Manager - Business Development

AAM - American Axle & Manufacturing; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

American Axle & Manufacturing in Detroit, MI is seeking a Manager – Business Development to lead corporate development efforts, including M&A, strategic partnerships, and divestitures.

You will build financial models, conduct market analyses, coordinate due diligence with internal teams and external advisors, and develop post-merger integration plans to drive value creation for the enterprise.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant experience in Corporate Development, M&A, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Transaction Advisory, or Corporate Finance.
• Advanced financial modeling and valuation skills, with strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple transactions simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively in a global, cross-cultural environment.
• Experience in automotive, industrial manufacturing, or related sectors preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develops strategic business cases and investment theses to support corporate development initiatives, in partnership with business unit leaders.
• Conducts market research, competitive analysis, and target screening to identify and prioritize acquisition, divestiture, and partnership opportunities.
• Builds and presents financial models, valuation analyses (DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions), synergy assessments, and investment return analyses to support transaction decisions.
• Collaborates closely with external advisors — investment bankers, consultants, legal counsel, accounting firms, and tax advisors.
• Leads and coordinates commercial, operational, financial, tax, and HR due diligence workstreams across internal teams and external advisors.
• Manages due diligence data rooms and timelines, ensuring timely identification of risks, issues, and value drivers.
• Develops post-merger integration plans in partnership with business unit and functional leaders.
• Tracks integration milestones, monitor synergy capture initiatives, and report progress against value creation targets.

Skills

Financial modeling

Valuation

Excel

PowerPoint

Analytical skills

Project management

Automotive/Industrial experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering or related field

MBA, CPA, CFA or equivalent preferred

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

Job Posting Title

Manager - Business Development

Legal Entity

American Axle & Manufacturing Inc

Job Description Summary

Dauch is looking for a Manager - Business Development to join our team in Detroit, MI.

The Manager – Corporate Business Development (M&A) is responsible for financial and strategic analyses, developing business cases, coordinating due diligence activities, supporting transaction execution, and assisting with post-merger integration planning for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic partnerships, and other corporate development activities. This role works closely with business units, finance, legal, operations, and external advisors to support the company’s growth strategy and portfolio optimization objectives.

Job Description:

Strategy & Opportunity Assessment

• Develops strategic business cases and investment theses to support corporate development initiatives, in partnership with business unit leaders.

• Conducts market research, competitive analysis, and target screening to identify and prioritize acquisition, divestiture, and partnership opportunities.

Transaction Execution

• Builds and presents financial models, valuation analyses (DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions), synergy assessments, and investment return analyses to support transaction decisions.

• Collaborates closely with external advisors — investment bankers, consultants, legal counsel, accounting firms, and tax advisors.

Due Diligence & Deal Structuring

• Leads and coordinates commercial, operational, financial, tax, and HR due diligence workstreams across internal teams and external advisors.

• Manages due diligence data rooms and timelines, ensuring timely identification of risks, issues, and value drivers.

Integration & Value Creation

• Develops post-merger integration plans in partnership with business unit and functional leaders.

• Tracks integration milestones, monitor synergy capture initiatives, and report progress against value creation targets.

Required Skills and Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Fiinance, Accounting, Economics, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field. MBA, CPA, CFA, or equivalent advanced qualification preferred.

• 5+ years of relevant experience in Corporate Development, M&A, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Transaction Advisory, or Corporate Finance.

• Advanced financial modeling and valuation skills, with strong proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.

• Strong analytical and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple transactions simultaneously under tight deadlines.

• Ability to work effectively in a global, cross-cultural environment.

• Experience in automotive, industrial manufacturing, or related sectors preferred.

About Dauch:

Dauch Corporation is a premier Driveline and Metal Forming supplier serving the global automotive industry with a powertrain-agnostic product portfolio that supports electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles. The company is headquartered in Detroit, MI, with operations that span 24 countries and more than 175 locations. Formed through the acquisition of Dowlais Group plc and its subsidiaries - GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy, Dauch unites deep engineering roots with global manufacturing capabilities and an entrepreneurial spirit to move mobility forward. Visit www.dauch.com to learn more.

Dauch will not discriminate against any Associate or applicant for employment because of age, race, color, gender, religion, weight, height, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, national origin, or other characteristic protected by law. Dauch will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that Associates are treated equally during employment, without regard to their age, race, color, gender, religion, weight, height, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic history or information, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, national origin, or other characteristic protected by law. For the Disabled Job Seeker: We offer reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled individuals who are applicants for employment. To request assistance or accommodations, please e-mail [e-mail]. Dauch is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.