Director, Strategy and Corporate Development

NielsenIQ; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 132,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working environment

Volunteer time off

LinkedIn Learning

Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

Job summary

The Director, Strategy and Corporate Development at NIQ will lead cross-functional strategy projects, oversee mergers and acquisitions, and drive the company’s growth agenda with senior leadership guidance. You will partner across Strategy, Finance, Product/Technology, and business units, manage multi-disciplinary diligence, develop deal models, and present recommendations to the executive team.

This role offers exposure to board-level decision making and the opportunity to advance within the

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in corporate development, management consulting, investment banking, or strategy roles.
• Proven track record leading M&A from sourcing to close, with 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.
• Ability to lead multiple workstreams and small teams in a fast-moving environment.
• Comfortable operating with senior leaders across levels and functions.
• Proficiency with modern AI tools and workflows, or the initiative to learn and apply them independently.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise and business unit strategy projects including market and competitive analysis, growth opportunity assessment, and strategic planning.
• Help drive the three-year planning process and prioritization.
• Collaborate with executives across Strategy, Finance, Product/Technology, and Business Units.
• Lead cross-functional diligence teams (Finance, Legal, Product, Tech, HR); set workplan and cadence.
• Partner with Finance to develop deal models and present recommendations to executive leadership.

Skills

Strategic leadership

M&A deal experience

Analytical & financial modeling

C-suite/board presentation

Multi-workstream leadership

Senior stakeholder management

AI tools curiosity

Cross-functional collaboration

Adaptability & autonomy

Job description

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.

Key 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

Corporate Development & M&A

• 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

Location: US-Remote

R26_0021978

Job Description

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.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Growth Initiatives

• 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

Corporate Development & M&A

• 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

Qualifications

• 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

Preferred Background

• 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

Additional Information

This role has a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation of the following range: $132,000.00 - $200,000.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role might also be eligible for a sales-based incentive or performance-based bonus. Other benefits include a flexible working environment, comprehensive health insurance, industry-leading parental leave, life insurance, education support, and more.

Our Benefits

• Flexible working environment
• Volunteer time off
• LinkedIn Learning
• Employee-Assistance-Program (EAP)

NIQ may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools at various stages of the recruitment process, including résumé screening, candidate assessments, interview scheduling, job matching, communication support, and certain administrative tasks that help streamline workflows. These tools are intended to improve efficiency and support fair and consistent evaluation based on job-related criteria. All use of AI is governed by NIQ’s principles of fairness, transparency, human oversight, and inclusion. Final hiring decisions are made exclusively by humans. NIQ regularly reviews its AI tools to help mitigate bias and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. If you have questions, require accommodations, or wish to request human review were permitted by law, please contact your local HR representative. For more information, please visit NIQ’s AI Safety Policies and Guiding Principles: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/info/niqs-ai-safety-policies/

About NIQ

NIQ is the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. In 2023, NIQ combined with GfK, bringing together the two industry leaders with unparalleled global reach. With a holistic retail read and the most comprehensive consumer insights—delivered with advanced analytics through state-of-the-art platforms—NIQ delivers the Full View™. NIQ is an Advent International portfolio company with operations in 100+ markets, covering more than 90% of the world’s population.

For more information, visit NIQ.com

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Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At NIQ, we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace that mirrors the rich diversity of the communities and markets we serve. We believe that embracing a wide range of perspectives drives innovation and excellence. All employment decisions at NIQ are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. We invite individuals who share our dedication to inclusivity and equity to join us in making a meaningful impact. To learn more about our ongoing efforts in diversity and inclusion, please visit the https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/diversity-inclusion