Vice President, Portfolio Performance

Job Description

Job Description

American Operator is looking to add VP of Portfolio Performance to partner directly with the businesses in our portfolio. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution and relationship management. You will build up a book of ~10 businesses and partner with them to hit our revenue and earnings targets, while building healthy cultures, operational excellence, and clear visibility. You’ll work closely with both the investment team and company leadership, acting as a trusted advisor and execution partner.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary point of contact between HQ and portfolio company leadership.

• Collaborate with the investment team to validate and implement value creation strategies.

• Identify and execute high-impact initiatives across functions (e.g., pricing, sales, operations, org design).

• Drive performance against operating plans, proactively identifying risks and solving issues.

• Build strong relationships with operators and influence outcomes without direct authority.

• Support weekly, monthly, and quarterly reporting and board communications.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams (investments, integrations, platform).

• Travel regularly (50–75%) to work directly with portfolio companies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of experience in management consulting, private equity, or similar roles.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

• Background across multiple industries and business models.

• Strong financial acumen (e.g., working capital, IRR, MOIC, three-statement modeling).

• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems and execute across multiple business functions.

• Proven ability to influence and build trust with diverse stakeholders, you are a force multiplier and can drive buy-in.

• High adaptability and ability to quickly ramp in unfamiliar environments.

• Willingness to travel extensively and work on-site with portfolio companies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with small or medium-sized businesses.

• Experience driving growth initiatives in B2B and/or B2C settings.

• Blend of consulting and hands-on operating experience.

American Operator exists because we believe the American Dream is worth protecting, and that small businesses are the backbone of our communities. To do this well, we need a team that reflects the real world: operators, builders, investors, and problem-solvers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

Every company claims to be mission-driven, but our mission is simple, tangible, and urgent: preserve the legacy of America’s small businesses and create more pathways to meaningful ownership.

We partner with operators who want to step into leadership, take responsibility for great companies, and continue the work that founders spent decades building. When we succeed, communities keep their employers, families keep their livelihoods, and operators get the chance to build wealth through real ownership.

We work hard because we know what’s at stake: generational businesses that deserve to thrive, and talented operators who deserve the chance to lead them. And while we measure our success in deals closed and businesses grown, the real reward is seeing these companies continue to serve their people and their towns, stronger than before.

Where else do you get the opportunity to help someone become a CEO, preserve a founder’s life’s work, and strengthen a community, all in the same job? That’s what makes our work both serious and incredibly fulfilling.