Job Description

Private Equity Business Development Associate

About the Firm

The Business Development Associate will be responsible for driving this firm's proprietary deal origination efforts alongside the Managing Director of Business Development. Taking a proactive, high-activity approach, this individual will identify and reach founders and CEOs of lower-middle-market companies and converting early conversations into off-market investment opportunities. This is not a traditional BD role focused on banker and intermediary relationships; it is a direct sourcing role for someone who is entrepreneurial, comfortable picking up the phone, and eager to build a career in private equity.

Key Responsibilities

Direct Sourcing & Outreach

• Build and maintain targeted lists of lower-middle-market companies in Iron Path's core sectors through systematic research and market mapping.
• Conduct proactive outreach — cold calling and emailing founders and CEOs to introduce Iron Path and generate initial conversations.
• Attend industry conferences and networking events to build direct relationships with business owners in target sectors.
• Fill the MD's calendar with proprietary, off-market opportunities and manage the top-of-funnel sourcing pipeline with discipline.

Research & Market Intelligence

• Research investment themes and develop sector-specific company lists aligned with Iron Path's strategy.
• Track industry trends and competitive dynamics to sharpen targeting and inform outreach approach.
• Maintain a proprietary database of target companies and relationship history.
  

Firm Initiatives & Coordination

• Provide regular reporting on sourcing activity, pipeline status, and conversion metrics.
• Coordinate with the investment team as proprietary conversations mature into active opportunities.
• As the firm grows, support Iron Path's "full immersion" model by extending direct sourcing capabilities to portfolio companies.

Professional Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 1–2 years of experience in a sales, business development, or outreach-intensive role — private equity background not required; non-traditional backgrounds strongly encouraged (pharma/med device sales, tech/SaaS sales, expert networks, executive search).
• Demonstrated comfort with cold calling, outbound prospecting, and rejection — hustle and persistence are core to this role.
• Strong research and organizational skills; ability to build target lists, manage a high-volume pipeline, and track activity rigorously.
• Entrepreneurial mindset — comfortable building from scratch, operating with ambiguity, and working without a defined playbook.
• Genuine interest in private equity and a long-term orientation toward building a career in the industry.
• Low ego, collaborative, team-oriented — culture fit is as important as skill set in a small, tight-knit firm.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with professional presence engaging founders and senior executives.

Salary

Salary is competitive, depending on experience.

Find your fit - View all open positions at Soul Equity.

About Soul Equity Solutions

Soul Equity Solutions is a NYC based boutique executive search firm, exclusively recruiting for Private Equity Middle Market firms. We conduct searches at all seniority levels throughout the US for both investor roles and non-investing roles (including Business Development, Investor Relations). We are well known for our highly boutique, specialized service. Our clients and candidates rely on our personal approach, strong connections, and supportive process to meet their objectives.

This firm is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.