Operating Principal - The Brydon Group

About The Brydon Group

The Brydon Group is a talent-first private equity firm based in Washington D.C. Brydon partners with exceptional mid-career executives to acquire and build leading businesses in software, healthcare, and business services. We emphasize strong leadership teams, operational value creation, and disciplined capital allocation. We are currently investing out of our Fund III which closed in July 2025.  

Role Overview

The Operating Principal is a unique hybrid role that integrates both deal team experience and portfolio value creation. This individual will help lead transactions end-to-end as a member of Brydon’s investment team while also serving as an active board member and operating partner to portfolio company leadership teams.

The role is designed for someone who has developed strong operational judgment and the ability to work directly with CEOs to drive strategy, execution, and results. The Operating Principal will play a critical role across thesis development, diligence, investment committee engagement, portfolio oversight, and exit planning, while also contributing to the firm’s broader platform-building efforts.

Key Responsibilities

Deal Team (≈70%)

• Lead and co-lead transactions across the full investment lifecycle, including sourcing, diligence, structuring, and execution
• Develop and refine investment theses, including market analysis, competitive positioning, and value creation opportunities
• Prepare and present materials to the Investment Committee
• Negotiate Letters of Intent (LOIs), purchase agreements, and financing terms in collaboration with internal and external partners and sellers
• Coach and apprentice early tenure members of the investment team on active deals, setting analytical standards and driving execution quality

Portfolio Operations & Value Creation (≈20%)

• Serve as a full board member for select portfolio companies, partnering closely with CEOs and executive teams
• Partner with the Portfolio operations team to lead and support value creation planning (including growth strategy, pricing, go-to-market optimization, and operational improvement initiatives), institutionalize best practices and scale operating playbooks across the portfolio
• Act as a trusted advisor to management teams on:
• Strategic planning and annual budgeting
• KPI development and performance management
• M&A strategy, including add-on acquisitions and integration
• Support executive recruiting, onboarding, and coaching in partnership with Brydon’s talent team as needed

Firm Building & Platform Development (≈10%)

• Contribute to the ongoing development of Brydon’s investment and operating model
• Build and maintain relationships with industry executives, operating partners, functional experts and third-party providers
• Support firm-wide initiatives related to platform creation, knowledge creation and radiation, and culture and talent development

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of experience in management consulting ideally with exposure to private equity due diligences and post-close value creation
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams and operate with senior-level judgment
• Strong strategic, financial and analytical skill set, with the ability to quickly learn aspects of deal execution that may be to new to a consulting background
• Experience and track record of success working directly with portfolio company leadership teams and boards
• Highly collaborative, entrepreneurial mindset with comfort operating in a dynamic, growing firm
• Prior management consulting background with PE or relevant corporate experience

What Makes This Role Distinct

• True investor-operator hybrid role with board-level accountability
• Unique opportunity for mid to upper-tenure consultants to transition to an active deal team and value creation role
• Meaningful carry participation and long-term leadership opportunity
• Ability to shape outcomes at both the deal level and operating level
• Direct access to firm leadership and influence across the investment platform
• A culture that values rigor, ownership, and partnership with management teams

Location / Benefits

• Compensation: Commensurate with experience and expected to range from $300,000 to $400,000 with potential for carried interest in addition.
• Location: on-site in our office in Washington, D.C. office (in-person role)
• Timeline: Start date in spring or summer 2026 (flexible with candidate and could start sooner)
• Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis