Vice President / Principal, Private Equity

Breakwater Management LP; Los Angeles (CA); Remote; USD 180,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Breakwater Management LP in Los Angeles seeks a VP/Principal to join the investment team. You’ll work directly with Partners across sourcing, evaluation, execution, portfolio management, and exit. This is a long-term career seat with growth toward Partnership.

Based in LA or open to relocating, candidates in other major markets may work remotely initially, with regular time in Los Angeles alongside the team. Competitive base salary, discretionary bonus, and carried interest.

Qualifications

• 3–6+ years private equity investing experience.
• Track record in evaluating, diligencing, and closing control equity deals.
• Willingness to relocate to Los Angeles and travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Source deals with Partners, bankers, and management teams to drive new deal flow.
• Lead evaluation, including financial modeling, risk review, and financing structure.
• Prepare investment memoranda and IC materials; support execution and portfolio management.

Skills

Deal sourcing

Financial modeling

Diligence

Communication

Ownership

Education

MBA or CFA preferred

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Breakwater Management is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that makes control investments in Media & Entertainment, Marketing, and Tech-Enabled Services. We target companies with $5–30 million in EBITDA. Since inception, we have deployed $650 million across seven funds and investment vehicles. We partner with founders and management teams to build value through organic growth and strategic add-on acquisitions. Recent platform investments include Jones Knowles Ritchie, a global strategic brand consultancy, and Chemistry, a leading independent marketing agency.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a VP/Principal to join our lean LA investment team. You'll work directly with the Partners across the full investment lifecycle: sourcing, evaluation, execution, portfolio management, and exit. This is a long-term career seat, not a rotational one. We expect the right person to take on more responsibility over time, build their own relationships and track record, and grow into a Partner of the firm.

What You'll Do

• Work with Partners on deal sourcing, meeting with investment bankers, industry leaders, and management teams to drive new deal flow
• Lead evaluation of new opportunities, including sell-side materials, industry and company risk, financial modeling, and financing structure
• Own IOIs, LOIs, deal summaries, and investment committee materials, refining the thesis directly with the Partners
• Prepare investment memoranda and market opportunities to lenders and co-investors
• Take a lead role in execution, including purchase, financing, employment, and management incentive agreements
• Partner with portfolio management teams on strategy, add-ons, KPI frameworks, and board reporting
• Build an independent network of bankers, brokers, and deal sources
• Contribute to firm-building, thesis research, and fundraising support

What We're Looking For

• 3–6+ years of private equity investing experience
• A track record of evaluating, diligencing, and closing control equity deals, ideally in the lower middle market
• Strong modeling, structuring, and accounting skills
• A true self-starter who seeks out ambiguity and ownership
• Analytical rigor plus the interpersonal judgment to earn the trust of founders selling their life's work
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including experience presenting IC and investor materials
• Based in Los Angeles or open to relocating over time; candidates in other major markets such as New York, Chicago, or San Francisco may work remotely initially, with regular time in Los Angeles alongside the team

Compensation

Competitive base salary, discretionary bonus, and carried interest, plus comprehensive benefits.

Breakwater is an equal opportunity employer.