Director, Portfolio Management & Investments

Overview

Axel Springer is a family-owned, transatlantic media company with a portfolio of leading media brands including BILD, Business Insider, Morning Brew, POLITICO, and WELT. The company focuses on shaping the future of journalism and media across key international markets. The team oversees investments and portfolio management of Axel Springer’s portfolio companies, which include U.S. news media assets like Morning Brew, Business Insider, EMARKETER, POLITICO, and Bisnow, as well as European media assets such as Grupa Ringier Axel Springer Polska, Bonial, Idealo, and AWIN.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a portfolio of subsidiaries, serving as the key point of contact for their management teams, monitoring their performance against plan, and supporting the execution of their strategic objectives.
• Support the execution of complex projects in all areas of business and corporate development related to the portfolio and Axel Springer, more generally (growth initiatives, strategic re-organization, M&A, spin-offs, divestments, etc.).
• Work at the interface of the Axel Springer Board and the management teams of the Axel Springer assets and many other business functions.
• Coordinate, draft, and conceptualize presentations to serve as a basis for top management decisions.
• Develop plans to analyze business areas and craft and implement action plans to create value.
• Identify trends and growth potential, drive innovative business models, and bring strategies to life.
• Coordinate cross-asset collaboration to drive growth across the portfolio and ensure best practice sharing.
• Help shape the overall news media strategy beyond the current portfolio – both add-on investments & new platforms – by driving the M&A process of new investment opportunities from sourcing to diligence to execution and post-merger integration.
• Shape Axel Springer's future news media strategy through sourcing, evaluating, and executing new investment opportunities and M&A transactions.
• Support the portfolio companies with business development and other internal initiatives to achieve strategic goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from a leading university, ideally in a business-related field; MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience in strategy/corporate development, M&A, or strategy consulting.
• Strong analytical skills and an entrepreneurial mindset with a structured approach to problem-solving and a curiosity to challenge conventional thinking.
• In-depth knowledge of and enthusiasm for digital business models and the media industry.
• Highly self-motivated, dependable, and comfortable working independently.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization while appropriately balancing all stakeholder interests.
• Comfortable working across diverse businesses, cultures, and geographies, with the ability to build relationships across a broad range of stakeholders.
• A collaborative and approachable team player with a solid sense of humor.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel and PowerPoint) and familiarity with generative AI/LLM tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) for research, analysis, and productivity.
• Fluency in English required.

Benefits

• Salary range: $140,000-$170,000 (dependent on skills, experience, and competencies), with a discretionary year-end bonus.
• Full-time position based in our New York City office with a hybrid work schedule.
• Unlimited PTO, 10 paid holidays, and 16 weeks of parental leave.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Matched and vested 401k plan.
• Access to resources for financial planning guidance, family planning services, mental health resources, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
• Additional benefits include commuter benefits, phone reimbursement, gym membership discounts, and more.

About Axel Springer

Axel Springer is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and, when making employment decisions, does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, age, nationality or national origin, religion, disability, familial status, and military or veteran status. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented groups to apply.

Contact Information

For more information about the application process, visit our FAQ page: career.axelspringer.com/en/faq.

Diversity Statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome all applications regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. For information on the representation of severely disabled individuals at Axel Springer, please refer to: https://career.axelspringer.com/en/rsde.

Contact Person

The contact person for this position (reference number REF2907F) is Sarah Michalczewska.