Director, Corporate Development

Apogee Enterprises Inc.

Position Summary

The Director of Corporate Development is primarily responsible for leading/supporting all aspects of corporate development that includes but is not limited to acquisition and divestiture process for the enterprise to support Apogee’s growth objectives. In this role, you will provide guidance and process to identify and develop long-range M&A strategy for the enterprise, as well as goals and opportunities that could fill strategic gaps and drive profitable growth. This includes deal identification and sourcing, development of business cases in support of inorganic growth initiatives, modeling transaction scenarios, execution of highly complex M&A opportunities, and integration leadership. Reporting to the Vice President of Business Development, you will often lead broad, multi-functional matrixed senior teams that are assembled to work on specific projects, as well as engagement with the Apogee Board.

Key Responsibilities

Develop an acquisition strategy and pipeline.  Support the sourcing and evaluation of acquisition candidates aligned with company strategy.

• Manage special projects that include competitive analysis, market surveillance, and M&A scenario analysis.

• Partner with the Apogee Leadership Team to understand and develop strategic direction and acquisition/alliance priorities. Define merger, acquisition divestment, and alliance strategies within the parameters of the overall Apogee strategy.

• Develop and deploy a robust acquisition pipeline process supporting business priorities.

• Work with business teams to plan ongoing outreach programs to develop relationships with targets.

• Identify and screen potential acquisition/partnering targets, making appropriate contacts.

• Work with business deal sponsors to evaluate opportunities.

• Work with investment banks and key bankers to know of the deal pipeline in the industry and also ensure understanding of the financial modeling with the lead bankers for the potential transactions.

Design and lead an effective acquisition and divestiture due diligence process.  Manage, support, and coordinate due diligence activities.

• Screen, analyze and develop a strong business case for each acquisition, including quantitative support for annual operating plan and investment activities.

• Lead the due diligence process including market strength, technology assessment, competitive position, and operational effectiveness to validate growth and performance improvement initiatives.

• Lead/support financial due diligence, including current and projected performance, to ensure a comprehensive financial and strategic rationale, and accurate expectations and financial transaction modeling.

• Lead/support valuation modeling and provide valuation expertise, including the internal preparation process for divestitures and quarterback the sale process from start to finish.

• Develop and present business plans and scenarios that support the case for acquisition/divestiture.

• Support determination of deal structure and deal negotiations and facilitate the enterprise approval process for all deals.

Lead effective execution of acquisition and divestiture processes.  Lead and coordinate integration activities from deal origination to post-close integration in coordination with VP of Business Development and external partners.

• Develop and drive the agenda for integration matters, which includes coordinating business units, functional teams, and formulating recommendations for senior management and the Board

• Oversee the integration risk management process, identifying these risks and issues that need to be escalated to senior management and/or the Board during due diligence process through integration execution

• Actively follow up on issues/risks/actions, escalating where necessary

• Support monthly ESC (Exec Steering Committee) meetings, including developing a supporting deck with functional area updates combined with synergy performance tracking KPI's

• Drive successful execution against plan by tracking milestones, making key recommendations to stakeholders, and holding cross functional team accountable for execution of deliverables

• Provide relevant and timely stakeholder communications to all levels of management (formal and informal reporting) on the status and progress of the integration plans, costs and benefits

• Ensure successful handoff to business team after post-closing activities are completed

• Effective leadership and execution of transition services agreement and/or other related ancillary agreements as point of contact with a buyer

Lead and support complex enterprise projects.  Provide project management support and coordination of day-to-day transformation program execution across the broader enterprise.

• Project manage multiple strategic initiatives that span business functions and segments, ensuring on-time delivery against milestones, tracking of value delivery, and rapid mitigation of risks through early identification and escalation.

• Partner closely with initiative leads to create detailed and comprehensive work plans. Support business and functional partners through stage gate process.

• Work closely with Finance to track value capture progress and flag impacts to overall value

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will be expected to be a high-energy, creative, and resourceful self-starter who demonstrates leadership skills and instincts.  They will be highly intelligent and enthusiastic with a commitment to excellence.   The successful candidate must be a hands-on person who possesses the best combination of strategic thinking and drive to achieve tangible business results.  The successful candidate would have a good network in the deal origination and investment banks.  In addition, they should possess the following competencies:

• Ethics: Highest level of professional integrity and honesty as well as personal credibility. 

• Business/Strategic Leadership:  A confident, mature person with the ability to connect and inspire others.  A proven track record of leading businesses and teams that successfully achieve milestones, complete deliverables, and P&L objectives. 

• M&A/Financial Acumen.  Superior financial and analytical skills, including valuation methodologies, and company capitalization (including debt/equity and hybrid instruments).  Strategic insight into enterprise and strategic fit of proposed transactions. Experience managing all facets of a deal, including superior skills in screening, and analyzing potential opportunities, cultivation, conducting due diligence, structuring, negotiating, executing, closing, and integrating deals.

• Collaborative mindset. Strong negotiation skills and a collaborative/team approach to achieving results.  Ability to deal with ambiguity, work within a cross functional team.  Strong leadership skills, with proven ability to gain buy-in.  Solid judgment and influencing skills to build compelling business cases for deals. 

• Results-Oriented:  A driver who possesses the ability to take actions and implement effective solutions in a timely manner often while influencing across different functions and levels of the organization

• Problem Solver:  A creative yet pragmatic problem solver.  Methodical and hands-on as well as detail-oriented

• Analytical Thinking and Decision-Making:  A “conceptualizer” of business strategies and objectives who can then integrate that thinking into plans and results.   Excellent planning, execution, and project-management skills.  Strong business acumen, “street smarts” and an in-depth understanding of the HR and financial implications of business decisions.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.  Strong communication skills (verbal and written), negotiation skills and a collaborative/team approach to execution.  Ability to add value to high-level management interactions, with a proven ability to develop, communicate and create buy-in around business strategies. 

• Teamwork and Interpersonal Skills:  A team player and builder, receptive to ideas from others, who shares information to keep team members and partners informed.  Collaborates and works effectively with others to identify opportunities and resolve issues.  Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to interact successfully with all levels of management as well as a diverse workforce.

• High Capacity: Must be highly motivated and able to handle multiple workstreams in a fast-paced environment

Requirements

Education:

• Undergraduate degree

• Education in Finance, Accounting, or other business curriculum

• MBA (preferred)

Experience:

• 7+ years of direct M&A transaction execution experience (required)

• Direct M&A integration execution experience (preferred)

Annual Salary Range: $160,000-$210,000

Work Location: Hybrid role with 3-4 days/week in office and 1-2 days/week remote

Travel: Approximately 1-2 trips/quarter