Deal Origination Professional

POSITION AND SCOPE

Tide Rock is seeking a natural relationship-builder to lead our outbound deal origination efforts. This is a people-first role — you will be the first point of contact between Tide Rock and business owners, and the relationships you build will directly shape our deal pipeline. We're looking for someone who can turn an initial conversation into lasting trust.

DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build relationships with business owners through outbound outreach — phone, email, LinkedIn, trade shows, and networking events — with a focus on genuine, high-quality conversations
• Cultivate and nurture a pipeline of relationships with current and prospective acquisition targets over time, not just through single touchpoints
• Recognize when a founder is ready for a deeper conversation, and know how to bring in Tide Rock's senior investment team at the right moment
• Represent Tide Rock in person at industry events, trade shows, and site visits, often serving as the face of the firm before other team members are introduced
• Act as a brand ambassador in every interaction — your conversations shape how founders perceive Tide Rock long before a deal is on the table
• Use Salesforce and AI-powered tools to stay organized across a high-volume pipeline, ensuring outreach, activity, and trends are tracked with precision

WHO YOU ARE

• A natural connector, equally comfortable building rapport with business owners across a wide range of industries and backgrounds
• Comfortable initiating conversations without a warm introduction, and skilled at establishing credibility quickly
• High emotional intelligence, with the ability to pick up on unspoken cues and draw out what a business owner may not be saying directly
• Committed to long-term relationship development — you understand that opening a door is only the first step, and that sustained trust is built over months and years
• Persistent and disciplined, motivated by the quality of conversations and relationships rather than activity metrics alone
• Commercially curious, able to ask thoughtful questions about a business without requiring a finance background to do so
• Highly organized, able to manage a high-volume pipeline without losing track of any relationship

SKILLS + EXPERIENCE

• 5+ years of experience in a role built on high-volume outbound relationship development with owners or executives — backgrounds in commercial banking, insurance production, buy-side M&A advisory, business development, or executive search are all strong fits
• A demonstrated track record of building and sustaining a substantial network of relationships over time
• Proficiency with CRM and sales technology (e.g., Salesforce, SalesLoft) and familiarity with AI-powered tools
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust across a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and demographics
• Excellent attention to detail and strong fact-finding ability

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree required; a background in business, communications, or a related field is a plus, though a finance background is not required