Private Equity Senior Associate

Private Equity Senior Associate, Full-time, Philadelphia, 4 - 6 Years of Experience

M&A for Ski & Outdoor Resort Properties Roll-Up

Picture building the next great outdoor recreation platform from the ground up: one mountain at a time. This family-backed challenger is rolling up ski and outdoor resort properties across the Northeast, positioning itself as the community-first, operator-led alternative to the large national consolidators. In under 12 months, it has gone from zero to four resorts (ski operations, mountain biking parks, zip lines, and whitewater facilities) with a pipeline of 15+ additional opportunities already in motion as the platform expands into new regions. Now it's making the leap from family capital to institutional backing, with more than two dozen investor conversations underway. Rarely does a platform this early, this fast-moving, and this well-capitalized come to market, and rarer still is the chance to help build it from the inside.

About the Role

The firm is seeking a Senior Associate to serve as the right-hand person to the Managing Director, who runs all deal and operational activity across the platform. The hire will work directly with the Managing Director on every aspect of the business: M&A execution, real estate negotiations, portfolio company operations, and building the infrastructure to support institutional growth. The Managing Director has personally negotiated all real estate alongside each acquisition to date.

This role carries a meaningful operational component beyond a typical deal-focused PE seat. Candidates should expect regular travel to resort properties to meet operating teams and develop deep familiarity with the assets. If you ski, mountain bike, or love the outdoors, that matters here. 

This is not a two-year program. The platform is growing fast, the geography is expanding nationally, and the right person will have a long runway and real impact from day one.

Key Responsibilities

Deal Execution

• Own deal workstreams end-to-end: financial modeling (LBO, M&A, returns analysis, scenario modeling), diligence coordination, IC memos, and purchase agreement support
• Support real estate negotiations alongside the Managing Director — a recurring and material component of every acquisition
• Manage lender relationships and debt financing processes across the portfolio
• Evaluate acquisition targets from a deep inbound pipeline and proactive outreach

• Travel to resort properties to engage with operating teams, understand day-to-day operations, and identify value creation opportunities
• Support integration workstreams following each new acquisition
• Assist with lender and investor reporting as the platform builds toward an institutional fundraise
• Support fundraising preparation and LP materials as the platform transitions to institutional capital
• Help build operational and analytical infrastructure as headcount and AUM grow

• 3–6 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, or a combination; LMM PE deal experience strongly preferred
• Strong financial modeling skills: LBO, M&A, returns analysis; comfortable building models from the ground up
• Genuine comfort with operational work and hands-on asset management — this is not a purely transactional role
• High ownership mentality; able to work independently on a lean team with minimal infrastructure
• Strong communicator — able to engage effectively with resort-level operators and institutional partners alike
• Philadelphia-based or willing to relocate; comfortable with regular travel to resort locations
• Passion for the outdoors, skiing, or mountain sports is a meaningful plus

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

About Soul Equity Solutions

Soul Equity is a retained Executive Search firm, dedicated exclusively to guiding Middle Market Private Equity Firms and their Portfolio Companies to best-in-class talent.

We work exclusively with Middle Market Private Equity firms to grow their internal teams and transform their portfolio companies. Our boutique recruiting experience is highly bespoke and curated to our clients’ needs.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.