LOCATION New York, NY, USA Hybrid (2-3 days a week in Office) JOB DESCRIPTION Interplay is looking for a Partner to lead and scale our new private equity division. Interplay is a startup ecosystem that supports founders via venture capital, an accelerator, a studio, a platform of core business services, and a multi-family office. This new division will focus on acquiring control and meaningful minority positions in established, profitable private companies by generating attractive risk-adjusted returns through disciplined sourcing, value creation, and operational improvement. We’re going to be taking a uniquely long-term view when we invest; this role will likely appeal to strategic thinkers that want to use duration as an advantage. The right person for this role will have the opportunity to build and grow a best-in-class private equity platform within Interplay, achieving financial success and professional fulfillment in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment. We are looking for a high-caliber investment professional with deep expertise in buyout investing, valuation, deal structuring, and operational value creation. This person will work closely with the other partners at Interplay to establish and scale our private equity practice. This could be the last stop in this person's career. WHAT YOU’LL DO * Build and lead Interplay's private equity division, creating an operational framework for long-term success. * Develop the investment thesis, target sectors, and return profile for the strategy. * Identify, source, and assess control and meaningful minority investment opportunities in established private companies. * Lead due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation, and transaction execution from LOI through close. * Drive post-close value creation — partnering with management teams on growth, operational improvement, and strategic initiatives. * Establish and maintain relationships with LPs, co-investors, lenders, intermediaries, and strategic partners. * Construct and oversee a portfolio of investments, ensuring strong risk-adjusted returns and disciplined portfolio construction. * Design and optimize workflows for sourcing, due diligence, transaction execution, portfolio monitoring, and reporting. * Stay ahead of trends in private equity markets and position Interplay as a key player in the space. WHO YOU ARE * You are a self starter and motivated to learn. * You are a problem solver and someone who's not afraid to get their hands dirty. * You are a swiss army knife who can handle a multitude of different responsibilities. * You are organized. * You have experience managing timelines and are able to organize information into plans. * You have a creative mindset and can generate innovative ideas for sourcing, value creation, and portfolio support, always staying ahead of industry trends. * You are a proactive problem solver, capable of identifying potential issues and providing timely solutions. * You are a team player with excellent interpersonal skills, collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and building strong relationships. * You are highly organized, capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality and professionalism. * You are tech-savvy and comfortable working with various software and tools related to deal sourcing, financial modeling, portfolio monitoring, and data management. * A person who gets things done, finds a way around walls and pursues excellence. * If you're an MBA student, you're likely the person who everyone knows doesn't belong in an MBA program - you're the outlier. The concepts come easily to you, you know you're capable of doing big things and you feel as though your ability to spread your wings professionally is throttled by your experience not your capabilities. REQUIRED SKILLS * Experience in private equity, buyouts, growth equity, investment banking, or corporate strategy. * Ability to source and execute control or meaningful minority investments in private companies. * Expertise in financial modeling, LBO analysis, valuation, and investment due diligence. * Ability to engage and build relationships with limited partners, management teams, intermediaries, and co-investors. * Operational skills to build and scale a high-growth investment practice. PREFERRED SKILLS * Laugh. Often. * Have a great attitude and are willing to get their hands dirty. * Are willing to run through brick walls without a helmet. * Have a love for finance, problem-solving, and winning. * Have relevant work experience, preferably from private equity, growth equity, investment banking, strategy consulting, corporate development, or relevant operating experience inside a PE-backed company. * Have an undergraduate degree from a top university with a strong academic background in finance or another quantitative major and relevant internship experience. An MBA/CFA is nice to have. * Are savvy with spreadsheets and financial models. * Are hyper-organized. * Have the ability to work well in an unstructured environment. * Operating or board-level experience inside a PE-backed company is a plus.