Vice President, Primary Investments

About Adams Street Partners

Adams Street Partners is a globally recognized private markets asset management firm, overseeing nearly $73 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025. Entirely employee-owned, the company promotes a collaborative, intellectually rigorous culture rooted in integrity and dedication to professional growth. For eight consecutive years, it has been honored as one of the Best Places to Work in Money Management by Pension & Investments (2025). With over five decades of history, the firm serves a diverse range of institutional clients including pension plans, endowments, insurance companies, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its offices span multiple major cities including Singapore, where this role is based.

Role Overview

We seek an Investment Professional with strong analytical, financial, and interpersonal expertise interested in advancing their career within alternative investments. The Vice President will work within the Asia investment team, concentrating on the Japanese market, supporting management of a broad portfolio comprising venture capital, growth equity, and buyout funds. After approximately one to two years, there may be opportunity to relocate to our Tokyo office.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate potential investments, primarily within the Japan market, by engaging with general partner groups and conducting sector and thematic market research.
• Lead and execute thorough due diligence including qualitative and quantitative analyses, meet fund managers, perform reference checks, and onsite visits.
• Analyze co-investment and secondary transaction opportunities to inform decision-making.
• Prepare detailed investment memoranda and actively participate in internal investment committee discussions.
• Coordinate partnership negotiations with legal counsel and oversee the closing process.
• Support portfolio construction and ongoing evaluation.
• Provide market insights and thought leadership focused on trends within Japan’s investment landscape; contribute to internal and external research papers.
• Mentor junior team members and foster their professional development.
• Monitor portfolio companies through annual meetings, quarterly reporting reviews, and compliance documentation.
• Engage in pipeline tracking and allocation planning for future investments.
• Support business development initiatives via presentations to clients and consultants and promote firm capabilities to enhance deal flow.
• Maintain relationships with current investors and assist in firm-wide strategic initiatives, contributing positively to organizational culture.

Candidate Profile and Required Qualifications

• 6 to 8 years of experience in investment analysis and due diligence, preferably within private equity funds, secondaries, or direct investments focused on technology sectors; candidates with 4 to 6 years of strong potential may be considered for Senior Associate roles.
• Demonstrable investment experience in Japan’s market across fund investments, co-investments, or secondary markets.
• Excellent Japanese language proficiency at a native level and strong command of English.
• Preferred advanced academic credentials, such as an MBA, though not mandatory.
• Ability to clearly identify and critically assess key financial drivers of investment performance.
• Strong financial modeling, organizational, and written communication skills.
• In-depth understanding of private equity and venture capital industry trends, especially within Japan and the broader Asian region.
• Capability to distill complex information into clear, actionable insights.
• Effective interpersonal skills to interact confidently with clients, partners, and colleagues at all levels in both Japanese and English.
• Independent workflow management within a collaborative global team culture.
• Confidence in forming well-substantiated investment opinions and decisions.
• Aspirations to develop a long-term career in private capital investment.
• Intellectual curiosity with a track record of contributing thoughtful insights and foresight.
• Availability and willingness for both domestic and international travel.
• Professional maturity, self-motivation, and ability to thrive in a dynamic, high performing team environment while managing diverse tasks.