Corporate Development Director

AeroVironment • Arlington, VA

1d

About The Position

Reporting to the VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, you'll take ownership of complex, high-value deals from initial evaluation through close. You'll work closely with senior leadership to execute our M&A strategy, lead cross-functional deal teams, and deliver sophisticated analysis that informs critical investment decisions. This role offers the opportunity to drive meaningful transactions while developing your leadership capabilities in a dynamic environment.

Requirements

• 8-12 years of progressive experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, or management consulting
• Strong track record of leading and closing multiple M&A transactions or strategic investments, with demonstrated success managing significant deals
• Expert-level financial modeling and valuation skills across multiple methodologies (DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions)
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience engaging senior executives and articulating complex strategic concepts
• Strong business judgment with ability to balance strategic considerations with financial analysis
• Experience managing and mentoring junior team members
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and drive deals forward with minimal supervision
• Exceptional analytical abilities with rigorous attention to detail
• Skilled at managing multiple concurrent workstreams under tight deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent analytical, time management and organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills and proficiency with office software and productivity tools.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Works well with little or no supervision and exercises independent judgement on a regular basis.
• Strong ability to gain cooperation of others, conducting presentations of technical information concerning specific projects or schedules.
• U.S. Citizen required.
• Must be able to travel within the Continental U.S. and internationally when required.
• Must live in a commutable distance to one of our locations
• This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction.

Nice To Haves

• MBA strongly preferred
• Experience with post-merger integration is highly valued
• Industry-specific experience in industrials/defense is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead evaluation and execution of M&A transactions, strategic investments, joint ventures, and partnerships
• Own the end-to-end deal process for assigned transactions, including sourcing, diligence, valuation, negotiation, and closing
• Build comprehensive financial models and valuation analyses to assess deal economics, synergies, and strategic fit
• Manage cross-functional deal teams including finance, legal, HR, operations, and business unit leaders throughout the transaction lifecycle
• Develop presentation materials for the corporate development leadership team and executive stakeholders
• Conduct market and competitive analysis to identify potential targets and assess strategic opportunities
• Manage relationships with investment banks, advisors, and counterparties throughout the deal process
• Support post-merger integration workstreams in partnership with Integration office and business leaders to ensure successful value capture
• Mentor and develop junior corporate development team members, providing guidance on deal execution and analytical approaches
• Support the VP of Corporate Development in refining our deal pipeline and transaction prioritization
• Contribute to the evolution of corporate development processes, tools, and best practices
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level