Senior Director, Corporate Development

Transamerica; Cedar Rapids (IA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension Plan

401k Match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Tuition Reimbursement

Disability Insurance

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Employee Discounts

Career Training & Development

Job summary

Transamerica in Cedar Rapids is seeking a Senior Director, Corporate Development to lead the enterprise's inorganic growth through mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reinsurance, and strategic partnerships. You will translate market insights and financial impacts into recommendations for long-term strategy, work with senior leaders, and guide complex transactions from evaluation through integration.

This hybrid role requires a strong track record in deal execution, risk assessment, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics, or a related field.
• Twelve years of experience in transaction execution, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, strategic finance, or related leadership roles.
• Experience leading complex transactions from evaluation through execution and transition planning.
• Strong financial analysis, valuation, accounting, analytical, and business judgment skills.
• Experience influencing executives, governance committees, and senior cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong project management and execution discipline.
• High level of integrity, discretion, professionalism, and relationship management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise inorganic growth strategy across mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestitures, reinsurance transactions, strategic investments, and partnerships.
• Develop and manage the opportunity pipeline by establishing investment theses, assessing market dynamics, and cultivating strategic relationships.
• Evaluate opportunities through an enterprise lens, including strategic fit, financial impact, capital implications, regulatory considerations, and key risks.
• Lead complex transactions from evaluation through approval, negotiation, execution, and transition planning.
• Oversee valuation, financial analysis, and return frameworks that inform capital allocation and transaction recommendations.
• Advise senior leadership, governance committees, and Boards through clear, executive-ready recommendations.
• Align cross-functional leaders around strategic rationale, due diligence findings, transaction decisions, and execution priorities.
• Represent the company externally with advisors, counterparties, reinsurers, and other industry participants.
• Guide integration, separation, and value-capture planning to support achievement of transaction objectives.
• Build Corporate Development team capabilities, standards, industry insight, and execution discipline.

Skills

Financial analysis

Valuation

Accounting

Analytical skills

Business judgment

Stakeholder management

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics

Master’s degree in business administration (preferred)

Job description

About Us

At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests.

Job Family

Mergers & Acquisitions

About Us

At Transamerica, hard work, innovative thinking, and personal accountability are qualities we honor and reward. We understand the potential of leveraging the talents of a diverse workforce. We embrace an environment where employees enjoy a balance between their careers, families, communities, and personal interests. Ultimately, we appreciate the uniqueness of a company where talented professionals work collaboratively in a positive environment — one focused on helping people look forward and plan for the best life possible while providing tools and solutions that make it easier to get there.

Who We Are

We believe everyone deserves to live their best life. More than a century ago, we were among the first financial services companies in America to serve everyday people from all walks of life. Today, we’re part of an international holding company, with millions of customers and thousands of employees worldwide. Our insurance, retirement, and investment solutions help people make the most of what’s important to them. We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms.

What We Do

Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include 1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors, 2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and 3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs.

Job Description Summary

The Senior Director, Corporate Development will support the enterprise inorganic growth agenda by originating, evaluating, negotiating, and executing mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, reinsurance transactions, and strategic partnerships. Translate market insights, transaction economics, financial impacts, risk considerations, and value-capture opportunities into recommendations that support long-term strategy, capital allocation priorities, and enterprise value creation.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise inorganic growth strategy across mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestitures, reinsurance transactions, strategic investments, and partnerships.
• Develop and manage the opportunity pipeline by establishing investment theses, assessing market dynamics, and cultivating strategic relationships.
• Evaluate opportunities through an enterprise lens, including strategic fit, financial impact, capital implications, regulatory considerations, and key risks.
• Lead complex transactions from evaluation through approval, negotiation, execution, and transition planning.
• Oversee valuation, financial analysis, and return frameworks that inform capital allocation and transaction recommendations.
• Advise senior leadership, governance committees, and Boards through clear, executive-ready recommendations.
• Align cross-functional leaders around strategic rationale, due diligence findings, transaction decisions, and execution priorities.
• Represent the company externally with advisors, counterparties, reinsurers, and other industry participants.
• Guide integration, separation, and value-capture planning to support achievement of transaction objectives.
• Build Corporate Development team capabilities, standards, industry insight, and execution discipline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, economics, or a related field
• Twelve years of experience in in transaction execution, corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, strategic finance, or related leadership roles
• Experience leading complex transactions from evaluation through execution and transition planning
• Strong financial analysis, valuation, accounting, analytical, and business judgment skills
• Experience influencing executives, governance committees, and senior cross-functional stakeholders
• Strong project management and execution discipline
• High level of integrity, discretion, professionalism, and relationship management skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business administration or related advanced degree
• Experience within life insurance, annuities, retirement, distribution, or financial services industries
• Knowledge of insurance transactions, reinsurance structures, regulatory requirements, statutory accounting, and risk-based capital (RBC) considerations
• Experience preparing Board, executive, or investment committee materials
• Established network across life insurance, annuity, advisor, investment banking, reinsurance, or related industry participants
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Working Conditions

• Office Environment
• Occasional Travel
• Occasional travel for meetings with external partners

Compensation

• The Salary for this position generally ranges between $180,000 - $250,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.
• Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion.

Applicants must possess legal authorization to work for our company in the U.S. without the need for immigration, sponsorship or otherwise serving as an employer of record for immigration employment purposes. At this time, this role is not eligible for immigration-related employment authorization sponsorship.

This is a hybrid position requiring three days in office per week in one of our hub locations (Cedar Rapids, Denver, Philadelphia). Relocation assistance will not be provided for this position.

This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request.

What We Offer

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well well-being of our employees.

Compensation Benefits

• Competitive Pay
• Bonus for Eligible Employees

Benefits Package

• Pension Plan
• 401k Match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Disability Insurance
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Employee Discounts
• Career Training & Development Opportunities

Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits

• Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.
• Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).
• Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars
• Parental Leave – fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Back-Up Care Program
• PTO for Volunteer Hours
• Employee Matching Gifts Program
• Employee Resource Groups
• Inclusion and Diversity Programs
• Employee Recognition Program
• Referral Bonus Programs

Inclusion & Diversity

We believe our commitment to diversity and inclusion creates a work environment filled with exceptional individuals. We’re thrilled to have been recognized for our efforts through the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, Dave Thomas Adoption Friendly Advocate, and several Seramount lists, including the Inclusion Index, 100 Best Companies for Working Parents, Best Companies for Dads, and Top 75 Companies for Executive Women.

Giving Back

We believe our responsibilities extend beyond our corporate walls. That’s why we created the Aegon Transamerica Foundation in 1994. Through a mix of financial grants and the volunteer efforts of our employees, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations focused on the things that matter most to our people in the communities where we live and work.

Transamerica’s Parent Company

Aegon acquired the Transamerica business in 1999. Since its start in 1844, Aegon has grown into an international company serving more than 23.9 million people across the globe.* It offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, always with a clear purpose: Helping people live their best lives. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity.

• As of December 31, 2023