Associate, Primary

Adams Street Partners; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with immediate vesting and employer match

Paid parental leave, including adoption

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Adams Street Partners is seeking a Primary Investment Associate in Menlo Park, CA, to support sourcing, analyzing, and monitoring investment opportunities. This role is ideal for someone with a strong analytical background and understanding of the private equity and venture capital industry.

Key responsibilities include evaluating investment opportunities, performing quantitative analysis, and managing client support activities. The estimated salary range is $135,000 to $145,000, along with a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of work experience in a top-tier investment banking, private equity, or financial consulting organization is ideal but not required.
• Good understanding of the private equity and venture capital industry.
• Self-starter with strong work ethic, capable of managing projects from start to finish.

Responsibilities

• Support activities involving sourcing, analyzing, and monitoring investment opportunities.
• Meet with General Partner groups to evaluate potential investment opportunities.
• Perform quantitative analysis, including portfolio valuation and performance attribution analysis.

Skills

Analytical skills

Modeling skills

Organizational skills

Writing skills

Communication skills

Education

Graduated from a top-tier undergraduate university

Business/Finance/Accounting background

Job description

Adams Street Partners (“Adams Street”) is a global private markets investment manager that has nearly $70 billion* in assets under management. The firm is 100% employee‑owned, which fosters a positive and unique culture of collaboration, intellectual rigor, integrity, and a commitment to professional development. For the eighth year in a row, Adams Street was named one of Pension & Investments’ Best Places to Work in Money Management in 2025.

Employees operate as a single global team, integrating the expertise of the firm’s investment professionals across five strategies: primary investments, secondary investments, growth equity, private credit, and co‑investments. Adams Street is considered a private markets pioneer and was inducted into the Private Equity Hall of Fame in 2000.

The firm was founded more than 50 years ago, and clients include leading public and corporate pension plans, foundations, endowments, insurance companies, registered investment advisors, and high net worth individuals worldwide.

Adams Street has offices in Abu Dhabi, Austin, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Munich, Menlo Park, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.

• Firmwide AUM as of December 31, 2025 was $69.9bn; does not include the more recent private credit closings or private credit leverage which may be discussed herein or is available upon request. AUM since that date is in excess of $70bn as a result of more recent fund closings.

Primary Investment Team

The Primary Investment Team at Adams Street invests in premier buyout and venture capital funds at the time they are being raised. The team has been an active fund investor since 1979 and has established relationships with some of the world’s most sought‑after General Partners. Investing with a broad global mandate and across a range of geographies, stages, and subclasses, the Primary Team has consistently delivered strong risk‑adjusted returns and liquidity across multiple business and economic cycles.

Responsibilities

The Primary Investment Associate will be responsible for supporting activities involving sourcing, analyzing, and monitoring investment opportunities. The Associate will work closely with our US Primary Investments Team, and the role offers a diversified exposure to private equity and venture capital investing. Specifically, the individual will be involved with and responsible for:

Assist In Evaluation And Monitoring Of Investment Opportunities

• Meet with General Partner groups to evaluate potential investment opportunities and monitor existing investments.
• Perform quantitative analysis, including portfolio valuation, comparable company analysis, value driver analysis, performance attribution analysis, and others.
• Assist in preparation of investment memorandum.
• Perform industry / sector analysis.
• Assist in legal negotiation and documentation.

Assist In Projects For The Primary Team

• Manage deal pipeline and related documentation.
• Develop and maintain proprietary deal and market intelligence.
• Managing client support activities, including but not limited to, coordinating due diligence information gathering for new and existing clients, curating presentation materials, preparing RFPs and other client questionnaires, and responding to other ad hoc client requests as they arise.
• Conduct market research.

Candidate Requirements

We seek an individual who is self‑disciplined, demonstrates creative thinking and has the following characteristics

• Graduated from a top‑tier undergraduate university. Business/Finance/Accounting background preferred.
• 1-2 years of work experience in a top‑tier investment banking, private equity or financial consulting organization is ideal, but not required.
• Good understanding of the private equity and venture capital industry.
• Strong analytical, modeling, organizational, and writing skills.
• A professional presence combined with relationship and communication skills to interact effectively with internal and external parties.
• Self‑starter with strong work ethic, who can handle projects from start to finish while negotiating multiple, competing deadlines.

Please note, this role is intended to be a 2‑year position. The role is based in Menlo Park, CA.

We offer a competitive U.S. benefits package designed to support health, financial security, and work‑life balance. Highlights include medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) with immediate vesting and employer match; profit sharing; flexible spending accounts (FSA); and paid parental leave, including adoption. Employees also receive generous paid time off, commuter benefits, employer‑paid short‑ and long‑term disability and life insurance, and access to additional voluntary benefits.

California Pay Transparency Range

$135,000—$145,000 USD