Our client is a Private Equity fund seeking an experienced, hands‑on operating leader to drive value creation across sponsor-backed portfolio companies within ANZ. This high-impact role partners with deal teams, boards and management to underwrite, design and deliver post‑investment transformation programs — from diligence through execution to exit — often stepping into senior operating roles to secure results.

Key responsibilities

- Lead operational and commercial due diligence to identify high‑impact value levers and translate findings into a credible post‑investment value creation agenda.

- Own design and deployment of transformation programs (strategy to execution), including OGSM/goal-setting, roadmaps, KPIs, dashboards and operating rhythms.

- Embed practical, sustainable operating toolkits and governance across portfolio companies; tailor approaches to business context.

- Drive performance improvement themes: margin enhancement, cost reduction, cashflow optimisation, commercial excellence, pricing, strategic sourcing, process improvement, digital transformation and post‑merger integration.

- Mobilise and coordinate cross‑functional teams and external specialists to deliver workstream priorities and accelerate time to value.

- Act as a trusted partner to CEOs and boards: provide structured governance, progress reporting, and, where needed, support C‑suite hiring, transitions and executive development.





- Coach and build capability in management teams to sustain improvements; step into interim COO/Chief Transformation Officer roles when required.

- Contribute to continuous improvement of regional operating playbooks and share best practices across the team.

Experience & skills

- 10–15 years of combined experience across top‑tier management consulting and substantive in‑house operating roles (P&L; ownership, GM, transformation leadership), with demonstrable execution track record.

- Proven ability to deliver measurable P&L; and cash‑flow impact on the ground.

- Robust analytical, financial and commercial judgment; highly numerate and comfortable with financial modelling and KPIs.

- Hands‑on, execution‑oriented, pragmatic approach; willing to roll up sleeves.

- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills with credibility to operate as a peer to C‑suite and boards.

- Experience designing performance management frameworks, dashboards and governance processes.

- Low‑ego, collaborative, team‑oriented mindset.

-Willing to travel and deploy to portfolio company sites.

- Industry: services, healthcare, tech, FS experience advantageous.

- Experience in private equity or sponsor‑backed environments and conducting operational due diligence preferred

Why this role

You will lead tangible, high‑visibility interventions that shape company performance and returns, working in small, empowered teams across diverse portfolio businesses. The role suits entrepreneurial, results‑driven operators who combine strategic thinking with proven execution capability.

📌 Associate Director, Portfolio Operations (Sydney)
🏢 The Barton Partnership | B Corp™
📍 Sydney