VP/Director of Buy-Side Advisory

Masswell is seeking an entrepreneurial senior M&A professional to launch and lead its buy-side advisory practice.

This individual will be responsible for developing the practice, originating client engagements and overseeing the complete acquisition process—from defining acquisition criteria and identifying targets through outreach, valuation, diligence, negotiation and closing.

The right candidate will combine transaction execution experience with strong business-development instincts. This is not simply an execution position. It is an opportunity to build a new business line with the support of an established advisory platform, existing industry relationships, marketing infrastructure and analytical resources.

The successful candidate will have substantial autonomy over the practice and a defined opportunity to participate in its long-term profitability.

• Develop and execute Masswell’s buy-side advisory strategy.
• Establish service offerings, engagement structures, pricing and client-delivery standards.
• Build repeatable systems for target identification, outreach, qualification and transaction management.
• Create reporting tools that provide clients with visibility into target pipelines and sourcing activity.
• Recruit, train and manage additional buy-side professionals as the practice grows.
• Collaborate with Masswell’s existing team to develop marketing materials, market research and thought leadership.
  

• Originate buy-side mandates from private-equity firms, family offices, strategic acquirers and acquisition entrepreneurs.
• Develop relationships with executives, investors, lenders, attorneys, accountants and other referral sources.
• Convert existing Masswell relationships into recurring buy-side engagements.
• Lead prospective-client meetings, prepare proposals and negotiate engagement terms.
• Represent Masswell at relevant industry and M&A events.
  

• Translate client acquisition objectives into actionable search criteria.
• Develop proprietary acquisition target lists using internal research, industry databases and market intelligence.
• Design and manage multichannel outreach campaigns targeting business owners and executives.
• Conduct direct conversations with prospective sellers and assess their interest, expectations and readiness.
• Build relationships with targets that may require long-term cultivation before becoming actionable.
  

• Evaluate acquisition targets strategically and financially.
• Develop valuations, transaction models and preliminary investment analyses.
• Prepare indications of interest, letters of intent and related transaction materials.
• Coordinate financial, legal, commercial and operational diligence.
• Manage communication among clients, sellers, attorneys, lenders, accountants and other advisors.
• Assist clients with transaction structuring, negotiation and financing.
• Maintain momentum, identify transaction risks and lead engagements through closing.
  

• Approximately 8–15 years of relevant experience in investment banking, corporate development, private equity, M&A advisory or transaction-oriented business development.
• Demonstrated experience executing buy-side or sell-side M&A transactions.
• Strong understanding of the full acquisition lifecycle.
• Experience advising or acquiring founder-owned, family-owned or lower-middle-market businesses.
• Ability to originate client engagements or demonstrated potential to develop into a successful originator.
• Experience sourcing proprietary acquisition opportunities is strongly preferred.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation and transaction-structuring capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with business owners, senior executives and institutional investors.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to build systems, processes and a team.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, CPA or CFA designation is beneficial.
• FINRA Series 79 and 63 registrations preferred, or the ability to obtain required registrations.
  

Experience in one or more of the following sectors is beneficial:

• Industrial and commercial services
• HVAC, plumbing and mechanical contracting
• Environmental, septic and wastewater services
• Specialty manufacturing and metal fabrication
• Building products and construction services
• Automotive products and services
• Healthcare and physician services
• Business services
• Specialty distribution
• Candidates do not need experience in every sector. Broader lower-middle-market M&A experience is more important than a narrow industry specialization.