Vice President, Investment Team, North America

Main Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and strategic direction to NCA’s Investment Team; build culture, set objectives, and drive professional development.
• Hire, coach, and mentor investment professionals and searchers; establish consistent standards of excellence and feedback rhythms.
• Own pipeline management, resourcing, and prioritization across multiple concurrent processes.
• Design and continuously improve the end-to-end investment process for lower mid-market acquisitions in the Operator-Led Search model.
• Own valuation frameworks, financial model standards, and deal structuring playbooks; ensure consistency and quality.
• Oversee preparation of Investment Committee materials and present/participate in IC discussions.
• Institutionalize templates for deal memoranda, LOIs, diligence trackers, and 100-day plans.
• Work with and advise searchers on the evaluation, structuring, and execution of M&A transactions.
• Take ultimate ownership of financial models and valuations for potential transactions.
• Oversee and review deal memoranda prepared by searchers prior to investor presentations.
• Review and provide final approval on offer letters and, alongside searchers, negotiate key deal terms with sellers.
• Oversee operator-led commercial due diligence and third-party diligence workstreams.
• Collaborate with searchers to ensure successful execution of transactions.
• Proactively originate opportunities through the NCA searcher network and external intermediaries; maintain senior relationships with brokers, bankers, and advisors.
• Lead negotiations on complex terms (earn-outs, seller notes, R&W insurance, rollover equity) and drive to executable LOIs and SPAs.
• Carefully coordinate legal, tax, and regulatory workstreams, ensuring compliance (including KYC/AML and sanctions where applicable).
• Represent NCA credibly to investors, sellers, advisors, and the broader ETA/search fund ecosystem.
• Contribute thought leadership (events, content, panels) to elevate NCA’s brand.

Must Have

• 5-7 years of relevant experience in private equity, investment banking, or principal investing.
• Experience in search funds or supporting search fund operators.
• Demonstrated success leading and managing remote high-performing CEOs and investment teams.
• Prominent track record of sourcing, structuring, and executing complex M&A transactions.
• Strong expertise in financial modelling, valuation, and deal structuring.
• Exceptional negotiation, relationship management, and leadership skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on driving successful outcomes.
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree.
• Deep familiarity with lower mid-market / SMB buyouts (typical EV $15-80m) and founder-owned businesses.
• Outstanding communication skills with boardroom presence; able to coach upcoming CEOs and present to IC.
• Right to work in North America; ability to travel as required.
• Sit on the board of select portfolio companies as an NCA representative.

Nice to Have

• Established network of relationships with investors, advisors, and intermediaries.
• Experience with cross-border or small/mid-market M&A transactions.
• Track record of mentoring and developing investment professionals.
• Experience leading international teams in a dynamic environment.
• Exposure to the ETA/search ecosystem (accelerators, lenders, R&W providers) and sector theses relevant to NCA.
• CFA charter holder or similar credential.