Operating Partner, Manufacturing

About Fireclay Partners

Fireclay Partners is a veteran owned middle market M&A and buy side advisory firm based in Kansas City. We serve private equity sponsors and family owned businesses on platform sourcing, bolt on acquisitions, and select sell side mandates. Our model pairs investment banking execution with senior operating expertise, and we bring in industry advisors with deep domain experience to support deal sourcing, due diligence, and sponsor engagement.

The Role

We are building out a bench of senior operators with deep plant and platform level experience in industrial manufacturing. This is a per engagement consulting role, not full time employment. You will partner with the Fireclay team on specific deals where your domain expertise creates value, with engagements typically running three to twelve months on a deal specific basis.

We are actively building bench depth across the following subsectors within this role:

• Specialty chemicals

• Plastics and packaging

• Metals and metals processing

• Aerospace components and tier one suppliers

• Food and beverage processing

• Machinery and industrial equipment

What You Will Do

• Provide market intelligence on bolt on targets, competitive landscape, and valuation context within your subsector

• Make introductions to founders, family owners, and senior executives in your existing network

• Review confidential information memoranda and management presentations for sector specific operating fit and risk

• Participate in PE sponsor pitches when your subsector and operating background are relevant

• Provide operational due diligence input on target companies

• Advise the Fireclay team on positioning and messaging for sponsor outreach and sourcing campaigns

What We Are Looking For

• Plant Manager, VP Operations, Division President, COO, or CEO at a manufacturing platform, ideally with PE backed experience

• Twenty years or more in industrial manufacturing operations across multiple sites or product lines

• Direct experience with continuous improvement, capacity expansion, capex deployment, and the operational dynamics that drive multiple expansion in PE platforms

• Existing network of relationships with founders, family owners, senior executives, and PE professionals across your subsector

• Comfort representing Fireclay professionally to PE sponsors and target company management

• Discretion when handling non public information and competitive intelligence

• Willingness to work on a flexible per engagement basis without fixed hours or commitments

Compensation

• 1099 independent contractor structure

• Per deal success fees on closed engagements where you contribute meaningfully

• Optional retainer for active sourcing assignments

• Equity participation available on select strategic engagements

• No fixed hours or minimum time commitment

Location

Remote. US or Canada based. Travel is minimal and deal specific.

How to Apply

• Resume or LinkedIn URL

• Brief statement (one or two paragraphs) describing your subsector focus and the two or three operating engagements or transactions you would highlight as most relevant

• Two or three reference contacts (PE sponsors, founders, or senior executives we can call)

Fireclay Partners is a veteran owned and operated firm and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.