We are global private markets specialists delivering tailored investment solutions, advisory services, and impactful, data driven insights to the world’s investors. Leveraging the power of our platform and our peerless intelligence across sectors, strategies, and geographies, we help identify the advantages and the answers our clients need to succeed.
Position Overview
This role will engage broadly across private equity, with a focus on co-investments and primary fund investments. The Associate/Senior Associate will take meaningful ownership across the investment process, including sourcing, screening, due diligence, underwriting, Investment Committee preparation, execution and ongoing portfolio monitoring. The individual will be expected to drive workstreams forward, develop independent investment perspectives, identify key areas of risk and opportunity, and translate analysis into clear recommendations for senior team members and Investment Committee discussions. The role is well suited for an investment professional with a go-getter mindset who can operate with increasing autonomy, manage multiple priorities and take accountability for high-quality execution in an entrepreneurial, collaborative and low-ego culture characterized by high volume and a fluid structure. The successful candidate should be able to evaluate individual opportunities while also thinking like a portfolio manager, considering how co-investments and fund commitments work together within a broader portfolio and how exposures across managers, industries, geographies and stages affect portfolio construction.
Essential Job Functions:
- Take ownership of key workstreams across the sourcing, screening, due diligence, underwriting and execution of private equity co-investments and primary fund investment opportunities, leveraging the firm’s global network
- Evaluate and analyze buyout co-investment transactions across industries and geographies, as well as primary fund opportunities across managers, strategies, sectors and regions
- Assess private equity managers and funds, including team capabilities, investment strategy, track record, portfolio construction, market positioning, alignment of interests and key terms
- Lead and coordinate elements of the due diligence process, working with fund managers, company management teams, investment bankers, advisors and internal teams to identify key investment considerations, identify new opportunities and move co-investments and primary fund commitments toward a decision
- Develop financial and investment analyses, including valuation, leveraged buyout and cash flow analysis, as appropriate, and evaluate underlying assumptions, sensitivities and risk/reward considerations
- Take ownership of the preparation and presentation of due diligence materials and Investment Committee memoranda for both co-investments and primary fund investments
- Develop an independent investment perspective, synthesize complex quantitative and qualitative information into clear conclusions and recommendations, and confidently communicate and defend that position in team discussions and Investment Committee meetings
- Coordinate transaction execution, closing and structuring for co-investments and fund commitments, proactively identifying and helping resolve issues throughout the execution process; monitor existing investments and fund relationships, evaluate performance and material developments, and maintain relationships with private equity sponsors, intermediaries, advisors and other investors
- Represent the firm professionally in external interactions and contribute to broader portfolio and market discussions by identifying themes, trends and potential investment opportunities across managers, strategies and sectors
- Support the development of junior team members by reviewing work, sharing investment perspectives and providing guidance as appropriate to level
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
- 2-4+ years of private equity experience, preferably including co-investments and/or primary fund investing, or other relevant investment experience
- Demonstrated experience evaluating private equity investments, with transaction execution experience and exposure to manager, fund and track-record analysis preferred
- Strong quantitative and financial modeling skills, with the ability to assess valuation, investment returns and sensitivities
- Strong sense of risk/reward trade-offs and an ability to display sound investment judgment
- Self-starter with the ability to independently structure analysis, identify the most important diligence questions, “work a deal” and think “outside the box” when evaluating and progressing opportunities
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to synthesize detailed analysis into concise, decision-useful recommendations and communicate and present ideas effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Capable of managing multiple concurrent priorities, with strong attention to detail and a high degree of accountability for deliverables
- Promote and demonstrate a positive, team-oriented attitude, with a desire to develop, coach and lead deal teams as experience and responsibility increase
Other Attributes:
- Fluent written and spoken English
- CFA and/or MBA a plus, but not a requirement
- Demonstrated ownership mentality and willingness to take initiative beyond assigned tasks
- Strong judgment and comfort operating in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities
- Collaborative, low-ego approach with the ability to work effectively across seniority levels and functions
Salary Range: $122,000 - $180,000
The salary range is an estimate of pay for this position. Actual pay may vary depending on job-related factors that can include location, education, skill, and experience. The salary range does not include any benefits or other forms of possible compensation that may be available to employees.
At StepStone, we believe that our people are our most important asset and crucial to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to create an environment that empowers our employees and allows them to be heard, regardless of title or tenure. Our organizational community features multiple Employment Resource Groups as well as mentorship programs to enhance the employee experience for all.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, StepStone does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
Candidates must be at least 18 years old to apply.
Developing People at StepStone
Skills Required
- 2-4+ years of private equity experience, preferably including co-investments or primary fund investing, or other relevant investment experience
- Experience evaluating private equity investments
- Transaction execution experience
- Experience with manager, fund, and track-record analysis
- Strong quantitative and financial modeling skills
- Ability to assess valuation, investment returns, and sensitivities
- Sound investment judgment and understanding of risk/reward trade-offs
- Ability to independently structure analysis, identify diligence questions, and progress investment opportunities
- Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Ability to synthesize detailed analysis into concise recommendations and present ideas effectively
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities with strong attention to detail and accountability
- Team-oriented attitude with desire to develop, coach, and lead deal teams
- Fluent written and spoken English
- CFA or MBA
- Ownership mentality, initiative, sound judgment, and comfort in a fast-paced environment
- Collaborative approach and ability to work effectively across seniority levels and functions
StepStone Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about StepStone Group and has not been reviewed or approved by StepStone Group.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as generous with multiple plan options, and in some cases employee‑only premiums are fully paid. Feedback suggests wellness resources and plan choice enhance the overall value of the package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings include a 401(k) program that is viewed favorably. Feedback suggests long‑term incentive elements complement core retirement benefits.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental support includes leave coaching, paid parental leave, and resources for new parents alongside related travel and logistical supports. Feedback suggests these policies are a meaningful part of the benefits package.
StepStone Group Insights
What We Do
StepStone Group (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to our clients. StepStone’s clients include some of the world’s largest public and private defined benefit and defined contribution pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, as well as prominent endowments, foundations, family offices and private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth and mass affluent individuals.StepStone partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes.








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