSKYIV SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

BUNTAR AEROSPACEBUNTAR AEROSPACE

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market with us

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TERMS OF USETERMS OF USE

PRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY POLICY

Portfolio Manager

Tech Stack

Job Description, Responsibilities & Requirements