Chief Executive Officer

hireneXus; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Equity participation

Job summary

hireneXus is seeking a Vice President of M&A, officially titled Chief Executive Officer, to lead a new roll-up in the professional services sector. This role focuses on investing and deal leadership, with responsibilities for sourcing and executing acquisitions while building a new business. Ideal candidates will have 8 to 15 years in private equity, strong financial expertise, and be comfortable operating in fast-paced environments. The role starts fully remote with potential for hybrid work. Competitive compensation includes a base salary, bonuses, and equity participation.

Qualifications

• 8 to 15 years of experience in private equity or investment banking.
• Proven track record in executing M&A transactions end-to-end.
• Comfortable in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full M&A lifecycle, including sourcing and execution.
• Serve as CEO, setting direction and driving execution.
• Partner with private equity sponsor on investment strategy.

Skills

Private equity expertise

Deal sourcing and execution

Financial modeling

Transaction underwriting

Communication skills

Job description

Vice President, M&A / Chief Executive Officer

Private Equity–Backed Professional Services Platform | Remote

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a private equity–backed platform to recruit a Vice President of M&A (Officially titled Chief Executive Officer) to lead the launch and growth of a new roll-up in the professional services sector. The platform is at an early inflection point, with its first acquisition expected to close shortly and approximately $100M of committed capital to deploy over the next several years.

This role is fundamentally an investing and deal leadership position, with primary responsibility for sourcing, underwriting, and executing acquisitions. While the CEO will ultimately build and lead the operating organization, the immediate focus is on capital deployment, platform expansion, and value creation through M&A.

The platform targets highly fragmented, founder-owned businesses in niche professional services markets and is expected to complete acquisitions at a steady pace (~1 deal per quarter), building toward a scaled, multi-entity platform over time.

This is an ideal opportunity for a first‑time CEO or senior deal professional seeking ownership, autonomy, and the ability to build a business from the ground up.

Role Focus

Investing and M&A Leadership (Primary – ~75%)

• Lead the full M&A lifecycle, including sourcing, outreach, underwriting, valuation, diligence, negotiation, and execution.
• Build and manage a proprietary pipeline of acquisition opportunities across fragmented professional services sectors.
• Partner closely with the private equity sponsor to shape investment strategy, capital deployment, and return objectives.
• Drive post‑acquisition integration planning and execution to ensure value realization.
• Develop and institutionalize a repeatable acquisition and integration playbook to support scalable growth.

Executive Leadership and Platform Development (~25%)

• Serve as CEO of the platform, setting overall direction and driving execution.
• Build core corporate infrastructure, including key hires across business development and support functions.
• Oversee early‑stage operations, financial performance tracking, and KPI development across portfolio companies.
• Act as the primary liaison with the private equity sponsor, lenders, and external advisors.
• Define and evolve the organizational structure as the platform grows.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 8 to 15 years of experience with a strong foundation in private equity, investment banking, corporate development, or search fund environments.
• Proven track record of sourcing, underwriting, and executing transactions end-to-end.
• Strong financial expertise, including valuation, financial modeling, and deal structuring.
• Motivated to transition from an investing role into an operator‑led, ownership‑driven position.
• Comfortable operating in fast‑paced, ambiguous environments with limited infrastructure.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and execution‑focused, with the ability to manage multiple parallel workstreams.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build credibility with founders, advisors, and stakeholders.

Location and Work Model

• Fully remote at the outset.
• Flexibility to transition into a hybrid model over time.

Compensation and Upside

• Competitive base salary complemented by performance‑based bonus.
• Meaningful equity participation, approximately 5 to 7 percent of the management equity pool.
• Structured for individuals motivated by long‑term value creation and ownership.

Why This Role

• First‑time CEO opportunity with full ownership, authority, and accountability.
• Deep exposure to investing, deal execution, and capital allocation.
• Backed by an experienced private equity sponsor with a strong track record.
• Opportunity to build and scale a platform from inception.
• Entrepreneurial, high‑autonomy environment with significant long‑term upside.