Role Overview for Operating Partner, FinTech & Digital with a Large PE Fund – New York, NY
JRG Partners has been exclusively retained by a premier, multi-billion dollar private equity fund to lead the search for a visionary and operationally-focused Operating Partner, FinTech & Digital. Based in their flagship New York office, this is a cornerstone role designed for a senior executive with a profound track record of building, scaling, and transforming technology-driven financial services companies. Our client is a top-quartile firm known for its deep sector expertise and a collaborative approach to value creation. As they continue to deploy significant capital into the dynamic FinTech and software sectors, they recognize the critical need for a dedicated partner who can bridge the gap between investment strategy and operational excellence.
This is not a traditional advisory position; it is a hands-on, high-impact leadership role. The Operating Partner will function as a strategic leader within the firm and a trusted C-level advisor to the management teams of portfolio companies. You will be the firm’s leading subject matter expert on all facets of digital and technology strategy, from product innovation and engineering excellence to go-to-market acceleration and operational scaling. The core mission is to act as a catalyst for growth, identifying and executing on opportunities that drive material EBITDA improvement and maximize enterprise value upon exit. You will work side-by-side with the investment team during due diligence and, more critically, post-investment to develop and implement robust, data-driven Value Creation Plans (VCPs). The ideal candidate is a former founder, CEO, CTO, or CPO from a successful, scaled FinTech or enterprise software company who possesses not only deep technical and product acumen but also a strong commercial and strategic mindset. You will be instrumental in shaping the fund’s investment thesis and ensuring its portfolio companies become market leaders through superior technology and digital execution.
Key Responsibilities of Operating Partner, FinTech & Digital with a Large PE Fund – New York, NY
The Operating Partner’s responsibilities are broad and strategic, spanning the entire investment lifecycle. Success in this role requires a dynamic ability to switch between high-level strategy and detailed operational execution.
Pre-Investment Due Diligence
Collaborate closely with investment teams to conduct comprehensive technology, product, and operational due diligence on potential acquisitions. This includes assessing the target’s technology architecture, scalability, engineering talent, product roadmap, competitive positioning, and overall digital maturity. You will be responsible for identifying key risks and opportunities that will inform the investment thesis and valuation.
Value Creation Plan (VCP) Development & Implementation
Post-acquisition, you will take the lead in crafting and executing bespoke VCPs for each portfolio company. This involves identifying the most critical levers for growth, which may include modernizing the tech stack, implementing a data analytics strategy, optimizing pricing and packaging, accelerating digital marketing efforts, improving product management processes, and enhancing cybersecurity protocols.
Portfolio Company Leadership & Mentorship
Serve as a dedicated resource, senior advisor, and often a board member for a select group of portfolio companies. You will build deep, trusted relationships with C-suite executives (CEOs, CTOs, CPOs), providing mentorship and hands-on support to help them navigate the challenges of rapid growth and transformation.
Operational Excellence and Transformation
Drive tangible operational improvements across the portfolio. This includes championing best practices in agile software development, DevOps, cloud infrastructure management, and data governance. You will help companies build scalable, efficient, and resilient operations that can support aggressive growth targets. The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of how to leverage global FinTech and digital transformation to create a competitive advantage.
Go-to-Market & Growth Strategy
Partner with portfolio company leadership to refine and execute their go-to-market strategies. This includes advising on product positioning, sales channel effectiveness, customer acquisition and retention, strategic partnerships, and potential international expansion.
Talent & Leadership Augmentation
Leverage your extensive network to help recruit and assess key technology and executive talent for portfolio companies. You will play a crucial role in building world-class leadership teams capable of executing the value creation plan.
Thought Leadership & Network Development
Act as a thought leader for the firm within the FinTech and software ecosystems. You will represent the fund at industry conferences, cultivate relationships with entrepreneurs and executives, and help source proprietary deal flow.
Requirements for the Operating Partner, FinTech & Digital with a Large PE Fund – New York, NY
We are seeking a candidate with a rare combination of deep operational experience, strategic insight, and an investor’s mindset. The qualifications for this demanding role are rigorous:
Executive Leadership Experience
A minimum of 15-20 years of professional experience, including a significant tenure in a senior P&L-responsible or technology leadership role (e.g., CEO, COO, President, CTO, CPO) at a high-growth, scaled FinTech or B2B software company. Experience leading a company through a successful exit (IPO or strategic acquisition) is highly advantageous.
Deep FinTech Domain Expertise
Demonstrable, hands-on expertise across multiple FinTech sub-sectors such as payments, digital lending, wealthtech, insurtech, regtech, blockchain, or embedded finance. You must be fluent in the business models, competitive landscapes, and regulatory environments of these sectors.
Private Equity Acumen
Direct experience working with or for a private equity firm is strongly preferred. The candidate must understand the PE investment lifecycle, the importance of an investment thesis, the dynamics of a leveraged capital structure, and the relentless focus on driving quantifiable ROI and a successful exit.
Proven Transformation & Scaling Record
A clear and demonstrable track record of driving significant technological and operational transformation that resulted in measurable business outcomes, such as accelerated revenue growth, margin expansion, and enhanced market positioning.
Technical & Product Credibility
While this is not a pure coding role, you must possess the technical depth to command the respect of CTOs and engineering teams. A strong understanding of modern technology paradigms, including cloud-native architecture (AWS, Azure, GCP), microservices, data science/AI/ML, and modern product management frameworks is essential.
Exceptional Communication & Influence
World-class communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to influence and build consensus among diverse stakeholders, from investment professionals and LPs to portfolio company CEOs and their frontline engineers, is paramount. Must have outstanding executive presence.
Financial Acumen
Strong financial literacy and the ability to connect operational initiatives directly to financial performance (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow). Experience with financial modeling and business case development is required.
Education
An undergraduate degree in a technical or quantitative field such as Computer Science, Engineering, or Economics is highly preferred. An MBA from a top-tier institution is a significant plus.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client offers a compensation and benefits package designed to attract and retain a leader of the highest caliber. This is an opportunity to have a significant impact on a leading investment firm and its portfolio of innovative companies.
Exceptional Compensation
A highly competitive package including a substantial base salary, annual performance-based bonus, and a significant carried interest allocation in the fund, providing a direct share in the success you help create.
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents, along with wellness programs and a health savings account (HSA).
Retirement Planning
A robust 401(k) plan with a generous employer match to help you plan for your long-term financial future.
Generous Time Off
A flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) policy, along with company holidays and comprehensive parental leave.
Professional Development
A dedicated budget for attending industry conferences, pursuing certifications, and engaging in other professional development opportunities to stay at the forefront of the industry.
Executive Support
Access to executive coaching, leadership development resources, and the full support of the firm’s extensive resources and network.
Unparalleled Impact
The unique opportunity to shape the future of multiple companies, mentor the next generation of FinTech leaders, and generate substantial wealth creation for yourself and the firm’s investors.
How to Apply
JRG Partners is proud to be the exclusive recruitment partner for this critical search. We are committed to a transparent, confidential, and respectful recruitment process. If you are a transformative technology leader with the experience and ambition to excel in this Operating Partner role, we encourage you to apply.
Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience and qualifications. Please direct all applications and inquiries through JRG Partners. To learn more about our expertise in this domain, please visit our Private Equity practice area page. We look forward to reviewing your application.
JRG Partners and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
