Engagement Lead - CDD

Engagement Lead - CDD (Commercial Due Diligence)

Boutique Strategy & Transaction Advisory Firm | Boston, MA

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $225,000 – $250,000
• Bonus: 25–50% performance-based
• Healthcare: medical, dental, vision
• Additional benefits: maternity/paternity leave, gym membership, 401(k)

About the Firm

This is a boutique strategy and commercial due diligence advisory firm based in Boston. The firm works primarily with private equity clients across the lower middle market through to large-cap funds, supporting investment decisions through high-impact commercial due diligence and transaction advisory work.

The team is intentionally lean, with most of the team at Consultant and Senior Associate level. The firm is currently in a growth phase and is strengthening its senior leadership structure, particularly at Principal and Associate Partner level, to support increasing deal flow and client demand.

2026 has been a year of continued growth, with strong private equity demand driving a need to expand senior capability and deepen leadership bandwidth across engagements.

The Role

The firm is seeking an Engagement Lead (fast-track to Associate Partner) to lead Commercial Due Diligence engagements and play a key role in shaping the continued growth and structure of the business.

This is a hands-on leadership role in a lean, high-intensity consulting environment, offering significant client exposure and ownership of end-to-end delivery.

The successful candidate will have a clear progression path toward Associate Partner and ultimately Partner level, depending on performance and firm growth trajectory.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Due Diligence Leadership

• Lead end-to-end commercial due diligence engagements (typically 2–4 weeks duration) for private equity clients
• Own project scoping, execution, and final investment recommendation
• Conduct and oversee market sizing, growth analysis, competitive landscaping, and customer/expert interviews
• Develop clear, investment-grade narratives for PE stakeholders and investment committees

Client Leadership & Delivery

• Act as primary client interface on engagements with private equity sponsors
• Lead presentations, workshops, and final readouts
• Translate complex quantitative and qualitative analysis into clear, decision-ready insights

Team Leadership

• Manage small, high-performing teams (typically 2–5 consultants/associates per engagement)
• Mentor and develop junior team members in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Contribute to a high-performance, collaborative team culture

Firm Building

• Support the development of methodologies and best practices for commercial due diligence delivery
• Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, and development of junior talent
• Play an active role in shaping a growing boutique advisory firm

Experience Required

• 5–8 years’ experience in strategy consulting, commercial due diligence, or transaction advisory
• Proven track record of leading ~15 CDD or PE-focused engagements end-to-end
• Strong exposure to private equity clients across buy-side and/or sell-side work
• Background from top-tier strategy firms, boutique CDD firms, or Big 4 Deals / Strategy practices

Core Skills

• Strong commercial acumen and structured problem solving
• Deep experience in market sizing, competitive analysis, and investment case development
• Excellent client-facing and presentation skills
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, short-duration (2–4 week) engagement cycles
• Experience leading small teams in high-intensity environments

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial mindset with appetite to help build a growing firm
• Strong mentoring capability and interest in developing junior talent
• High ownership, accountability, and resilience under pressure
• Comfortable operating in a lean, high-expectation consulting environment
• Passion for private equity and transaction-driven advisory work

Culture & Environment

The firm operates as a small, high-performance consulting environment characterised by:

• Fast-paced, short-cycle engagements
• Small teams and high individual ownership
• Significant client exposure at all levels
• Entrepreneurial, “build-as-you-go” culture
• Strong emphasis on mentorship and development of junior talent
• Informal but high-intensity working style, with close team collaboration

This is not a large, structured corporate environment - rather, it is a hands-on, high-impact boutique where individuals directly shape outcomes and firm growth.

Career Progression

• Principal → fast-track to Associate Partner
• Clear pathway toward Partner-level leadership
• Significant exposure to private equity clients and deal advisory work
• Opportunity to directly influence the growth and direction of the firm

Contact - Carl Costigan