Capstone NGT Associate

TEAM OVERVIEW

KKR Capstone is KKR's operations group and a unique "CEO University" for executives. KKR Capstone's mission is to deliver exceptional returns on KKR's investments by partnering with management teams to drive value in KKR portfolio companies, as well as integrating within deal teams to select the right assets. At portfolio companies, KKR Capstone drives the most important operational issues on the CEO and Board of Directors' agendas, including top-line growth, cost optimization, organizational structure and capability, capital investment, and strategic M&A initiatives. During due diligence, KKR Capstone joins deal teams in evaluating potential acquisitions, including weighing in on crucial operational issues and value creation levers, assessing the target company's market, and understanding the strength of the company's position in the industry.

On a day-to-day basis, KKR Capstone executives interact with a broad range of company personnel including the Board, C-suite, and line-level operators. The majority of KKR Capstone team members have previous experience in management consulting. While our executives heavily leverage the skills and experience gained in consulting, they spend the bulk of their time identifying, rapidly prototyping, and implementing operational improvement initiatives — less time on PowerPoint, more time addressing real general management challenges and executing real initiatives.

KKR Capstone provides a unique opportunity for high-performing candidates to drive real operating change and value creation in a private equity environment, gaining valuable experience as general managers. KKR Capstone executives are expected to take ownership of key priorities and initiatives at the portfolio company, are held accountable for individual results, and are typically the primary agents of change within the organization. Over time, team members can rise within KKR Capstone, transition into opportunities within the broader KKR firm, or take senior operating roles inside or outside the KKR portfolio. Due to the unique hands-on operating experience that KKR Capstone executives gain, approximately 70% of alums who have left the team in the past decade are now C-suite executives, and more than one-third are CEOs.

POSITION SUMMARY 

This Associate role will be dedicated to KKR's Technology Growth Equity (Next Generation Technology) strategy, based in either New York or San Francisco. The Associate will partner closely with portfolio company management teams and KKR investment professionals to drive operational value creation across KKR's Technology Growth platform.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with portfolio company management teams to execute on dedicated value creation initiatives including strategic quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Refine and develop management playbooks for high-value operational initiatives (e.g., AI code generation in engineering organization, salesforce effectiveness, agentic platform strategy, gross margin improvements, etc.)
• Drive cross-portfolio collaboration program across KKR’s Technology Growth platform including development of AI centers of excellence (GTM, Office of the CFO, Product, Engineering, Customer Success), vendor management, community events, and portfolio talent
• Collaborate with investment teams on new investment sourcing and due diligence efforts

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• 2–6 years of experience in software-focused investment banking, management consulting, growth equity or venture capital, or in-industry roles such as business operations, strategy, or revenue operations
• Genuine enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity for growth-stage software businesses
• Strong foundation in fundamental business analysis with the ability to build and maintain detailed financial models to evaluate and support growth-stage technology investments
• Proactive and strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to gather data and perform advanced quantitative analyses, primarily in Excel, with experience in larger dataset tools such as Alteryx or Tableau
• Comfortable using AI tools in day-to-day work and proactive about applying them to improve team productivity
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to take initiative, resolve issues, and deliver results
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to engage clearly and professionally with company executives and investment professionals at all levels
• Unquestioned integrity, strong work ethic, and a commitment to teamwork, excellence, and KKR's core values

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS

• Operational ownership and accountability — takes initiative and drives results with a general manager mindset
• Analytical rigor — applies structured, data-driven thinking to complex operational and strategic problems
• Adaptability — thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments across multiple portfolio companies and workstreams
• Executive presence — communicates with clarity and confidence across all levels of an organization
• Collaborative partnership — builds trusted relationships with management teams, investment professionals, and cross-functional stakeholders
• Technology fluency — maintains a current, informed perspective on software, AI, and growth-stage technology trends
• Intellectual curiosity — continuously seeks to learn, improve, and apply new frameworks and tools
• Integrity and professionalism — upholds the highest standards of conduct consistent with KKR's values