Overview Our client, a leading venture and growth equity investor focused on the hospitality, leisure, and lifestyle sectors, is seeking a high-performing and commercially sharp Senior Investment Manager / Assistant Director to join its London-based investment team.This is a unique opportunity to join a founder-focused platform with deep sector expertise, a hands-on approach to portfolio development, and a clear value creation ethos. The successful candidate will have 6–10 years of experience, including a proven track record in origination, deal execution, and board-level engagement, ideally within venture/growth equity or consumer-focused private equity.Key Responsibilities Origination &
- Deal Flow: Leverage personal networks, founder ecosystems, and market knowledge to identify compelling early- and growth-stage investment opportunities. Play an active role in sourcing, screening, and developing the pipeline.Deal Execution: Lead end-to-end transaction processes including due diligence, valuation, structuring, and negotiations. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to manage execution timelines and drive high-quality outcomes.Board Engagement &
- Value Creation: Act as a trusted partner to portfolio company leadership teams. Support strategic planning, scaling operations, and governance oversight. Drive initiatives across branding, digital growth, team expansion, and bolt-on acquisitions.Investment Committee Materials: Prepare and present concise, data-driven investment memos, commercial assessments, and risk evaluations to internal decision-makers. Influence strategy through clear articulation of thesis and upside potential.Portfolio Monitoring &
- Exit Planning: Track portfolio KPIs, financial performance, and exit-readiness. Lead value creation tracking, follow-on investment planning, and support exit processes including trade sales and secondary transactions.Candidate Requirements Experience: 6–10 years total, with at least 3–4 years in a direct investing role (venture capital, growth equity, or sector-aligned private equity). Demonstrable execution and board exposure required.Sector Knowledge: Experience within consumer-facing sectors such as hospitality, food & beverage, leisure, or lifestyle is highly preferred.Execution &
- Leadership: Strong track record managing transaction workstreams, with comfort leading negotiations and interfacing with founders and boards.Commercial Acumen: High degree of strategic thinking, ability to assess product-market fit, team quality, and scalability in early-stage businesses.Communication &
- Presence: Strong interpersonal skills, credibility in founder meetings and boardrooms alike. Clear, persuasive communicator with excellent written output.Cultural Fit: Entrepreneurial mindset with a roll-up-your-sleeves approach. Comfortable operating in a lean, high-performance team with accountability and autonomy.Location: Based in London or able to relocate.Apply by submitting your CV.