Director Corporate Development

Gateway Recruiting; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Gateway Recruiting is seeking a seasoned corporate development leader to drive M&A and strategic partnerships for Santa Clara-based growth. You will engage with senior executives, evaluate targets, and shape the investment case from initial discussions through closing.

You\'ll lead due diligence across finance, legal, tax, and operations, structure deals, and present recommendations to the Board, while maintaining a disciplined, execution-focused approach.

Qualifications

• 7–12+ years in Corporate Development, M&A, investment banking, PE, or related transactions.
• Proven track record of completing M&A deals from diligence to closing.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, negotiation, and deal execution skills.
• Sector experience in technology/semiconductor/photonics/industrial; cross-border M&A preferred.
• Executive presence with ability to work directly with senior leadership and external counterparties.

Responsibilities

• Lead Corporate Development and M&A activity to identify targets.
• Build financial models, valuations, deal structures, and investment cases.
• Source, negotiate, structure, and execute deals with senior executives.
• Lead due diligence across finance, legal, tax, operations, and technology.
• Prepare presentations and recommendations for the Board.
• Manage transaction timelines and drive deals toward execution; support integration.

Skills

Financial modeling

Deal execution

Executive presence

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Job description

Job Summary:

This position will take the lead in shaping the company’s growth story by identifying great acquisition and partnership opportunities, building the investment case, and guiding deals from the first conversation all the way through to closing. This is a chance to work directly with senior executives and target-company leadership, build meaningful relationships across the photonics and semiconductor landscape, and make a visible impact and help drive major strategic moves at the global photonics leader. This is not primarily a people‑management role. This position is in need of someone who gets into the details, drives the process, and serves as a front person for transactions.

Job Responsibilities:

• Report to the VP, Strategy & Corporate Development
• Responsible for leading Corporate Development and M&A activity for the company, including identifying and evaluating acquisition targets aligned with strategic priorities, building financial models, valuations, deal structures and investment cases, and partnering with senior executives to drive and execute strategic opportunities.
• Required to lead all aspects of the transaction process — from establishing and maintaining relationships with relevant external parties through to sourcing, negotiating, structuring, and execution.
• Lead due diligence across finance, legal, tax, operations, and technology.
• Serve as a key point of contact with target executives, investment bankers, and external advisors; prepare presentations and recommendations for senior leadership and the Board.
• Manage transaction timelines and drive deals toward execution; and support post-acquisition integration.

Qualifications/Skills/Experience:

• 7–12+ years of relevant experience in Corporate Development, M&A, investment banking, private equity, or related transaction experience
• Demonstrated track record of executing completed M&A transactions, managing them from diligence through closing
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, negotiation, and deal execution skills
• Technology, semiconductor, photonics, industrial, or advanced manufacturing sector experience strongly preferred; cross-border M&A experience preferred
• Strong executive presence and the ability to work directly with senior leadership and external counterparties
• Hands‑on, highly accountable approach with a bias toward execution rather than management
• Strong collaboration, interpersonal, and communication skills
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred
• This is an execution‑focused role for a deal‑oriented "doer."