Managing Director – Portfolio Operations & Value Creation

East 57th Street Partners; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 250,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

East 57th Street Partners is seeking a Managing Director of Portfolio Operations & Value Creation in the Austin area. The role centers on driving operational improvements, maximizing investment returns, and partnering with portfolio company leadership to scale growth and profitability.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years of leading operations and finance, with a proven track record in growth, transformations, and successful engagements with boards and investors.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of leadership experience in operations, finance, corporate development, consulting, private equity, or private equity-backed businesses.
• Experience as a CEO, President, COO, CFO, Managing Director, Operating Partner, or senior executive within a middle-market organization.
• Strong understanding of financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and KPI-driven management.
• Experience working directly with Boards of Directors, investors, and executive leadership teams.
• Track record of leading change initiatives, organizational transformations, and growth strategies.

Responsibilities

• Partner with portfolio company CEOs, Presidents, CFOs, and leadership to improve performance.
• Develop and oversee value creation plans focused on revenue growth, EBITDA expansion, and working capital optimization.
• Assist with strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, KPI development, and operational execution.
• Serve as a Board observer or Board member for select portfolio investments.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, productivity, and operational effectiveness across portfolio companies.
• Lead initiatives on organizational design, process improvement, pricing strategy, procurement, and performance management.
• Support executive recruiting efforts for CEO, CFO, COO, and other leaders.
• Assist with post-acquisition integration and synergy realization.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Financial analysis

Board interaction

Change management

Education

MBA

CPA

Job description

Managing Director – Portfolio Operations & Value Creation

Compensation: Competitive Base Salary + Annual Performance Bonus + Carried Interest / Equity Participation

Company Type: Middle-Market Private Equity Firm

Overview

We are partnering with a growing middle-market private equity firm to identify a Managing Director of Portfolio Operations & Value Creation. Based in the Austin metro area, this executive will play a critical role in supporting portfolio company performance, driving operational improvements, and partnering with management teams to maximize investment returns.

This position is ideal for a seasoned operator with a strong finance background who has successfully led businesses through periods of growth, transformation, acquisitions, and value creation. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to portfolio company CEOs, CFOs, and Boards while working closely with the firm's investment professionals throughout the investment lifecycle.

The Managing Director will help bridge the gap between investment strategy and operational execution, ensuring portfolio companies achieve both short-term performance objectives and long-term value creation goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner directly with portfolio company CEOs, Presidents, CFOs, and executive leadership teams to improve business performance.
• Develop and oversee value creation plans focused on revenue growth, EBITDA expansion, working capital optimization, and organizational scalability.
• Assist management teams with strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, KPI development, and operational execution.
• Serve as a Board observer or Board member for select portfolio investments.

Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, productivity, and operational effectiveness across portfolio companies.
• Lead initiatives related to organizational design, process improvement, pricing strategy, procurement, and performance management.
• Support executive recruiting efforts, including CEO, CFO, COO, and other key leadership hires.
• Assist with post-acquisition integration and synergy realization initiatives.

Financial & Strategic Leadership

• Review financial performance, operating metrics, and key business drivers across portfolio companies.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and strategic planning processes.
• Evaluate capital allocation decisions and investment opportunities.
• Work alongside management teams to improve reporting, forecasting accuracy, and financial discipline.

Investment Support

• Participate in operational and financial due diligence for prospective acquisitions.
• Assess management teams, operational capabilities, and value creation opportunities during transaction processes.
• Support investment committees with operational insights and recommendations.
• Assist portfolio companies in preparing for recapitalizations, refinancing events, and eventual exits.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 15+ years of leadership experience in operations, finance, corporate development, consulting, private equity, or private equity-backed businesses.
• Prior experience as a CEO, President, COO, CFO, Managing Director, Operating Partner, or senior executive within a middle-market organization.
• Demonstrated success driving operational improvements and financial performance within growing businesses.
• Strong understanding of financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and KPI-driven management.
• Experience working directly with Boards of Directors, investors, and executive leadership teams.
• Track record of leading change initiatives, organizational transformations, and growth strategies.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting companies ranging from $25 million to $500 million in revenue.
• Exposure to multiple industries including industrial services, business services, manufacturing, distribution, consumer, healthcare, or technology-enabled services.
• MBA, CPA, or other advanced business credentials preferred.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will quickly establish credibility with management teams and investment professionals, identify meaningful value creation opportunities across the portfolio, and help drive measurable improvements in growth, profitability, and enterprise value.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an executive who combines operational leadership with financial sophistication and wants to play a significant role in helping build and scale middle-market businesses while working directly alongside private equity investors.