Director, GCC Education Investments, Private Equity, GCC Asset Manager - Role Based in GCC

About the Role

Our client, a premier investment management firm headquartered in the GCC, is seeking a visionary Director to establish and lead its education investments vertical. This is a rare and high-impact opportunity to design, develop, and scale a new investment strategy with a global focus on education platforms. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with senior leadership and investment professionals throughout the entire investment lifecycle—from origination and strategic development to execution, due diligence, financial analysis, and ongoing portfolio management. In this pivotal role, you will not only shape the firm’s approach to education investments but also identify high-potential thematic opportunities and drive value creation across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy Development and Leadership: Lead the creation and execution of the firm’s education investment strategy, ensuring alignment with broader institutional objectives and market opportunities.
• Investment Origination and Execution: Source, evaluate, and execute high-quality investment opportunities in the education sector, leveraging deep market insights and robust analytical frameworks.
• Due Diligence and Financial Analysis: Conduct comprehensive due diligence, including financial modelling, valuation, and risk assessment, to support informed investment decisions.
• Portfolio Management: Provide strategic oversight and hands-on management of portfolio companies, driving operational improvements and value enhancement initiatives.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the firm in high-level discussions with internal and external stakeholders, including investors, portfolio company leadership, and industry experts, to articulate investment theses and secure buy-in.
• Market and Trend Analysis: Monitor global education markets to identify emerging trends, business models, and value drivers that align with the firm’s investment strategy.
• Team Leadership: Build and mentor a high-performing team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability within the education investments vertical.

Qualifications and Experience

To excel in this role, candidates must possess a minimum of 10–15 years of progressive professional experience within a top-tier private equity firm, investment bank, or relevant investment platform, with a strong focus on the education sector. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of sourcing, executing, and managing investments, including leading transactions across the full deal lifecycle—from origination and due diligence to valuation, execution, and portfolio management.

We are seeking an individual with a deep understanding of global education markets, including key trends, business models, and value drivers across sub-sectors such as K-12, higher education, edtech, vocational training, and lifelong learning. Strong leadership capabilities are essential, with a demonstrated ability to build or scale investment strategies or verticals within an institutional environment.

Candidates should exhibit exceptional financial modelling, valuation, and analytical skills, coupled with the ability to communicate complex ideas effectively and manage relationships with senior stakeholders. The ability to thrive in a high-performing, entrepreneurial environment and engage confidently with both internal and external stakeholders is critical.