Operating Partner – Industrial Distribution
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Job Description
Operating Partner sourcing industrial distribution acquisitions for Fireclay Partners, a middle-market M&A and buy-side advisory firm. Leveraging executive relationships across fluid power, motion control, and related sectors.
Responsibilities:
- Identify acquisition targets and develop relationships with founders, family owners, executives, and decision makers at independent and regional distributors
- Facilitate warm introductions and establish trust for confidential ownership transition, growth partnership, and acquisition discussions
- Define acquisition criteria, map markets, and prioritize targets based on product mix, geography, supplier relationships, and strategic fit
- Contribute market intelligence and qualify opportunities before transaction processes
- Evaluate manufacturer authorizations, territory coverage, customer concentration, OEM versus aftermarket demand, branch economics, and service revenue durability
- Support commercial and operational diligence, including gross margins, supplier rebates, inventory quality, working capital, technical capabilities, and management depth
- Participate in owner meetings, client discussions, and transaction workstreams
- Advise on integration opportunities, cross-selling, purchasing, branch networks, and retention of key supplier and customer relationships
- Help Fireclay Partners serve private equity sponsors, strategic acquirers, and family-owned businesses through platform sourcing, bolt-on acquisitions, and select sell-side mandates
Requirements:
- Experience as a CEO, President, COO, division leader, senior commercial executive, or corporate development leader at an established industrial distributor or closely related business
- Fifteen years or more of relevant sector experience
- Meaningful responsibility for a business, P&L, commercial organization, or acquisition program
- Active, credible network of owners and senior decision makers across industrial distribution, especially fluid power, motion control, hose and fittings, and adjacent technical product categories
- Demonstrated ability to turn relationships into substantive commercial opportunities, partnerships, or acquisition discussions
- Direct knowledge of distributor economics, manufacturer channel relationships, value-added services, and acquisition attractiveness factors
- Experience with acquisitions, ownership transitions, diligence, or integration is strongly preferred
- Bachelor's degree and a strong record of professional achievement
- Sound judgment and discretion with confidential information
- Ability to represent Fireclay professionally with business owners, sponsors, and strategic acquirers
- Ability to work independently and follow through on introductions, commitments, and agreed engagement priorities
- Independent contractor eligibility under a 1099 structure
Benefits:
- Performance-based compensation tied to agreed contributions and completed engagements
- Flexible consulting engagement
- Engagement scope and time commitments agreed in advance
- Occasional travel for owner meetings, client discussions, or diligence
- Equal opportunity employer committed to diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives
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