Senior Associate / Investment Manager | Middle Market | Private Equity

We are partnering with a leading global alternative investment firm to hire a German-speaking Senior Associate or Investment Manager for its Hamburg-based DACH private equity team. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a highly active middle-market investor with a global platform, and, critically, to step in at the very start of a freshly raised fund, with substantial dry powder ready to deploy across the German-speaking region.

The Opportunity, Timing

The successful candidate will hit the ground running on a recently closed, oversubscribed €1+ billion European lower-middle-market fund, one of the most in-demand vehicles of its 2026 vintage. With a large pool of committed, uninvested capital, this is a rare chance to be involved in shaping a portfolio from the outset rather than inheriting a mature book. Expect a high volume of live deal activity, immediate deployment pressure, and the visibility that comes with building a fund's track record from day one.

The Firm

• A leading global alternative investment firm managing approximately $75 billion of capital, with a clear focus on the middle market and a 30+ year track record.
• Over 500 investment professionals across 18+ offices spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia.
• One of the most active investors in its segment, having backed more than 400 companies since inception, with a current portfolio generating combined sales in excess of $50 billion.
• A deep European franchise with 150+ investment professionals and a 19-year regional track record, anchored by the recently closed €1.6 billion European lower-middle-market fund (final close January 2026, above target).
• Additional firepower across the platform, including a newly raised small-cap buyout strategy and a $5.9 billion middle-market direct-lending fund, giving the DACH team flexible capital and cross-strategy deal support.
• A hands-on, operationally focused value-creation model, specialising in management buyouts, carve-outs, recapitalisations, growth investments, and complex or under-managed situations.

The Role

• As a Senior Associate or Investment Manager on the DACH middle-market team, you will be at the centre of deal origination and execution across German-speaking markets, working directly with senior dealmakers on a fund with significant capital to put to work.
• Lead financial modelling, LBO analysis, and valuation on new investment opportunities.
• Coordinate and manage due diligence workstreams alongside advisors and management teams.
• Prepare investment committee materials and support transactions end-to-end.
• Assess corporate carve-outs, buy-and-build opportunities, and complex transaction dynamics.
• Work closely with portfolio company management on value-creation and operational initiatives post-close.

Your Profile

• Fluent German and English (fluent German is essential).
• A strong pedigree from a top-tier strategy consultancy (MBB preferred) or a Tier 1 investment bank or private equity firm. The team's own background spans McKinsey, Bain, and Roland Berger.
• Typically 4 to 7 years of relevant experience in PE, IB, or strategy consulting, with the level (Senior Associate or Investment Manager) calibrated to experience.
• Excellent analytical, financial modelling, and commercial skills, with strong attention to detail.
• An entrepreneurial, ownership-driven mindset and the resilience to thrive on complex deals.

Why This Role

• Join at the ground floor of a freshly raised fund, deploying fresh dry powder into new platform investments rather than managing a legacy portfolio.
• Direct exposure to complex, high-impact middle-market transactions from day one.
• A lean, high-performing DACH team backed by the resources of a global platform spanning private equity, growth, and direct lending.
• Genuine responsibility and accelerated progression within one of the most active investors in the mid-cap space.