Sr. Manager/Director, ADP Ventures - Investments & AI

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.