Direct Private Investment Associate

Santander•Miami, FL

16h•$80,625 - $135,000

About The Position

The Direct Private Investment Associate sources, analyzes, and executes investments in private companies and non-listed securities, with a focus on pre-IPO, growth-stage, and secondary-market opportunities. The role works closely with private-market platforms, issuers, intermediaries, and ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth investors, providing investment advice and transaction support throughout the investment lifecycle. It establishes and leads a new business line offering curated access to growth and late-stage private-company equity and secondary-market opportunities within a U.S.-based private banking platform, emphasizing due diligence, transaction structuring, governance, and regulatory compliance. The Associate develops the platform’s investment framework, sources and assesses opportunities, leads diligence and analysis, structures and executes transactions, and establishes governance and risk processes. The role also serves as an internal specialist for private bankers and investment advisors, supports client and investment committee discussions, and monitors portfolio performance, valuations, corporate actions, liquidity events, and market conditions.

Requirements

At least 5 years of professional experience in direct investments and secondary markets, private equity or growth equity, venture capital, capital markets, or alternative investments.
Direct, hands-on experience with secondary direct investments, including negotiation, execution, and settlement.
Expertise in Right of First Refusal (ROFR) mechanics, share transfer restrictions, issuer consent processes, pre-IPO lock-ups, and post-IPO liquidity dynamics.
Strong familiarity with U.S. equity markets and private-market infrastructure, including market data and analytics platforms, custody, fund administration, SPV structures, equity capital markets, and IPO pathways.
Deep technical understanding of direct investments, secondary liquidity, and private-market structures.
Strong commercial judgment and a disciplined, risk-aware investment mindset.
Advanced financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills for illiquid assets.
Ability to independently build and lead a new business line from strategy through execution.
Excellent relationship-building skills with external counterparties and internal stakeholders.
Strong communication and presentation skills for sophisticated UHNW clients and senior management.
High integrity, sound judgment, and comfort working in a regulated private banking environment.
Fluent Spanish and full professional proficiency in English.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience at or in close collaboration with private-market platforms or similar intermediaries.
Experience launching, scaling, or institutionalizing new investment products or business lines in a regulated environment.
Exposure to UHNW or private banking clients.
MBA, CFA, or equivalent professional certification.
Familiarity with Bloomberg, Refinitiv, PitchBook, CapIQ, or equivalent market data and analytics platforms.

Responsibilities

Design and implement the framework for primary and secondary direct investment opportunities, including sourcing, strategies, structures, execution workflows, governance, and reporting.
Define the target universe of direct investment opportunities and eligible transaction types, including direct secondaries, structured vehicles, SPVs, feeder structures, funds, and bespoke mandates.
Establish investment guidelines, eligibility criteria, concentration limits, liquidity assumptions, and exit frameworks.
Develop scalable processes for onboarding, execution, custody, valuation, and lifecycle management of direct investments.
Source pre-IPO opportunities through secondary-market platforms, venture capital and growth equity firms, investment banks, and private placement agents.
Evaluate primary and secondary opportunities and negotiate transaction terms, pricing, and allocations.
Navigate issuer consent requirements, shareholder agreements, transfer restrictions, and information rights.
Lead due diligence on company fundamentals, business models, competitive positioning, financial performance, unit economics, growth sustainability, capitalization tables, dilution, equity classes, legal structures, IPO readiness, exit scenarios, and downside risks.
Oversee valuation methodologies for illiquid private assets and challenge secondary transaction pricing assumptions.
Coordinate with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and external advisors to assess and support investment robustness.
Structure transactions through appropriate legal and tax-efficient vehicles aligned with client profiles and jurisdictional considerations.
Manage execution from term sheet through settlement, coordinating with custodians, administrators, and external counsel.
Document investment risks, liquidity constraints, valuation uncertainty, and exit timing.
Establish a governance framework consistent with U.S. regulatory requirements and internal private banking standards.
Partner with Risk and Compliance to define approval processes and escalation protocols.
Serve as the Bank’s internal specialist on direct investments and private secondary investing.
Train and educate Private Bankers and Investment Advisors; develop client materials, investment memoranda, and risk disclosures; and participate in client meetings, investment committees, and bespoke mandate discussions.
Explain complex investment structures and risks clearly to UHNW clients.
Monitor portfolio performance, valuation updates, corporate actions, and liquidity events.
Provide senior management with regular reporting on pipeline, allocations, performance, and risk metrics.
Track market trends, transaction pricing, and liquidity conditions in secondary private markets.