Vice President of Business Development

Vice President, Business Development — Private EquityFull Time | Connecticut | 3–7 Years of ExperienceAbout the CompanyA well-established lower middle-market private equity firm based in Connecticut, focused on control investments in founder- and family-owned businesses. The firm has a long track record of partnering with management teams to support growth and build leading businesses.The firm is entering an exciting new phase of growth under an experienced investment team and is currently raising its next fund.The firm invests primarily in business services and select industrial and manufacturing businesses, with a particular interest in companies operating in fragmented markets where there is meaningful opportunity for organic growth and add-on acquisitions.About the RoleThe firm is hiring a Vice President of Business Development, with a clear path to take on broader leadership responsibility for the firm's business development function within the next one to two years.The VP will work closely with senior investment professionals from day one, with meaningful responsibility for origination and the opportunity to take increasing ownership of the firm's sourcing efforts as the platform grows.The firm is looking to strengthen its origination capabilities as it enters its next phase of growth and raises its next fund. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of developing intermediary relationships and generating high-quality investment opportunities.What Makes This Opportunity ExcitingMeaningful origination responsibility from day one: Work directly with senior investment professionals and have a visible impact on the firm's investment pipeline.Lean, established investment platform: Business development has meaningful visibility across the investment team and a direct connection to investment activity.Opportunity to build: Join the firm at an important point in its growth and help strengthen and expand its origination capabilities.The Path ForwardThe successful candidate will have the opportunity to expand their scope toward a senior leadership role within the firm's business development function over the next one to two years.This is a growth opportunity for a proven originator who is ready to take on greater ownership of strategy, relationships, coverage, and sourcing activity.Key ResponsibilitiesOrigination & Relationship DevelopmentDevelop and maintain relationships with investment bankers, intermediaries, business owners, and other sources of investment opportunitiesGenerate and advance high-quality deal flow aligned with the firm's investment strategyBuild and expand coverage across the firm's target sectors and lower middle-market ecosystemIdentify opportunities through intermediary relationships, direct outreach, and other sourcing channelsRepresent the firm with prospective business owners, intermediaries, and industry contactsMarket Development & IntelligenceBuild and maintain target-company and intermediary coverage aligned with the firm's investment criteriaIdentify market trends, sector opportunities, and coverage gaps relevant to the firm's investment strategyTrack pipeline activity, relationship development, and sourcing metricsDevelop a strong understanding of fragmented markets and businesses where buy-and-build strategies may be particularly compellingCollaboration with the Investment TeamPartner closely with the investment team on target-company development and sector prioritizationProvide market intelligence and relationship insight to help evaluate potential investment opportunitiesHelp develop and refine the firm's origination strategy and coverage modelProfessional Experience & QualificationsProven experience in private equity business development, deal origination, or a closely related PE sourcing roleStrong network of investment bankers, intermediaries, business owners, and other relevant deal sourcesDemonstrated track record of generating and advancing high-quality investment opportunitiesStrong understanding of lower middle-market private equity and the dynamics of founder- and family-owned businessesExperience across one or more relevant target sectors, ideally including business services, industrials, manufacturing, or other fragmented industriesStrong relationship-building, communication, and external representation skillsAbility to work effectively with senior investment professionals and translate market relationships into actionable opportunitiesGenuine interest in and readiness for increasing ownership of the BD function over timeAbout Soul Equity SolutionsSoul 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. 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.