CEO – MBI Program (Operating Partner) – Spain

All Interests Aligned; Madrid; Presencial; EUR 150.000 - 230.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

All Interests Aligned (AIA) seeks a Spain-based CEO/Operating Partner to lead an acquisition and subsequent management of a family-owned SME in Spain, addressing succession challenges. You will be backed by AIA's capital and deal structuring expertise, joining a program built for hands-on operators with real P&L accountability.

Working with AIA across origination, deal closing, transition, operation, and exit, you will become a CEO-owner of a portfolio company, supported by investors who are

Formación

• Minimum 5 years in general management with full P&L accountability.
• At least 10–15 years of post-undergraduate professional experience.
• Hands-on operating background; not suitable for purely financial roles.
• Industry expertise aligned with AIA's investment thesis.
• Strong regional anchorage with fluency in local language and business culture.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with resilience.
• Emotional readiness for CEO-level leadership.
• Balanced ambition with long-term strategic focus.

Responsabilidades

• Origination: identify and assess targets with AIA's financial and strategic support.
• Deal closing: partner with investment professionals for due diligence, valuation, and structuring.
• Transition: assume the CEO role with a structured handover plan.
• Operation: lead the company's operations with governance, reporting, and a growth plan.
• Exit: prepare and execute an exit strategy with investors.

Conocimientos

General management

P&L accountability

Leadership experience

Industry expertise

Local market knowledge

Entrepreneurial mindset

Emotional readiness

Balanced ambition

Descripción del empleo

If you already know the entrepreneurship-through-acquisition world, here's what's different about this path: MBI is built for operators with a real P&L track record, not a first-time search fund fresh out of business school. You bring the operating experience; AIA brings the capital, the deal structuring, and more flexibility on target profile and deal terms than a traditional search fund allows.

This is a Spain-based CEO role, we're looking for candidates with deep, established professional roots in Spain's business community.

As a Chief Executive Officer (Operating Partner) in All Interests Aligned's (AIA) Management Buy-In (MBI) Program, you will lead the acquisition and management of a high-potential, family-owned SME in Spain facing a succession challenge. Unlike a traditional job, this is a unique career path, offering you the opportunity to become a CEO-owner of a business, with the backing of investors who are successful entrepreneurs themselves.

Working closely with AIA, you'll experience a fully-supported journey across all stages of the MBI process:

Origination: Identify and assess potential acquisition targets with AIA's financial and strategic support. During this phase, you will be compensated, ensuring financial stability while you focus on building your acquisition pipeline.

Deal Closing: Partner with AIA's investment professionals who lead due diligence, valuation, and deal structuring to secure the acquisition.

Transition: Take on the CEO role, with a structured transition plan that includes leadership handover and relationship-building with key stakeholders.

Operation: Lead the company's operations, supported by AIA's team in governance, reporting, and compliance to create and execute a value-driven growth plan.

Exit: Prepare and execute an exit strategy in partnership with AIA, maximizing returns and ensuring a sustainable future for the business.

AIA's investment focus is on cash-flow positive, owner-operated SMEs across industries such as:

• Consumer Products (F&B only)
• Facilities Management
• Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC)
• Transportation & logistics
• Wellness & Nutrition (both Human & Animal)

Ideal acquisition targets meet the following criteria

• Enterprise sales of between €10–40 million
• Consistent history of generating free cash flow (minimum 10% of sales)
• Established or stable growth, with a strong competitive position in underserved markets

These investment standards ensure that each acquisition aligns with AIA's mission to solve the SME succession crisis in Europe.

Selection Process

Admission to the AIA MBI Program is rigorous, ensuring a strong fit between future CEOs and AIA's mission. The multi-stage process includes leadership assessments, in-depth interviews, a business case, development of an investment thesis, and a final presentation to a panel of AIA leaders and external experts. The selection process typically spans 15–17 weeks, requiring 35–40 hours of preparation.

Job Requirements

• Experience: A minimum of 5 years in a general management role with full P&L accountability, not just influence over it: if the business goes south, the consequences are yours to carry, not a superior's. Combined with at least 10–15 years of post-undergraduate professional experience.
• Operating background required: This program is built for hands-on operators. It isn't a fit for candidates whose background is primarily in financial services, banking, private equity, or consulting without direct, operating P&L accountability.
• Industry Expertise: A proven track record of success and deep domain knowledge in a sector that aligns with AIA's investment thesis and strategic priorities, across various business types (corporates and SMEs).
• Local Anchorage: Strong regional insight with fluency in local language and business culture, supported by a deep understanding of the economy and a well-established network in the chosen geography.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness, and the ability to navigate and overcome significant business challenges to achieve strong outcomes.
• Emotional Readiness: Prepared to take on a leadership role, with clarity of purpose, a strong vision for growth, and a commitment to making a lasting impact.
• Balanced Ambition: A combination of humility and strong personal drive, anchored by a clear understanding of how partnering with AIA can accelerate both individual and business success through purposeful collaboration.

Unsure if this program is right for you?

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