Business Development Vice President

About the Role

The Business Development Vice President will be responsible for supporting this PE firm's business development efforts by maintaining and expanding intermediary relationships and selective thematic sourcing initiatives that align with the firm's strategic objectives and investment criteria. Based in New York Metro area, this individual will take a proactive, highly organized approach to managing a broad network of investment bankers, brokers, and other deal sources, while also partnering closely with the Head of Business Development on targeted market development efforts. The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven, process-oriented professional who brings a disciplined, results-focused approach to business development and deal origination.

Key Responsibilities

Relationship Management

• Own and actively manage a select universe of intermediary relationships across investment banks, buy-side brokers, business brokers, accounting firms, and other deal sources.
• Prioritize and expand coverage across long-tail intermediaries, including identifying, onboarding, and developing relationships with newer or less institutionalized sources.
• Maintain a structured, high-touch cadence of outreach, meetings, and follow-ups to ensure the firm remains top-of-mind for relevant opportunities.
• Track relationship activity, coverage status, and follow-up workflows to support consistent, disciplined engagement across the intermediary ecosystem.
• Support colleagues with their respective business development efforts, including preparing for meetings, travel, generating post-meeting action items, and ongoing relationship development.

Deal Sourcing & Origination

• Maintain and enhance relationships across a wide range of intermediaries, including investment banks, buy-side and sell-side brokers, accounting firms, and other deal sources.
• Participate in select industry conferences and targeted in-market meetings to strengthen sourcing coverage and enhance the firm's visibility across the intermediary ecosystem.
• Leverage market research, internal tracking tools, and relationship intelligence to identify, prioritize, and evaluate potential investment opportunities.
• Support the firm's investment sourcing efforts by contributing to efforts that expand and diversify inbound deal flow in line with the firm's investment thesis.
• Support the development of thematic sourcing initiatives by assisting with market mapping, light sector research, and the creation of targeted company lists.
• Conduct targeted outreach to executives and companies primarily in support of thematic sourcing efforts, helping to test investment theses and generate incremental opportunities.

Firm Initiatives & Coordination

• Support the Head of Business Development to align intermediary coverage priorities and sourcing focus areas.
• Assist and track inbound opportunities and relationship activity across intermediary and thematic sourcing efforts to support effective prioritization and follow-up.
• Prepare meeting briefs, conference plans, and post-event follow-ups to maximize partner and team engagement with intermediaries.
• Maintain and update the firm's CRM, ensuring accurate data entry, activity tracking, and pipeline reporting.
• Assist with business development initiatives including outreach campaigns, conference preparation, and marketing materials.
• Support the scaling of the business development function by improving processes, tracking coverage data, and providing insight into deal flow sources and coverage effectiveness.

Market Analysis & Industry Insights

• Support thematic sourcing efforts through targeted market and company-level research focused on relevant sub-sectors.
• Develop and synthesize insights on industry trends, competitive dynamics, and structural factors to inform sourcing priorities.
• Collaborate with the investment team to refine and test sector-specific themes through focused outreach and market feedback.

Investment Evaluation & Deal Execution

• Screen inbound opportunities and assess high-level business characteristics, market positioning, and fit with the firm's investment criteria.
• Provide sourcing-related context and insights to deal teams as opportunities advance, including background on intermediaries, management, and market dynamics.
• Coordinate handoff and ongoing communication between intermediaries and deal teams as transactions progress, without primary responsibility for execution.

Professional Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of experience in private equity, investment banking, corporate development, or related financial services; prior BD or market development experience a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate opportunities and engage credibly with intermediaries, executives, and founders.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to build trust and rapport quickly.
• Familiarity with financial modeling, valuation, and market/sector analysis a plus; proficiency not required.
• Strategic thinker and self-starter with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation capabilities.
• Highly self-motivated with a strong sense of urgency and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and cross-functionally in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with innovative thinking and ability to navigate ambiguity.
• Familiarity with DealCloud or similar CRM platforms a plus.

Compensation

• Commensurate with experience

Find your fit - View all open positions at Soul Equity.


About Soul Equity Solutions

Soul Equity is a retained Executive Search firm, dedicated exclusively to guiding Middle Market Private Equity Firms and their Portfolio Companies to best-in-class talent.

We work exclusively with Middle Market Private Equity firms to grow their internal teams and transform their portfolio companies. Our boutique recruiting experience is highly bespoke and curated to our clients' needs.

This firm is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.