Variner
VP of Corporate Strategy & Corporate Development
Variner, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75215
LOCATION
Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX, or Houston, TX
The following information aims to provide potential candidates with a better understanding of the requirements for this role.
COMPANY OVERVIEW Our client is a long-standing, privately held industrial services and solutions provider with a 40+ year history. The business began as a small, family-run operation and has since evolved into a global partner to companies across a wide range of heavy industries, including infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, and marine sectors.
VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY & CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT The Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development (“VP”) will report directly to the CEO and serve as a key strategic partner, combining high-level strategy work with hands-on M&A execution. The VP will lead all inorganic growth efforts, including sourcing, evaluating, and executing add-on acquisitions, while also supporting broader corporate strategy initiatives.
RESPONSIBILITIES Growth Strategy Responsibilities: Partner with senior leadership and ownership on the annual strategic planning process, in coordination with the CFO on budgeting Lead high-impact strategic initiatives on behalf of the CEO, ensuring timely execution and measurable outcomes Manage the portfolio of strategic projects, driving alignment and transparency across the organization Create and implement robust KPIs to monitor initiative performance and progress Collaborate with the board to ensure strategic priorities are aligned with ownership objectives Lead cross-functional, global teams to execute complex strategic projects Corporate Development/M&A Responsibilities: Lead end-to-end M&A processes, including opportunity sourcing, financial evaluation, due diligence, and execution Draft and negotiate LOIs with acquisition targets Coordinate with senior leadership and private equity partners to evaluate and prioritize deals Manage external advisors including diligence, legal, and quality of earnings providers Oversee post-acquisition integration to ensure seamless onboarding and operational alignment Work with lending partners to structure and secure debt financing for acquisitions
QUALIFICATIONS A successful candidate will bring a strong blend of strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and executional excellence, with a proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment. Required Experience: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field; MBA preferred (not required) 6+ years of progressive work experience in investment banking or strategy consulting combined with meaningful buy-side M&A experience from private equity or corporate development roles (meaningful buy-side M&A experience is required) In-depth knowledge of financial reporting and three-statement operating modeling Multiple closed buy-side transactions from IOI to close to value creation initiatives A proven track record of successful diligence and deal execution Experience with multiple annual strategic planning processes/cycles
Preferred Experience: Strong understanding of financial value drivers in private equity-backed businesses Strong familiarity with private equity backed value creation strategies focused on EBITDA growth and exit planning Experience driving strategic planning and decision-making processes Experience managing multiple projects with diverse stakeholders and driving teams to consensus Experience developing and maintaining a comprehensive long-range financial model that supports strategic planning, exit scenarios, and capital allocation decisions Experience building operating models, budgets, and board presentation materials Deep expertise in analyzing complex financial data to deliver actionable insights and strategic recommendations Proven track record of delivering high-quality financial reports and presentations with clear updates on performance, strategy, and key initiatives to boards and private equity sponsors
The following information aims to provide potential candidates with a better understanding of the requirements for this role.
COMPANY OVERVIEW Our client is a long-standing, privately held industrial services and solutions provider with a 40+ year history. The business began as a small, family-run operation and has since evolved into a global partner to companies across a wide range of heavy industries, including infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, and marine sectors.
VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY & CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT The Vice President of Strategy & Corporate Development (“VP”) will report directly to the CEO and serve as a key strategic partner, combining high-level strategy work with hands-on M&A execution. The VP will lead all inorganic growth efforts, including sourcing, evaluating, and executing add-on acquisitions, while also supporting broader corporate strategy initiatives.
RESPONSIBILITIES Growth Strategy Responsibilities: Partner with senior leadership and ownership on the annual strategic planning process, in coordination with the CFO on budgeting Lead high-impact strategic initiatives on behalf of the CEO, ensuring timely execution and measurable outcomes Manage the portfolio of strategic projects, driving alignment and transparency across the organization Create and implement robust KPIs to monitor initiative performance and progress Collaborate with the board to ensure strategic priorities are aligned with ownership objectives Lead cross-functional, global teams to execute complex strategic projects Corporate Development/M&A Responsibilities: Lead end-to-end M&A processes, including opportunity sourcing, financial evaluation, due diligence, and execution Draft and negotiate LOIs with acquisition targets Coordinate with senior leadership and private equity partners to evaluate and prioritize deals Manage external advisors including diligence, legal, and quality of earnings providers Oversee post-acquisition integration to ensure seamless onboarding and operational alignment Work with lending partners to structure and secure debt financing for acquisitions
QUALIFICATIONS A successful candidate will bring a strong blend of strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and executional excellence, with a proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment. Required Experience: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field; MBA preferred (not required) 6+ years of progressive work experience in investment banking or strategy consulting combined with meaningful buy-side M&A experience from private equity or corporate development roles (meaningful buy-side M&A experience is required) In-depth knowledge of financial reporting and three-statement operating modeling Multiple closed buy-side transactions from IOI to close to value creation initiatives A proven track record of successful diligence and deal execution Experience with multiple annual strategic planning processes/cycles
Preferred Experience: Strong understanding of financial value drivers in private equity-backed businesses Strong familiarity with private equity backed value creation strategies focused on EBITDA growth and exit planning Experience driving strategic planning and decision-making processes Experience managing multiple projects with diverse stakeholders and driving teams to consensus Experience developing and maintaining a comprehensive long-range financial model that supports strategic planning, exit scenarios, and capital allocation decisions Experience building operating models, budgets, and board presentation materials Deep expertise in analyzing complex financial data to deliver actionable insights and strategic recommendations Proven track record of delivering high-quality financial reports and presentations with clear updates on performance, strategy, and key initiatives to boards and private equity sponsors