Investment Manager – Special Situations

Location: Frankfurt, Germany

Sector: Special Situations / Distressed Private Equity / Turnaround Investing

Seniority: Investment Manager (5-10 years of experience)

A private equity investment platform is seeking an Investment Manager to support the execution of special situations and turnaround investments across the German-speaking mid-market. The team focuses on complex transactions involving underperforming businesses, carve-outs, and restructuring scenarios, combining disciplined investment execution with hands-on post-acquisition involvement.

Working within a lean and execution-driven environment, the role offers full-cycle deal responsibility, close collaboration with management teams, and meaningful exposure to operational and financial restructuring processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Transaction Execution: Lead and execute special situations investments across the full transaction lifecycle, including sourcing, financial modelling, valuation, due diligence, structuring, negotiation, and closing.
• Special Situations Analysis: Assess complex investment scenarios such as carve-outs, underperformance, liquidity stress, and balance-sheet challenges; evaluate downside risks and recovery potential.
• Deal Structuring & Financing: Design equity and financing structures; coordinate with banks, lenders, advisors, and other stakeholders on refinancing, recapitalisation, or restructuring processes.
• Portfolio Involvement: Act as a key contact for portfolio companies, working closely with management teams on performance stabilisation, operational improvement, and strategic repositioning.
• Value Creation & Turnaround Support: Identify and support operational and financial improvement initiatives, including cost optimisation, liquidity management, and strategic realignment.
• Investment Committee & Stakeholder Materials: Prepare investment memoranda, financial analyses, and presentations for internal decision-making and senior stakeholders.
• Advisor Coordination: Manage external advisors across financial, commercial, legal, and operational workstreams throughout transactions and portfolio ownership.
• Exit Preparation: Support value crystallisation and exit processes, including equity story development, vendor due diligence, and transaction execution.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience: 5–10 years’ experience in private equity, special situations investing, restructuring-focused platforms, or transaction advisory with clear buy-side execution exposure.
• Buy-Side Track Record: Demonstrated involvement in principal investing, including end-to-end deal execution and post-acquisition responsibility.
• Special Situations Exposure: Experience with underperforming businesses, carve-outs, restructuring, or complex stakeholder environments; distressed or stress-adjacent exposure is strongly preferred.
• Analytical Strength: Excellent financial modelling, valuation, and scenario analysis skills; strong understanding of capital structures and cash-flow dynamics.
• Execution Mindset: Hands-on, pragmatic, resilient, and comfortable operating in complex and fast-moving situations with high responsibility.
• Communication Skills: Clear, structured communication and confidence working with management teams, lenders, advisors, and senior investment professionals.
• Languages: Fluent German and English required.
• Education: Strong academic background in finance, economics, business, or a related analytical discipline.
• Location: Frankfurt-based role with regular interaction across the DACH region.

Please apply by submitting your CV.