Job Description
Adams Street Partners (“Adams Street”) is a global private markets investment manager that has nearly $70 billion* in assets under management. The firm is 100% employee-owned, which fosters a positive and unique culture of collaboration, intellectual rigor, integrity, and a commitment to professional development. For the eighth year in a row, Adams Street was named one of Pension & Investments’ Best Places to Work in Money Management in 2025.
Employees operate as a single global team, integrating the expertise of the firm’s investment professionals across five strategies: primary investments, secondary investments, growth equity, private credit, and co-investments. Adams Street is considered a private markets pioneer and was inducted into the Private Equity Hall of Fame in 2000.
The firm was founded more than 50 years ago, and clients include leading public and corporate pension plans, foundations, endowments, insurance companies, registered investment advisors, and high net worth individuals worldwide.
Adams Street has offices in Abu Dhabi, Austin, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Munich, Menlo Park, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.
*Firmwide AUM as of December 31, 2025 was $69.9bn; does not include the more recent private credit closings or private credit leverage which may be discussed herein or is available upon request. AUM since that date is in excess of $70bn as a result of more recent fund closings.
Overview:
This position offers an excellent opportunity for an Investment Professional with proven financial, analytical and interpersonal skills and an interest in the alternative investment sector, to be part of a premier global investment firm that provides investment services to institutional clients. The individual selected for this position will be based in the firm’s Singapore office, working closely as part of the highly integrated Asia investment team with a focus on Japan market. The position has the flexibility to be based in Adams Street’s Tokyo office after integrating well with the team (likely after one to two years).
The individual will be a part of a team managing a large portfolio of venture capital, growth equity and buyout funds (limited partnerships) and will be responsible for supporting the team’s identification and management of a portfolio of Japanese managers and broader Asian managers. In addition, this individual will work on due diligence for co-investments into companies and secondary transactions in Japan and other Asia markets.
Specifically, the individual will be involved with and responsible for:
Sourcing & Evaluation
- Meet with general partner groups to evaluate potential investment opportunities, with a focus on Japan market.
- Conduct market research on investment sectors and themes.
Execution & Due Diligence
- Lead and conduct due diligence; identify key investment merits and considerations through qualitative and quantitative analysis, meetings with fund managers, strategy review, reference checks and on-site visits, etc.
- Perform due diligence on co-investments and secondary transactions.
- Prepare memoranda and participate in investment discussions with internal investment committee.
- Work with counsel to negotiate partnership terms and coordinate the closing process.
- Support construction and evaluation of fund portfolios.
Leadership
- Market intelligence and thought leadership on investment and industry trends, with a focus on Japan market.
- Help author internal and external research and thought pieces.
- Mentor and manage junior team members.
Monitoring
- Attend annual meetings.
- Review quarterly reports and related materials.
- Document compliance with investment guidelines.
- Monitor investment forward pipeline and allocation planning.
Business Support & Investor Relations
- Support the firm’s marketing efforts through new business presentations to potential clients and consultants.
- Market the firm’s capabilities to market participants to generate co-investment and secondary deal flow.
- Support investor relationships for existing investment
- Support firm initiatives as they relate to the firm’s business plans.
- Contribute positively to Adams Street’s culture and thought leadership.
Required Skills
The ideal candidate will be a well-rounded business professional with proven work experience investing and a record of success at a top institution focused on technology investments in primary (partnership) private investments and/or in secondaries and/or in direct investments. The candidate will be a highly motivated professional who sets and meets ambitious business and personal commitments with a demonstrated interest in building a career in private capital investing. Native-level Japanese language skill and strong English language skill are required.
In addition, the candidate will have:
- 6-8 years of investing analysis and due diligence experience. Prior fund experience is preferred, though not required, and broader investment experience will be considered. Candidates with a shorter experience of 4-6 years but a strong potential could be considered a Senior Associate role.
- Experience investing in Japan market (via fund investments, co-investments , or secondaries).
- MBA or similar advanced degree is preferred but not required.
- A facility to elicit in an informed, challenging, and effective manner the critical variables that will determine an investment’s financial success or failure.
- Strong modeling, organizational and writing skills.
- Deep understanding of trends and issues in the private equity industry and venture sector, specifically technology, in both Japan and Asia.
- The ability to synthesize complex data in a clear manner.
- A professional presence coupled with relationship skills to interact effectively with clients, general partners and colleagues at all levels, in Japanese and English languages.
- The ability to work independently while operating within a highly integrated global team context.
- A willingness to establish a position and confidence of convictions as it relates to investment decisions.
- Desire to build a career in private capital investing required.
- Intellectual curiosity, demonstrated contribution to thought leadership, and forward thinking.
- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.
- Maturity, a self-starter with a desire and ability to work in a global, fast-paced, collaborative, high-performing team environment while managing a wide range of responsibilities.