Director of Corporate Development | Mergers & Acquisitions | Hybrid

Ellucian Inc.•Reston, VA

35d•Hybrid

About The Position

Ellucian is a global market leader in education technology. We power innovation for higher education, partnering with more than 2,800 customers across 50 countries and serving over 20 million students. Ellucian's AI-powered platform, trained on the richest dataset available in higher education, drives efficiency, personalized experiences, and strengthened engagement for all students, faculty and staff. Fueled by decades of experience with a singular focus on the unique needs of learning institutions, the Ellucian platform features best-in-class SaaS capabilities and delivers insights needed now and into the future. These solutions and services span the entire student lifecycle, from student recruitment, enrollment, and retention to workforce analytics, fundraising, and alumni engagement. Ellucian's innovative solutions, vast ecosystem of partners, and user community of more than 45,000 provide best practices leading to greater institutional success and achieving better student outcomes. Values Rooted in Purpose We embrace the power to lead, the courage to innovate, and the determination to grow. At our core, we believe in humanizing our approach, recognizing that our people are our greatest strength. With a shared vision of transformation, we endeavor to shape a brighter future for higher education. About the Opportunity We are seeking a Director of Corporate Development to lead M&A integration efforts across strategic acquisitions and partnerships. This individual will report to the Vice President of Corporate Development and will play a critical role in ensuring that acquisition targets are smoothly and successfully integrated into Ellucian's operations, culture, and strategic vision. The ideal candidate is a structured thinker, experienced project leader, and effective communicator with a background in both project management and M&A execution. PMP certification is strongly preferred.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in corporate development, management consulting, program management, or related roles.
Proven experience with M&A integration planning and execution (ideally in enterprise software, private equity-backed, or tech-enabled services).
Strong project leadership, cross-functional communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Familiarity with financial, legal, operational, and technical elements of transactions.
High level of business acumen, analytical ability, and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

PMP certification preferred.
Capabilities/experience in leveraging AI solutions preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the integration lead for acquired companies and strategic partnerships.
Develop and execute end-to-end integration plans in coordination with business unit leaders, HR, IT, Finance, Legal, and Product teams.
Maintain ongoing interaction with investor M&A teams to ensure alignment and transparency throughout the integration process.
Identify integration priorities, interdependencies, risks, and mitigation plans.
Create and manage integration timelines, milestones, budgets, and KPIs.
Drive synergy realization and ensure a positive experience for customers, employees, and partners.
Lead cross-functional project teams with accountability for successful delivery of integration goals.
Apply best practices in change management and stakeholder communication to ensure alignment and adoption.
Regularly report progress to Corporate Development, Executive Leadership, and functional sponsors.
Collaborate with the VP of Corporate Development on pre-close planning and operational diligence.
Support the assessment of operational fit, risks, and post-close opportunities.
Provide input into transaction structure and operational transition plans.
Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Go-to-Market, and G&A functions to ensure consistent execution.
Align integration workstreams with Ellucian's strategic priorities and values.

Benefits

Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, and vision
Flexible time off
Thrive Flex Lifestyle Account (LSA) that allows you to contribute towards your health, financial or learning interests
401k w/ match & BrightPlan - to help you save for the future
Parental Leave
5 charitable days to support the community that supports us
Telemedicine
Wellness
Headspace Care (mental health)
Wellbeats (virtual fitness classes)
RethinkCare & Wellthy- caregiver support
Diversity and inclusion programs which provide access to internal employee resource groups
Employee referral bonuses to encourage the addition of great new people to the team
Education Assistance Program
Professional development opportunities