Head Of Corporate Development

NSF International is a growing global public health and safety organization. Our mission is to protect and improve human and planet health by enabling safe food, clean water and life-enhancing health technologies and products for millions of people around the world. We do so by developing standards, testing, auditing, certifying, and providing advisory services to clients in the food, water, health sciences and consumer industries.

Our nearly 3,000 employees provide services in over 180 countries through many of our global offices, at our 35,000 client sites, from home offices and in state-of-the-art laboratories. We’re growing fast and expanding into new areas such as sustainability and digital. And that’s where you come in. Come join a team that makes a difference in the world.

More information about NSF International can be found at nsf.org.

DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the CFO, the Head of Corporate Development role will play a critical role in shaping and driving the overall strategic direction of the global organization through acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. This leader’s impact on shaping and executing inorganic growth opportunities will be foundational to NSF achieving its 5-year goal of $1 billion in global revenue.

The Head of Corporate Development will be the internal and external point of contact at the company for all M&A related matters. The executive will lead the end-to-end process of strategic acquisitions and divestitures, including identification, early analysis and screening, structuring, due diligence, contract negotiations and deal closing. Following a transaction, this leader will continue to be a guide and touch point during integration into NSF. This leader will also manage the portfolio strategy and M&A agenda of the company,

In addition, the Head of Corporate Development will lead the enterprise-wide strategic planning process in partnership with business and functional leaders, interacting significantly with the CEO and C-Suite leadership. The leader will have a team of four direct reports and indirectly work across a network of individuals within each business unit to support strategy and corporate development/M&A initiatives.

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, forward-thinking leader who brings a strong hands-on, execution orientation to lead strategy and corporate development for the global business.

Principal Accountabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Role model NSF core values of doing the right thing, treating people well, relentlessly pursuing excellence and focusing on the One-NSF mindset.
• Continuously assess company portfolio and recommend potential divestitures/ exits.
• Develop a robust M&A playbook from deal sourcing to evaluation and prioritization of targets, to pipeline management, due-diligence, integration plan and communications.
• Provide competitive intelligence and establish relevant financial benchmarks (e.g., growth rates, gross margins, EBITDA margins, leverage, commercial metrics, etc.)
• Collaborate with the business units on identification and execution of business development projects to drive growth.
• Build a diverse, inclusive, highly engaged, and high performing Corporate Development team, empowering the team to exceed goals through performance management and employee development. Attract and retain the best talent through effective recruiting, coaching, and mentoring.
• Build the M&A pipeline consistent with company growth strategy. Conduct due diligence on relevant companies, targets, and/ or potential partners. Assess strategic fit, potential risks and develop build business case/ financial models for CEO/ Board review.
• Build and grow relationships with external parties such as investment banks, private investment firms, potential deal targets and M&A advisors. Explore new potential funding opportunities / partnerships to increase access to additional investment capital.
• Lead the transaction execution including target review, assessment, diligence, risk identification and integration planning and execution (including for divestments).
• Lead the overall annual corporate strategic planning process, up to final reviews and approvals by CEO and Board. Identify opportunities to refine and improve the process.
• Develop a good understanding of market trends, technology innovation, and M&A activity in the sectors where NSF operates.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Experience:

• NSF’s global headquarters are in Ann Arbor, MI and it is expected this role will either be local or ready to spend 2-3 days per week at headquarters when not traveling to other sites or meeting with external stakeholders.
• Experience working with external financial advisors/investment banks
• Experience developing an M&A playbook from deal sourcing to evaluation and prioritization of targets, to pipeline management, due-diligence, integration plan and communications.
• Experience navigating diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership and the board, within and outside the company
• Global Leadership experience
• Strong Financial acumen including extensive experience with modeling and valuations analysis
• Master’s degree in business

Preferred Experience

• Experience across NSF’s end markets: Food, Water and/or Health
• Experience leading post-deal integration
• Experience in the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry
• Experience leading annual strategic planning across a business unit or company
• Experience in a customer oriented B2B services environment
• Foundational upbringing in a corporate strategy, strategy consulting, banking or private equity firm environment

The ideal candidate must demonstrate the following competencies:

• Driving Results – This leader has the confidence to break new ground and a track record of successful implementation of significant complex strategic initiatives across business units and/or functions. Known for his/her exceptional delivery capabilities and sought out by colleagues and clients for support in challenging implementation situations. Translates ideas to practical and commercial results. Brings a sense of urgency to the organization and leads by example, demonstrating high personal energy. Has a track record of instilling transparency around his/her analyses and proposed plans.
• Shaping Strategy – The successful candidate understands market potential and business opportunities and translates those to actionable and prescriptive forward-thinking growth strategies. S/he can articulate a strategic growth vision and gain the buy-in of the broader organization. This role requires a foundation of exceptional finance and analytical skills and previous experience, including detailed, disciplined financial analysis. S/he will have the strategic insight to suggest innovations and alternative deal structures where it makes sense for the business. The individual will demonstrate creativity, flexibility, and transparency to develop new approaches which accelerate growth.
• Influencing Collaboratively – High on EQ, this leader will work collaboratively to build consensus and deliver results in a matrixed organization. S/he will have a history of successfully operating in an organization where results are achieved through influence vs. direct reporting lines. In line with this, the Head of Corporate Development will be a savvy, persuasive communicator who can credibly articulate recommendations to senior management and influence internal and external stakeholders alike. 
• Strong Transaction Skills - Candidates will have a strong track record in transaction execution, successfully handling all stages of the deal including analysis, due diligence, company valuations, preparation of investment memorandums, deal structure, negotiations, closing and integration. This individual will have effectively managed relevant external vendors (e.g., bankers, lawyers, accountants). Importantly, s/he will execute transactions in a manner that is consistent with NSF’s values and reputation. 

NSF International is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or disability.