Corporate Development Associate

Job Description

Job Description

Be yourself at Protolabs  

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.  We are an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a diverse team that feels they are valued in the workplace.  So do you feel you do not meet every single requirement but still intrigued? We encourage you to still apply!  You can help make our company even better.  We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, mental or physical ability, or any way you represent yourself.  We strongly believe diversity makes for more successful teams. 

Why Protolabs? 

We are the leaders in digital manufacturing.  We hire doers, makers, and creative thinkers who tackle our roles with an entrepreneurial spirit.  Our culture is centered around meaningful work that brings new and innovative products to market at unprecedented speeds.  We are a diverse team that comes from all walks of life and take pride in our team who is smart, genuine, humble, and passionate about what we do.  It’s our people who fuel our creativity and make our culture feel like home. 

Join our team as a Corporate Development Associate!

This is a hybrid role being onsite in Maple Plain, MN Tuesday-Thursday.

The Corporate Development Associate plays a critical role in shaping and communicating Protolabs’ growth story to the investment community while advancing the company’s long‑term strategic agenda. This highly visible role blends financial acumen, strategic thinking, and business development capability to strengthen investor confidence, elevate market perception, and accelerate corporate growth.

Sitting at the crossroads of M&A, investor relations, corporate finance, and strategy, this position partners closely with senior leadership to develop compelling narratives, analyze market opportunities, support strategic transactions, and drive initiatives that influence Protolabs’ future trajectory. The Corporate Development Associate will contribute meaningfully to how the company engages investors, evaluates partnerships and acquisitions, and positions itself for sustainable, high‑value growth.

This role is uniquely designed to span both investor relations and corporate development, offering the Associate a rare opportunity to build a versatile and strategic skill set. Responsibilities will evolve over time based on business priorities, allowing the individual to rotate between investor‑focused initiatives and deal‑driven corporate development work. With meaningful flexibility to shape their focus according to their interests and strengths, the Associate can deepen expertise in either area while maintaining broad exposure across both functions—gaining high visibility, executive interaction, and direct influence on Protolabs’ growth strategy.

Corporate Development:

• Support evaluation of inorganic growth opportunities.
• Perform research and analysis on potential opportunities, including acquisitions, partnerships, strategic investments, and commercial partnerships that align with Protolabs’ strategic priorities.
• Build company profiles and prioritization frameworks for potential opportunities.
• Create and maintain financial models and valuation analyses to support decision-making and business case development.
• Manage investment documentation and portfolio analysis for past and future strategic initiatives.
• Assist in preparation of detailed presentations for senior leadership and the board of directors.
• Build relationships with internal cross-functional teams including product management, R&D, sales, marketing, operations, finance, legal, etc.

Investor Relations:

• Support quarterly earnings preparation, including developing content for press releases, earnings slide presentations, management scripts, Q&A documents, and other support.
• Support the design and production of core investor materials
• Monitor and analyze peer announcements, financial performance, and macroeconomic landscape for competitive trends, financial results, investor sentiment, and latest developments/market conditions to provide strategic insights to senior management.
• Maintain a comprehensive scorecard with updated consensus estimates, stock ratings, valuation metrics, share price performance, and other relevant financial indicators for Protolabs and its peers.
• Track institutional ownership and assist with investor and analyst engagement.
• Coordinate logistics for company and sell-side hosted events.
• Maintain the Investor Relations website in coordination with external vendors, ensuring that all disclosures, presentations, and company information is accurate and current.
• Prepare ad-hoc analysis as requested.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in corporate development, investor relations, investment banking, strategic finance, corporate strategy, or management consulting.
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills with the ability to connect market insight to business impact.
• Strong financial modeling skills and understanding of valuation theory and methodologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.
• A high degree of attention to detail, integrity, and execution discipline.
• Highly motivated self-starter with strong intellectual curiosity and teamwork orientation.

• Experience with M&A execution (due diligence, deal structuring, integration).
• Knowledge of capital markets, shareholder engagement, and other institutional investor trends.
• Comfort working in cross-functional teams and with senior leadership.

• We offer a competitive salary and annual bonus opportunity
• In addition, we offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:
  • Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)
  • Dental and Vision
  • Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Paid caregiver leave
• You will receive 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness Hours + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours
• 401k with company match and immediate vest
• Employee Stock Purchase Program at a 15% discounted rate
• Matching grants through Protolabs foundation
• And More!

Protolabs offers a competitive total rewards package, and compensation mix vary based on position, such as base wage, as well as other earnings including incentives and commissions. Actual pay offered will vary depending on multiple factors which may include, without limitation, job function, work experience, specialized skills, training, education, and certifications. 

Proto Labs maintains ITAR-compliant operations in all of our United States based facilities.  Due to ITAR regulations, this role is only open to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or foreign nationals granted refugee or asylee status.  Individuals with temporary visas (e.g. E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, TN or OPT) are not eligible for hire in this role.

Proto Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Physical Demands:

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use a computer keyboard, monitor and mouse, telephone and printer; reach with hands, and arms, talk, see and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

Indoors (A/C); nonsmoking; the majority of this job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. However, there may be job duties that require the employee to spend time in the manufacturing areas exposed to machinery and noise; eye protection occasionally required. Occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.