Executive Director, M&A

DRiV Incorporated; Skokie (IL); On-site; USD 250,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

DRiV Incorporated in Skokie, IL or Southfield, MI, seeks an accomplished Executive Director, M&A to lead acquisitions, divestitures, JVs, and integrations across the enterprise.

The role partners with executive leadership to vet opportunities, perform due diligence, assess strategic fit and risk, and deliver executable transaction plans with clear recommendations.

Qualifications

• 12–15+ years in mergers and acquisitions or related field.
• Experience leading complex global transactions.
• Proven go/no-go recommendation experience to senior leadership.
• Experience with divestitures and carve-outs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full M&A lifecycle from opportunity assessment through close and post-close execution.
• Identify and prioritize targets based on strategic fit, growth, value, and risk.
• Establish a disciplined opportunity vetting process before advancing transactions.
• Oversee cross-functional due diligence across commercial, financial, legal, tax, HR, IT, and more.
• Direct divestiture strategy including carve-out planning and Day 1 readiness.
• Build transaction theses with leadership and ensure alignment with enterprise priorities.
• Coordinate structuring, valuation, negotiation, governance, and regulatory steps.
• Develop materials for senior executives highlighting rationale, diligence, risks, and value.
• Lead integration and separation programs with clear milestones and governance.
• Monitor outcomes, synergies, costs, and drive corrective actions.
• Create scalable M&A playbooks, frameworks, and repeatable processes.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/related field

MBA or advanced credential preferred

Job description

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Company: DRiV

Executive Director, M&A

Location: Southfield, MI or Skokie, IL

Job Summary:

DRiV is seeking an accomplished M&A executive to lead the evaluation and execution of acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, integrations, and separations across the enterprise. The Executive Director, M&A will guide transactions throughout the full lifecycle, with particular emphasis on rigorously vetting opportunities, leading cross-functional due diligence, assessing strategic fit and risk, and executing complex divestitures and carve-outs.

This highly visible role will serve as a senior M&A partner to executive leadership and collaborate closely with Corporate Development, Strategy, Finance, Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Legal, Operations, Commercial, HR, and IT, as well as external advisors and counterparties. The successful candidate will bring deep transaction experience, strong business judgment, executive presence, and the ability to turn complex strategic, operational, and financial findings into clear recommendations and executable transaction plans.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full M&A lifecycle for acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, integrations, and separations, from initial opportunity assessment and strategic review through negotiation, close, and post-close execution.
• Proactively identify, screen, and prioritize potential acquisition targets in partnership with business and strategy leaders, using strategic fit, market position, growth potential, value-creation opportunity, and risk to build and maintain a robust target pipeline.
• Establish a disciplined opportunity-vetting process that assesses strategic fit, market attractiveness, competitive position, operational feasibility, financial impact, execution complexity, and risk before advancing potential transactions.
• Lead cross-functional due diligence across commercial, operational, financial, legal, tax, HR, IT, environmental, compliance, and other critical areas; synthesize findings, identify deal breakers, and recommend appropriate risk mitigation.
• Direct divestiture strategy and execution, including asset perimeter definition, carve-out planning, buyer readiness, management presentations, data-room coordination, separation requirements, transition service agreements, stranded-cost mitigation, and Day 1 readiness.
• Partner with business and functional leaders to build transaction theses, evaluate strategic alternatives, define value-creation opportunities, and ensure each transaction supports enterprise priorities.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders and external advisors through transaction structuring, valuation, negotiation, governance approvals, signing, closing, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop clear recommendations and approval materials for senior executives and governance forums, highlighting strategic rationale, diligence findings, value drivers, risks, sensitivities, and execution considerations.
• Lead integration and separation planning with accountable workstreams, milestones, decision rights, risk tracking, communications, and executive reporting across concurrent global transactions.
• Monitor transaction outcomes, synergy or dis-synergy commitments, separation costs, stranded costs, and other value-creation objectives; escalated performance gaps and drive corrective action.
• Build scalable M&A playbooks, diligence frameworks, divestiture tools, governance standards, and repeatable processes while strengthening transaction capability across the organization.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, economics, strategy, or a related field; MBA or other relevant advanced credential preferred.
• 12–15+ years of progressive experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate development, strategy, transaction advisory, investment banking, or a related field, including leadership of complex global transactions.
• Demonstrated success vetting transaction opportunities, leading multidisciplinary due diligence, assessing strategic fit and risk, and presenting clear go/no-go recommendations to senior leadership.
• Significant experience executing divestitures, carve-outs, and separations, including perimeter definition, buyer diligence, transition service agreements, stranded-cost planning, and Day 1 readiness.
• Strong understanding of valuation, transaction structuring, negotiation, governance, integration, separation, and the operational and financial drivers of deal value.
• Proven ability to surface critical issues, challenge assumptions, navigate ambiguity, and translate complex cross-functional findings into concise executive recommendations.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders in a matrixed, fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional business judgment, communication, negotiation, executive presentation, and program leadership skills, with the discretion to manage highly confidential information.
• Experience in a global, complex, or manufacturing organization is preferred.

Compensation/Benefits:The base pay for this position generally ranges between $250,000.00 - $280,000.00. Additional incentives may be provided as part of a market competitive total compensation package. Factors, such as but not limited to, geographical location, relevant experience, education, and skill level may impact the pay for this position