2027 Summer Analyst, Secondary

Job Description Summary

Company Overview

For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking.

In our collegial environment that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences.

We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm.

HarbourVest is an equal opportunity employer.

Secondary Team

HarbourVest has been a pioneer and leader in the global secondary market since making its first private equity investment in 1986 and is comprised today of three scaling investment strategies across private equity, infrastructure, and credit.  Within each strategy, HarbourVest invests across both GP-led and LP-led secondary transactions.  HarbourVest is widely considered a leader in the rapidly expanding GP-led Continuation Fund market where we are actively leading and structuring some of the largest transactions in the market today.  In 2025, HarbourVest was ranked the third largest global secondaries firm by The Secondaries Investor.

• Private Equity: Currently investing one of the largest secondaries funds ever raised, Dover Street XI, which closed in August 2024 with $15.1B of commitments (oversubscribed at the hard cap) alongside a further $3.4B for secondary co-investment opportunities. When paired with other pools of capital the firm manages, HarbourVest is investing $10-11B of equity per year, across 20+ transactions, into the global private equity secondary market which is expected to exceed $200B+ in 2025E.  Current investment team of 50+ professionals globally.

• Infrastructure: Currently investing out of Infrastructure Opportunities III, which closed in September 2025 with $865M of commitments.  When paired with other pools of capital the firm manages, HarbourVest is investing $400-500M of equity per year, across 10+ transactions, into the global infrastructure secondary market which is expected to exceed $15B+ in 2025E.  Current investment team of 15+ professionals globally.

• Credit: Currently building and scaling a team with global capabilities in the rapidly growing credit secondary market which is expected to exceed $20B+ in 2025. 

Job Function & Responsibilities

Secondary Summer Analysts will be strategy generalists, gaining broad exposure across our private equity, infrastructure, and credit secondary investment teams.  Summer Analysts will be actively involved in all phases of the investment process, from initial evaluation, to diligence, underwriting, and ultimately execution across a variety of transaction types including the purchase of limited partnership interests in private funds and GP-led Continuation Fund transactions involving the purchase of one or more direct company interests. In addition, Summer Analysts will gain exposure to a variety of end markets and industries, including but not limited to, Healthcare, Financial Institutions, Industrials, and Technology. 

Specific responsibilities could include:

• Evaluating new investment opportunities by conducting detailed due diligence on companies, researching industries and competitors, and interviewing general partners and company management

• Preparing financial models on companies, funds, and transactions; author investment committee materials as a member of deal teams

• Liaising with external parties during the deal process including investment banks and diligence vendors

• Monitoring of existing transactions by attending general partner update calls, reviewing quarterly reporting, and staying abreast of latest industry news

• Each Summer Analyst will also have ownership over a summer long project which will be presented to the team at the end of the program

Upon completion of a successful Summer Analyst program, there is an opportunity for Summer Analysts to secure a full-time Analyst position in July 2028.

Job Skills and Abilities

The ideal candidate is someone with the following skills:

• Hardworking and ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment

• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple responsibilities and target dates simultaneously

• Strong analytical skills and detail-oriented mindset

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

• Deep proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint

Job Requirements

Candidates graduating in December 2027 or Spring 2028.  Coursework and/or prior internship experience in Investments, Finance or related fields (preferred but not required).

This position requires you to work full time in the office. If needed, on rare occasions remote work is permissible but requires advance approval from your manager. While working remote, it is expected that you will have a designated workspace free of distractions. It is further expected that you will maintain a professional appearance and background when joining internal and external meetings via video.