Director, Strategy and Corporate Development

NielsenIQ•Chicago, IL

9h•$132,000 - $200,000•Remote

About The Position

The Director, Strategy and Corporate Development will play a critical role supporting NIQ’s growth agenda, strategic initiatives, supporting mergers and acquisition, and executive-level projects end-to-end. This role is ideal for a seasoned professional with 7-10 years of experience who can independently lead deal processes and drive broader strategy and transformation efforts, while shaping the agenda alongside senior leadership. The role partners closely with senior leaders across Strategy, Finance, Product/Technology, and Business Units, and offers exposure to executive leadership and board‑level decision making. This is the Strategy and Corporate Development team, with the potential to move up to a more senior role on the team or an operating role within one of NIQ’s business units.

Requirements

7–10 years of experience in one or more of: Corporate Development, Management Consulting, Investment Banking, Strategy or Corporate Finance roles
Track record of leading M&A processes from sourcing through close, including at least one deal owned end-to-end
Strong analytical and financial modeling skills
Experience presenting to and influencing C-suite and board-level audiences
Proven ability to lead multiple workstreams and small teams concurrently in a fast-moving environment
Strong judgment, ownership mindset, and comfort working with senior leaders
Comfortable operating at all altitudes - from high-level strategy with executives to digging into details alongside ICs
Thrive in fast-paced, high-autonomy environments with evolving priorities
Proficiency with modern AI tools and workflows - or the curiosity and initiative to learn and apply them independently

Nice To Haves

Combination of top-tier consulting and M&A (corporate development or investment banking) experience strongly preferred
Direct experience leading post-merger integration or enterprise strategic growth initiatives
Experience in technology, data, analytics, or SaaS‑oriented businesses preferred

Responsibilities

Lead enterprise and business unit strategy projects, including: Market and competitive analysis, Growth opportunity assessment, Strategic planning and prioritization
Help drive the three-year planning process
Comfortable operating at all altitudes — from high-level strategy with executives to digging into details alongside ICs
Thrive in fast-paced, high-autonomy environments with evolving priorities
Proficiency with modern AI tools and workflows - or the curiosity and initiative to learn and apply them independently
Author and present executive- and board-level materials, including recommendations on strategic direction and capital allocation
Partner with business leaders to translate strategy into actionable plans
Lead cross-functional diligence teams (Finance, Legal, Product, Tech, HR), setting workplan, cadence, and escalation paths
Support integration planning and setting the team up for success
Partner with Finance to develop deal models and present recommendations to executive leadership