Overview
Operating Partner – Industrials & Manufacturing (Mid-Market PE) Jobs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Madison Hunt
Title: Operating Partner – Industrials & Manufacturing (Mid-Market PE)
Company: Madison Hunt
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Client
Our client is a mid-market private equity investor with a strong track record of value creation across the industrials and manufacturing sectors. With a portfolio spanning Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, the firm partners closely with management teams to drive operational transformation, margin improvement and sustainable growth. As the portfolio continues to expand, they are seeking an experienced Operating Partner to take ownership of value creation across the platform.
The Role
As Operating Partner, you will work hand-in-hand with the investment team, portfolio company CEOs and management teams to design and deliver value creation plans across a portfolio of industrials and manufacturing businesses. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who thrives close to the operations of a business, not just the boardroom.
You will be based in Melbourne, with regular travel across the ANZ and SEA portfolio.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design and execution of 100-day plans and multi-year value creation strategies across portfolio companies in industrials and manufacturing
- Partner directly with portfolio company CEOs and leadership teams to drive operational improvement, including manufacturing efficiency, supply chain optimisation, procurement, pricing and commercial excellence
- Support the investment team through the diligence process, providing an operational lens on new investment opportunities and identifying value creation levers pre-deal
- Sit on the board or operating committee of select portfolio companies, providing hands-on operational guidance and challenge
- Build and embed performance management frameworks (KPIs, dashboards, operating cadences) across the portfolio
- Identify and lead cross-portfolio initiatives, including procurement synergies, shared services and best-practice sharing between businesses
- Support management team upgrades where required, including recruitment of key operating executives
- Travel regularly across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia to work directly with portfolio company teams on the ground
- Report on portfolio performance and value creation progress to the investment committee
The Candidate
- Significant operating experience within industrials and/or manufacturing businesses, ideally including a senior operational leadership role (COO, MD, VP Operations or similar) within a private equity-backed or high-growth environment
- Prior experience as an Operating Partner, or in industrial/manufacturing operations consulting (e.g. lean, Six Sigma, operational due diligence) with a track record of hands-on delivery, will also be considered
- A track record of driving measurable operational and financial improvement in a business — margin expansion, productivity gains, working capital improvement or supply chain transformation
- Comfortable operating across multiple businesses and geographies simultaneously, with strong prioritisation and stakeholder management skills
- Experience across ANZ and/or South East Asian manufacturing markets highly regarded
- Credible, hands-on operator who can build trust quickly with founders and management teams, while also being comfortable challenging and holding teams accountable
- Strong commercial and financial acumen; comfortable engaging with investment teams on deal economics and value creation modelling
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively across the region
Offering
- The opportunity to shape value creation strategy across a growing portfolio, with real influence and autonomy
- Direct exposure to the investment process and partnership with a high-calibre deal team
- A senior, high-visibility role within a collegiate, entrepreneurial firm
