Corporate Development Director

Corporate Development DirectorThe next part of your journey is right around the corner — with The Standard.A genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others is the foundation for everything we do. With a customer-first mindset and an intentional focus on building strong teams, we've been able to uphold our legacy of financial stability while investing in new, innovative technologies that support the needs of our customers. Our high-performance culture focused on operational excellence thrives thanks to remarkable people united by compassion and a customer-first commitment. Are you ready to make a difference?Job SummaryThe Corporate Development Director supports the execution of The Standard's growth initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic investments, as directed by the CEO and corporate development leadership. This role evaluates potential opportunities, supports transaction execution, and helps advance corporate development projects that align with the company's long-term strategic objectives.The position is actively involved across the transaction lifecycle, including strategic assessment, valuation, due diligence, and transaction execution. The Corporate Development Director works closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including senior leaders and officers across finance, actuarial, legal, HR, IT, and operations, and partners with external advisors to support thorough evaluation and efficient execution of transactions.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Planning and Deal Evaluation: Support the execution of corporate development initiatives by evaluating potential acquisitions, partnerships, and investment opportunities. Research market trends, industry developments, and competitive dynamics, and perform financial and strategic analyses to assess strategic fit, risks, and value creation potential.Due Diligence and Transaction Execution: Coordinate and manage assigned diligence workstreams across cross-functional partners, track progress, and surface key risks, issues, and decision points. Work closely with external advisors and internal stakeholders to keep diligence activities on track, elevate issues, and provide recommendations to corporate development leadership in support of transaction structuring, negotiation, signing, and closing.Analysis, Communication, and Strategic Storytelling: Prepare analyses, presentations, and communication materials to support internal discussions and inform decision-making related to corporate development initiatives. Contribute to the development of the strategic rationale for transactions, including supporting preparation of board-level materials.Process Improvement and Operational Effectiveness: Maintain and enhance corporate development tools, templates, and processes to support consistent and efficient deal execution. Establish effective ways of working with external advisors and internal stakeholders to improve coordination, communication, and overall transaction effectiveness.Skills and Background You'll NeedBachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Economics, or a related field.5+ years of experience in investment banking, investor relations, private equity, corporate development, corporate finance, actuarial, consulting, or a related field.Strong financial acumen, including the ability to understand and analyze financial statements, valuation analyses, and key deal economics in the context of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives.Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize financial, legal, operational, and market information to evaluate strategic alternatives, identify risks, and develop recommendations for senior leadership.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders at all levels.Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and drive projects to completion.Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding, and often ambiguous environment.Key Behaviors of a Successful CandidateDriving Success: Demonstrates energy and persistence when tackling complex challenges and views difficult problems as opportunities to create value.Adaptability: Adapts quickly to changing priorities and business needs, remains effective in ambiguous situations, and takes ownership for delivering results.Winning Together: Builds trust and strong working relationships across teams, values diverse perspectives, and fosters collaboration to achieve shared objectives.Strategic Visioning: Considers future scenarios, opportunities, and risks to develop thoughtful recommendations that align with the company's long-term strategic objectives.