Associate | Strategic Operations

KSL CAPITAL PARTNERS – Strategic Operating Team – Associate – London

Description

KSL Capital Partners, LLC (“KSL”) is a leading global private equity firm specializing in travel and leisure enterprises.  KSL specializes in investments across five primary sectors: hospitality, recreation, clubs, real estate, and travel services.  KSL has approximately $25 billion of assets under management across its equity, debt, and tactical opportunities funds and has completed over 185 investments since 2005.  These investments include some of the premier businesses and properties in travel and leisure globally. Today, KSL has offices in Denver, Colorado; Stamford, Connecticut; New York City, New York; and London, England.

To learn more, please visit https://kslcapital.com/.

Role:

KSL is seeking an Associate to join its Strategic Operating Team in London.  As an integral part of the global KSL team, the Strategic Operating Team covers the full equity portfolio and shares accountability with the Deal Teams for each investment.  The Strategic Operating Team and Deal Teams partner with each other during underwriting of each investment and then with executives at each portfolio company to identify and execute on high-impact value creation priorities.

As part of the Strategic Operating Team, the Associate will help evaluate prospective investments, create and implement 100-day value creation plans, and work with management teams on an ongoing basis to help execute strategic initiatives.  This position requires not only a strong strategic and analytical mindset, but the ability to influence management teams to create change.

This role will report directly to the Principal on the Strategic Operating Team based in London. 

Responsibilities:

• Partner with Deal Teams to underwrite all new equity deals including identifying and quantifying value creation levers, understanding macroeconomic trends, and strong financial modelling acumen


• Work directly with portfolio company leadership to implement value creation opportunities


• Ad hoc analysis on portfolio company data to identify new value creation opportunities


• Monitor of weekly, monthly, and quarterly data to ensure all investments are staying on track


• Lead high-priority internal initiatives that can be leveraged across KSL’s global portfolio


• Build trusted relationships with stakeholders internally and externally


• Work alongside KSL portfolio company management teams to lead strategic, analytical, and operational improvements (e.g. revenue growth, operations efficiency, CAPEX planning an execution)

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Strong strategic thinking and analytical reasoning skills


• Advanced financial modelling, clear intellectual horsepower, and problem-solving capabilities


• Ability to leverage data, financial analysis, and operational metrics to drive recommendations and decision making


• Proven experience in hospitality or leisure industries through working as an operator, an investor, or a consultancy


• Focused on outcomes and ability to consistently deliver across multiple projects and businesses


• Strong communication skills with an ability to build relationships across all levels of organizations


• Demonstrates flexibility, humility, and a willingness to adapt to various stakeholder needs


• Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment


• Creative problem solver with a relentless focus on improvement and value creation

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification.  The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by employees assigned to this classification.