Vice President of Operations (Chief of Staff)
Dark Alpha Capital — Independent Sponsor
Location: Fully Remote (U.S. time zones preferred for collaboration)
Employment Type: Full-time
Compensation: Transaction-based & performance-aligned – 5%–10% of the firm’s net proceeds from each completed deal (exact percentage based on scope of involvement, contribution to execution/closing, and overall performance); additional long-term upside as the firm scales
Reporting To: Managing Partner
About Dark Alpha Capital
Dark Alpha Capital is an independent sponsor focused on lower-middle-market acquisitions across Industrials, Industrial Services, Business Services, Healthcare, Aerospace & Defense, and Information Technology. We source proprietary opportunities, execute disciplined transactions, and partner with operators and investors to create durable value. As a lean, high-execution firm, we prioritize speed, coordination, and outcomes in a dynamic environment.
Role Overview
The Vice President of Operations, functioning as a Chief of Staff, serves as the operational nerve center of the firm. This senior, doer-leader role ensures seamless coordination across investments, operations, HR, capital markets, and administration—translating Managing Partner priorities into executable plans, eliminating bottlenecks, and driving disciplined execution. You will own outcomes in a lean organization, balancing strategic oversight with hands-on administrative work to keep deals, people, and workflows moving forward.
Core Responsibilities Chief of Staff & Firm Coordination
- Act as primary integrator across all functions: investments, operations, HR, capital markets, and administration.
- Translate Managing Partner priorities into clear, owned plans with deadlines and accountability.
- Ensure cross-functional alignment, close execution gaps, and serve as central coordination point for internal teams, Operating Partners, advisors, and third parties.
Deal Execution & Transaction Support
- Support active transactions end-to-end: from diligence through closing.
- Track timelines, deliverables, approvals, dependencies, and risks.
- Coordinate internal deal teams and external advisors to maintain momentum and execution discipline.
Capital Markets & Investor Support
- Assist capital-raising efforts and public-market-adjacent transactions.
- Manage investor coordination, data requests, diligence processes, timelines, materials, and communications.
- Bridge investment execution and capital markets workflows for seamless alignment.
Human Resources Leadership & Oversight
- Own the firm’s internal HR function in a lean environment.
- Draft/maintain job descriptions; interview candidates for junior/mid-level roles.
- Supervise associate(s) handling day-to-day HR; oversee onboarding, performance tracking, role clarity, and offboarding.
- Manage recruiting relationships (recruiters, headhunters, referrals).
Operations, Administration & Systems
- Oversee administrative functions to keep the firm running smoothly.
- Ensure CRM, task management, and internal systems are maintained, adopted, and effective.
- Enforce documentation, reporting standards, and handle execution to prevent bottlenecks.
Meeting Leadership & Follow-Through
- Actively participate in all core firm and deal meetings.
- Convert decisions into tracked action items; hold team accountable for delivery.
- Provide operational insights to inform strategic decisions.
Reporting & Internal Visibility
- Maintain real-time reporting on deal pipeline status, execution progress, staffing/operational capacity.
- Deliver clear, up-to-date visibility to the Managing Partner on firm operations.
Authority & Expectations
- Role carries real authority and direct accountability for outcomes—not just coordination.
- Exercise independent judgment within strategic parameters; thrive in ambiguity and solve problems proactively.
- High integrity, discretion, and relentless execution discipline required in a lean, fast-moving firm.
Qualifications Required
- Proven experience in operations, execution, or Chief of Staff–style roles within private equity, investment firms, M&A advisory, or transaction-driven professional services.
- Strong understanding of deal execution, firm operations, and cross-functional coordination.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-stakes workstreams simultaneously.
- Comfort blending strategic leadership with hands-on administrative tasks.
- High integrity, discretion, and execution focus.
Preferred
- Experience supporting capital raises or public-market transactions.
- Prior HR oversight in lean organizations.
- Familiarity with CRM/deal-tracking systems (e.g., Bitrix24, HubSpot, DealCloud).
- Direct support to a founder/Managing Partner in a small/high-growth firm.
Compensation & Fit
- Transaction-based alignment: 5–10% of net proceeds per completed deal (scaled by contribution); designed to tie success directly to firm outcomes rather than fixed salary.
- Potential for additional long-term upside (e.g., equity-like participation) as the firm grows.
- Ideal for a proactive, high-ownership operator who excels in lean environments, owns results, and thrives on impact over hierarchy.
How to Apply
Email careers@darkalphacapital.com with subject: “VP Operations (Chief of Staff) – [Your Name]” Include:
- Resume + LinkedIn URL
- Brief note (≤200 words) highlighting relevant Chief of Staff/operations experience in PE/investment firms (e.g., key executions owned, cross-functional impact, lean-team examples)