Director, Private Equity Performance Improvement

About the role

Alvarez & Marsal's Private Equity Performance Improvement (PEPI) practice works with leading private equity investors and their portfolio companies across Europe, supporting clients from pre-deal diligence through value creation, transformation, post-merger integration, carve-outs and exit readiness. This Director role leads complex PEPI engagements across Europe, working with deal teams, operating partners, boards and management teams to turn performance diagnostics into measurable improvements in EBITDA, cash flow, working capital and enterprise value.

Key responsibilities

• Lead complex PEPI engagements across Europe, including rapid diagnostics, value creation planning, 100-day planning, operational and commercial due diligence, transformation, post-merger integration and carve-out delivery.
• Work directly with deal teams, operating partners, boards and management teams to identify, quantify and deliver value creation opportunities.
• Turn diligence findings and performance diagnostics into executable transformation plans with priorities, owners, milestones, KPIs and benefit tracking.
• Mobilise and manage multi-disciplinary teams across PEPI Europe and other practices, delivering high quality under demanding timelines.
• Lead, coach and develop junior colleagues.
• Contribute to business development, including client relationship management, pitch development, proposal writing and converting diagnostic phases into implementation work.
• Work with the European Managing Director group on propositions, go-to-market materials, thought leadership and sector or functional growth initiatives.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in consulting, private equity, transaction advisory, corporate transformation or senior operational performance improvement roles.
• Proven track record of leading transformation, value creation or transaction-related engagements in private equity contexts.
• Strong understanding of the private equity lifecycle and the expectations of PE sponsors and operating partners.
• Strong business development skills and ability to build trusted relationships with private equity sponsors and portfolio company leadership.
• Objective, fact-based, pragmatic approach and hands-on, non-hierarchical leadership style.
• Master's degree from a leading university or equivalent strong academic background.
• Fluency in German and English is essential; additional European languages are a plus.

Required skills

• Deep expertise in at least two of: operational due diligence, commercial due diligence, performance improvement, carve-outs, post-merger integration, operations, supply chain, procurement, commercial excellence, finance transformation, working capital or cash improvement.
• Strong financial acumen, connecting operational initiatives to EBITDA, cash flow, working capital, P&L and balance sheet impact.