Direct Lending Associate

Direct Lending (Private Credit)

Location: Boston, MA or New York, NY (hybrid)

The Company

Our client is a leading, insurance‑affiliated investment manager with a single‑client mandate and a long‑term, flexible capital base. The firm combines the best of both worlds, a boutique, hands‑on investment culture backed by the scale and resilience of a global institution. With integrated teams in Boston and New York and deep expertise across fixed income, equities, and alternatives, the platform partners with management teams and financial sponsors to fund growth, innovation, and durable value creation.

The Team

Within the Global Credit Markets platform, the Direct Lending team provides secured financing solutions to sponsor‑backed and founder‑led businesses. The team invests across the capital structure, most commonly unitranche, first‑lien, and second‑lien term loans, supporting acquisitions, recapitalizations, refinancings, and strategic growth initiatives.

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking to add a key member to play a meaningful, end to end role in private credit investing, from origination through underwriting and active portfolio management. You'll work on lean deal teams, interface directly with sponsors and company leadership, and collaborate cross functional with Legal, Finance, Accounting, and Risk to drive high conviction outcomes.

What You'll Do

• Source & evaluate private debt opportunities across lower‑middle, core‑middle, and upper‑middle market companies; develop theses with clear risk/reward frames.
• Underwrite credit with full financial modeling, downside and sensitivity analyses, and assessment of company, sector, and market risks; synthesize findings into crisp recommendations.
• Run the process-coordinate diligence workstreams, third‑party consultants, and internal partners; manage timelines and drive decisions.
• Structure & negotiate economic and legal terms at term sheet and documentation stages (credit agreements, intercreditors/AALs, guaranties, collateral packages).
• Prepare & present Investment Committee materials, including projections, covenant frameworks, and risk‑mitigation strategies.
• Own the asset post‑close-monitor performance, maintain active dialogue with Borrowers/Sponsors/Agents, and lead portfolio reviews with thoughtful, data‑driven updates.
• Engage the market-build relationships with direct lenders, banks, advisors, and co‑investors; support sponsor coverage to meet origination goals.
• Develop talent-mentor and coach Analysts on modeling, credit judgment, and process excellence.
• Leverage AI responsibly-use AI‑enabled tools to increase speed, accuracy, and insight while maintaining sound judgment and compliance with governance.

What You'll Bring

• 5+ years of investing experience with 3+ years in direct lending/private credit.
• Demonstrated underwriting and monitoring experience across unitranche, first‑lien, and/or second‑lien loans.
• Comfort navigating credit documentation (credit agreements, intercreditors/AALs, security/guaranty packages) and driving negotiations to closure.
• Strong ability to identify and articulate key risks (business, sector, market) and propose pragmatic mitigants.
• Executive‑ready communication-clear, concise memos and committee presentations.
• Self‑starter mindset with flexibility to wear multiple hats in a lean, collaborative team.
• Strong academic credentials and consistent track record of excellence.
• Proven team orientation and stakeholder management, internally and externally.
• AI literacy and comfort with modern analytics/workflow tools under appropriate governance.