Location: Washington, DC Metro / Hybrid / Remote (flexible)
Reports to: Managing Partners

About Emberline

Emberline is a two-partner investment firm that buys and builds founder-led businesses. We're operators at heart; we invest in great companies where hands-on support can make a real difference, then embed alongside management to build the infrastructure, teams, and capabilities that help them scale. You'll be part of a tight core team, but your day-to-day reaches across our portfolio companies and the operators, finance leaders, and advisors who support them.

Why This Role Matters

You'll be the person who keeps the machine running and makes it better over time. If you're early in your career and want a front-row apprenticeship in how investment and technology businesses actually operate day-to-day, this will be an exceptional learning seat.

We have three portfolio companies today and are building toward five. As we grow, we need one person who owns the firm-level operating cadence, with real input on how it's built. That includes everything from reporting, investor admin, and board scheduling to managing third-party advisors and building systems and SOPs. It also means you'll have a seat at the table on problems that don't have a playbook yet.

This is hands-on, collaborative work. You won't just run processes; you'll help build them, pressure-test them, and improve them over time. You'll work directly with the Managing Partners, who will coach you through the learning curve. You'll also work with portfolio company CEOs, finance leaders, and external advisors. You'll see how deals are run, how companies are supported, and how a small firm scales with intention.

We don't expect you to arrive knowing all of this. What matters is that you're organized, sharp, and genuinely interested in learning.

First 90 Days

Here's what the early months look like so you can picture Monday morning:

Learn the operating rhythm. Sit in on partner meetings, portfolio company check-ins, and board calls. Understand how information flows, who the key contacts are, and what the recurring deadlines look like.
Own the core reporting and meeting cadence. Take over scheduling, materials prep, and follow-up for board and operating meetings. Start building the muscle memory for how these cycles work.
Tighten investor and admin workflows. Pick up investor record-keeping, quarterly update logistics, and tax-season coordination. Make these processes cleaner than you found them.
Build your initial tracker and SOP foundation. Stand up a central operating tracker so nothing falls through the cracks, and start documenting the recurring workflows you're learning.

What You'll Own

This is a high-trust, high-ownership seat. You'll start by learning and running the core mechanics, then expand your scope as you build context. The partners will coach you directly; the expectation is growth over time, not day-one mastery. Here's the full picture of what you'll grow into:

Portfolio Operations and Reporting

Help portfolio teams keep reporting clean and consistent: translate what stakeholders need to see into specific metrics, data structures, and process requirements, then project manage teams to get it delivered.
Own reporting cycles and board/operating meeting prep, including working with portfolio company teams to deliver packages and maintaining minutes, resolutions, and corporate records.
Manage third-party advisors and vendors across the portfolio: track deliverables, hold timelines, and escalate slippage before it becomes a problem.

Investor Admin and Communications

Support investor communications and stay organized through quarterly updates and tax-season workflows, including record-keeping and account inquiries.
Draft and send investor communications: quarterly updates, capital call support, and ad hoc correspondence.

Systems, SOPs, and Operating Infrastructure

Maintain a clean operating tracker with clear status, owners, and escalation paths.
Build SOPs and recurring workflows across the fund and portfolio companies for reporting, admin, and operations.
When a process is manual and fragile, tighten it and document it so it doesn't break again.
If the current approach isn't working, say so and help build a better one.

Who You Are

The Architect of Order: You walk into a messy process (or a messy drive) and immediately want to make it clean, trackable, and reliable.
Relentless Follow-Up: You are comfortable sending the third email and making the uncomfortable call until the work is actually closed.
Pattern Spotter: You notice inconsistencies, missing context, and weak signals early, then ask sharp questions.
Tech-Native: You default to modern tools and automation (Notion/Linear/Claude) to streamline workflows and reduce repetitive work.
Sharp Eye, High Bar: You notice when a newsletter could be tighter, a website needs a refresh, or a deck isn't landing, and you improve it without being asked.
Reads the Room: You pick up on what people mean, not just what they say. You know when to push, when to listen, and how to build trust with people who don't report to you.

Qualifications

2-5 years in operations, project management, consulting, or another coordination-heavy role in a fast-paced environment.
Strong written communication with minimal editing required.
Proven ability to manage multiple external stakeholders and hold timelines.
Comfort working in a small firm where role boundaries are pragmatic, not rigid.
Strong systems instincts: you naturally document, standardize, and improve recurring workflows.
Private equity or finance experience is not required.

Careers

Business Operations Associate

Business Operations Associate