Director, Strategic Resource Group

General Summary:

Ames Watson, a Maryland-based Private Equity firm is seeking a Director, in our Strategic Resources Group, to join its team in the greater Washington DC – Baltimore region.

Ames Watson is a private holding company with over $2 billion in revenue that purchases, partners with, and transforms companies to create long-term value. Our strategy is to bring more than capital to companies. We bring energy, know-how, problem solving, deep resources and experience to grow companies, and move them past “inflection points.” Ames Watson is a permanent capital holding company with committed capital and the resources to move quickly and the capabilities to help businesses reach long-term success.

Objectives of the Role:

The Director, at Ames, is first and foremost a primary link between portfolio companies and Ames Watson. This role is responsible for driving urgency across special projects at portfolio companies. While managing the tactics of the project, you generate reporting, identify risks, and synchronize departments to move the project forward, and drive tasks to completion. Like consulting projects, these initiatives include process improvement, cost cutting, upgrading talent, increasing sales and new lines of businesses. The Director works with a combination of company personnel and Ames resources to drive change and execute on our investment plan. This position shall be prepared to oversee multiple projects in portfolio companies simultaneously.

Responsibilities:

• Overseeing 1-3 projects across portfolio companies including tactics such as:
• Understanding all aspects of the project (ex. international growth, real estate specifics, store openings/closing, merchandising planning, project management, financial reporting, 3PL synchronization)
• Providing timely updates, guiding portfolio company management, and overseeing company reporting.
• In overseeing a project, the Director must display the ability to work with people up/down/across the business structure, keeping the project moving forward in-line with the stated project strategy, AND leading the team effectively and tactfully for common-interest team results.
• You have succeeded when the project succeeds, AND you’ve led/managed the team in a way that maintains relationship-equity across the ecosystem.
• Communicate daily with the Ames Watson team to leverage our resources to support the various company objectives and needs.
• Work with portfolio company senior leaders to assess and develop growth potential and performance objectives. Partner with individual leaders of business lines to establish realistic performance objectives.
• Ensure that other companies within the portfolio are collaborating and communicating across our portfolio of strategic initiatives.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Four-year bachelor’s degree
• 4+ years of operational or consulting experience.
• 4+ years managing direct and/or indirect reports. Regional leadership and oversight experience preferred.
• Operational knowledge of financial metrics to include cash management, profitability and capital asset performance.
• Operations knowledge in resource planning, demand planning, business planning, corporate strategy, communications, leadership, benchmarking, and forecasting required.
• Market research, analytical, and presentation skills required.
• Organizational and management skills in prioritizing and synchronizing multiple work streams while meeting deadlines. Must be results-oriented with the ability to change priorities as needed.
• Must be able to demonstrate strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with tact and diplomacy.
• Be sensitive to the needs and demands of both Ames’ priorities, and the portfolio company priorities, and display an ability to manage and synchronize both simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to protect confidential information.
• Ability to travel by automobile and aircraft and be away from home for more than one day and night.
• Manage solicitations with board members and sponsors and provide outcome reports.
• Ability to work in a team environment with little supervision.