Sr. Direct Private Investment Associate

Santander • Miami, FL

1d

About The Position

Santander is a global leader and innovator in the financial services industry, evolving into a technology-driven organization. The Direct Private Investment Specialist will be responsible for sourcing, analyzing, and executing investments in private companies and non-listed securities, with a focus on pre-IPO, growth-stage, and secondary market opportunities. The role involves close interaction with private market platforms, issuers, intermediaries, and Ultra-high-net-worth and high-net-worth investors, providing investment advice and transaction support across the full investment lifecycle. This role will establish and lead a new business line providing curated access to growth and late-stage private company equity and secondary market opportunities, with a strong focus on disciplined due diligence, transaction structuring, governance, and regulatory compliance within a U.S.-based private banking platform. The role requires deep expertise in secondary private markets, transaction execution, issuer and shareholder dynamics, and pre-IPO risk management, combined with strong commercial skills.

Requirements

• Minimum 5–10 years of professional experience in Direct Investments and secondary markets, Private equity / growth equity, Venture capital, Capital markets or alternative investments.
• Direct, hands-on experience with secondary Direct investments, including negotiation, execution, and settlement.
• Demonstrated expertise in Right of First Refusal (ROFR) mechanics, Share transfer restrictions and 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 (Bloomberg, Refinitiv, PitchBook, CapIQ, or equivalents), Custody, fund administration, and SPV structures, Equity capital markets (ECM) processes and IPO pathways.
• Deep technical understanding of Direct investments, secondary liquidity, and private market structures.
• Strong commercial judgment with 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, particularly with sophisticated UHNW clients and senior management.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and comfort operating in a regulated private banking environment.
• Fluent Spanish (mandatory).
• 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 private market intermediaries is strongly preferred.
• Experience launching, scaling, or institutionalizing new investment products or business lines within a regulated environment is highly desirable.
• Prior exposure to UHNW or private banking clients is a strong plus.
• MBA, CFA, or equivalent professional certification strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the end-to-end framework for the direct investment opportunities (primary and secondary), including sourcing and evaluating different strategies, product structures, execution workflows, governance, and reporting.
• Define the target universe of Direct investments opportunities (e.g., late-stage growth companies, unicorns, dual-track IPO candidates) and eligible transaction types (direct secondaries, structured vehicles, SPVs, feeder structures, funds, bespoke mandates).
• Establish investment guidelines, eligibility criteria, concentration limits, liquidity assumptions, and exit frameworks.
• Develop scalable operating processes covering onboarding, execution, custody, valuation, and lifecycle management of direct investments.
• Source proprietary and platform-based Pre-IPO opportunities through relationships with secondary market platforms, venture capital and growth equity firms, investment banks, and private placement agents.
• Evaluate primary vs. secondary opportunities and negotiate transaction terms, pricing, and allocations.
• Navigate issuer consent requirements, shareholder agreements, transfer restrictions, and information rights.
• Lead comprehensive Direct investments due diligence processes, including company fundamentals, business model, and competitive positioning, financial performance, unit economics, and growth sustainability, cap table analysis, dilution scenarios, and preferred vs. common equity dynamics, legal and structural review of shareholder agreements, ROFR provisions, lock-ups, and transfer restrictions, IPO readiness assessment, exit scenarios, and downside risk analysis.
• Oversee valuation methodologies for illiquid private assets and challenge pricing assumptions in secondary transactions.
• Coordinate with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and external advisors to ensure investment robustness and defensibility.
• Structure transactions using appropriate legal and tax-efficient vehicles (SPVs, funds, notes, or bespoke mandates) aligned with client profiles and jurisdictional considerations.
• Manage execution workflows from term sheet through settlement, including coordination with custodians, administrators, and external counsel.
• Ensure clear documentation of risks, liquidity constraints, valuation uncertainty, and exit timing.
• Establish a robust governance framework consistent with U.S. regulatory requirements and internal private banking standards.
• Partner closely with Risk and Compliance teams to define approval processes and escalation protocols.
• Act as the Bank’s internal specialist on direct investments and private secondary investing.
• Support Private Bankers and Investment Advisors through training and education on Direct investments, development of client-facing materials, investment memos, and risk disclosures, and participation in client meetings, investment committees, and bespoke mandate discussions.
• Translate complex Direct investments structures and risks into clear, client-appropriate narratives for UHNW audiences.
• Monitor performance, valuation updates, corporate actions, and liquidity events across the relevant portfolio.
• Provide regular reporting to senior management, including pipeline, allocations, performance, and risk metrics.
• Track market trends, transaction pricing, and liquidity conditions in secondary private markets.

Benefits

• Fair and competitive rewards package that reflects the impact you create and the value you deliver.
• Benefits designed to support you, your family and your well-being, now and into the future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees