Senior Director

Description

Department: Private Equity Performance Improvement (PEPI)

Alvarez and Marsals dedicated PEPI professionals work with Investors and their portfolio companies to provide independent analysis and end to end services across the investment life cycle that deliver results in every economic cycle.

Whether serving in a performance improvement advisory capacity for an under-performing company or in interim management roles, we draw on a deep operational heritage and proven approaches, such as our proprietary diagnostic the Rapid Results Program, which helps to quickly and effectively assess business process management risks and identify key areas impeding performance.

Through our PEPI practice, Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) offers assistance to private equity owned portfolio companies that are under-performing or with a need of re-organisation and re-positioning. Working directly with company management, A&M's involvement reassures all stakeholders that the company is taking important steps to address its problems and maximise its value.

Purpose of the role:

We are looking to hire someone who has a successful track record within the Private Equity-led pre and post deal transformation space, combining a blend of operational and commercial skills, an entrepreneurial approach and networks across the Private Equity community. The role will involve both selling and delivering initial rapid diagnostic into a company's immediate and future major operational issues. This will include our market-leading Operational Due Diligence product, focusing on profitability, cost base, manufacturing processes and all other options for performance improvement. As such, you will be an expert at evaluating both cost reduction and revenue enhancement opportunities for PE-owned portfolio companies.

Building on the success of the A&M brand and supported by the European Performance Improvement team, you will help build the profile and reputation of A&M PEPI in the European and local Private Equity market, the successful candidate will bring proven leadership experience from both operational and advisory roles across multiple sectors, as well as a strong network of high-level Private Equity contacts.

The preferred candidate will play a lead role in both developing and executing a specific strategy focused on target clients and distinctive go-to-market propositions, identifying targeted solutions which are ahead of the market curve. They will reflect the operational distinctiveness that is A&M; a business savvy, solution focused business entrepreneur determined to make a difference and not afraid to challenge the status-quo.

This is a great opportunity for an individual to use their deep Private Equity network and industry experience to become involved and be an integral part of a hands on high performance team. As a valued and senior member of the team, you will work on a variety of pan-European assignments, leveraging your industry knowledge and experience supporting clients across a broad range of mission critical situations.

The SD will work closely with Partners/Managing Directors, taking on mentoring and coaching roles for more junior staff members, aligned with the practices broader staff development strategy. You will benefit from constant exposure to some of the toughest and critical challenges facing the Private Equity industry and our clients, and need to be comfortable with driving change and delivering outstanding results.

Responsibilities

The Senior Director (SD) will have a key role in helping A&M PEPI to both grow market share in the Benelux region as well as both grow and develop our local PEPI team. Assignments may range from advising and executing on identified performance improvement initiatives (revenue growth, cost optimization, digital transformation), undertaking operational due diligence (ODD) projects, delivering transformation programs, performing interim management roles or working across other complex strategic issues facing clients.

Specifically, the SD will be tasked to:

• Building a robust yet flexible plan to generate both deal flow and develop a sustainable business, externally and internally. The successful appointee will be an expert in selling and delivering both pre-deal, post-deal advisory & interim assignments;
• Contribute strongly to business development activity including developing successful pitches and selling, on from the initial diagnostic project phase into implementation work;
• Grow our practice through strengthening our Private Equity business, broadening out our routes to market, developing and leveraging senior relationships and working with our European partnership group;
• Initial rapid diagnostics & ODDs looking into a company's immediate and future major operational issues, digital propositions, product profitability, cost base, processes and overall options for performance improvement;
• Plan accounts strategy for long-term profitable growth and position A&M PEPI as a thought partner and business leader within the account;
• Selling and delivering ODDs, 100-day planning, post-merger integration and performance improvement mandates;
• Advising and implementing performance improvement programs for major corporations across a wide range of industry sectors;
• Evaluating both cost reduction and revenue enhancement opportunities;
• Leading the post-acquisition work to ensure that the ODD was realized in full and in the shortest possible time.

Requirements

The successful candidate will be a high-energy business leader with excellent financial skills, an operational background and a track record of executional success. They will also bring proven track record in selling, promoting and growing a successful practice group within a major advisory firm, with Private Equity clients as an important client base.

Essential:

• A significant and well-developed senior network across the Private Equity business leader communities- in particular within the Netherlands.
• Be able to demonstrate a successful track record in converting business contacts and leads into sustainable, profitable revenue streams;
• Must have successful and significant experience in the selling, diagnostics & delivery of and performance improvement mandates within the Private Equity European market from either a) a Top Tier strategy consultancy, b) private equity fund or c) Big 4 advisory firm;
• A recent track record of both successfully selling & delivering major operational due diligence (ideally in a client-site focused delivery model) assignments at pre and post deal;
• Operational experience of delivering performance improvement, turnaround or digital transformation mandates, across the following areas:
  • Initial rapid diagnostic into a company's immediate and future major operational issues, product profitability, cost base, processes and new or enhanced digital options for performance improvement;
  • Evaluating both cost reduction and revenue enhancement opportunities
  • Developing and implementing a new operating plans to improve the business operational performance;
• Have a professional demeanour with requisite gravitas including having had a strong exposure to client facing activities and be able to deal with top executives in complex and high-pressured situations;
• Ability to interpret client requirements and present it in a clear and meaningful way, including how this could impact strategy, revenue streams or wider business issues;
• Strong ability to conceptualize, summarize and provide key messages to clients and/or senior levels and consultant teams alike;
• Native fluency in both Dutch and English language skills are must haves.

Desirable:

• MBA or financial qualification preferred;
• Additional European languages are also highly desirable;
• Have a varied cross sector background including telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, energy, retail, consumer goods, transport, business services and healthcare.

Why A&M?

Companies, investors and government entities around the world turn to Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) for leadership, action and results. A&Ms leadership is about a bias towards action and the willingness to tell clients what we think is needed. Our restructuring heritage sharpens our ability to act decisively. Clients select us for our deep expertise and ability to create and deliver practical, rather than theoretical, solutions to their unique problems in addition to our objectivity.

Privately held since its founding in 1983, A&M is a leading global professional services firm that provides advisory, business performance improvement and turnaround management services. When conventional approaches are not enough to create transformation and drive change, clients seek our deep expertise and ability to deliver practical solutions to their unique problems.

With over 9,000 people across fiveur continents, we deliver tangible results for corporates, boards, private equity firms, law firms and government agencies facing complex challenges. Our senior leaders, and their teams help companies act decisively, catapult growth and accelerate results. We are experienced operators, world-class consultants, former regulators and industry authorities with a shared commitment to telling clients whats really needed for turning change into a strategic business asset, managing risk and unlocking value at every stage of growth.

Our lifestyle and values:

Attracted by our meritocratic culture and the opportunity to build a business with like-minded individuals, our people have joined A&M from senior roles industry and commerce, the Big 4, top tier strategy houses, private equity firms, hedge funds and leading financial services institutions. A&M is an outcomes focused business founded on the principles of objectivity, pragmatism and tangible and measurable success.

Our people have built their credentials through careers that combine experience in industry management and professional services. A&M has a proven track record of managing complex, high profile situations and delivery through world class expertise and excellence in execution. The culture of the business offers variety of skill, language, heritage and professional background and therefore is unique in terms of style and approach. This is a business where your colleagues are your best allies and ideally, your best friends. A business where good friendships thrive and trust is as true internally as with the client. Furthermore, the values of the business which include integrity and fun as well as just reward for great work comes to life when you become part of the team.