Director, Federal Tax Planning and M&A

Position

Purpose:

The Tax Director is responsible for leading a team of tax professionals and serving as a strategic advisor to Tax leadership and business partners in support of the Tax Department’s goals. This role directs and oversees tax planning, research, audit defense, appeals, mergers and acquisitions, and other special projects, as applicable. The Tax Director is expected to develop and execute tax strategies that support business objectives, optimize tax outcomes, and mitigate risk.

This position requires strong technical tax expertise, business judgment, executive presence, and the ability to lead through influence across Tax, Finance, Legal, Accounting, Treasury, business operations, external advisors, and governmental authorities. The Tax Director is accountable for building and maintaining trusted relationships, translating complex tax matters for technical and non-technical audiences, developing talent, and driving cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution.

• 45% Tax Strategy, Planning, Controversy, and Risk Management
  • Direct tax planning, research, audit defense, appeals, controversy, and related tax matters as needed to meet the goals of the Tax Department.
  • Lead the development, evaluation, and execution of tax strategies aligned with Company priorities, business operations, legislative and regulatory developments, and risk tolerance.
  • Lead or support complex tax matters involving federal tax mergers and acquisitions, or other tax disciplines, depending on area of responsibility.
  • Monitor emerging tax law, regulatory, administrative, and business developments; assess potential impacts to the Company; recommend and implement appropriate actions.
  • Develop, review, and support technical tax positions, memoranda, models, documentation, and audit defense strategies.
  • Identify opportunities to optimize tax outcomes, reduce risk, improve controls, enhance processes, and create value for the Company.

• Serve as a subject-matter expert and strategic business partner on enterprise initiatives, acquisitions, business transformations, process improvements, and other cross-functional projects.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Accounting, Treasury, Operations, IT, business leaders, subsidiary teams, external advisors, and other stakeholders to evaluate tax implications and recommend practical, business-aligned solutions.
• Translate complex tax issues into clear recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders.
• Lead tax work streams by defining scope, priorities, milestones, stakeholders, deliverables, risks, and decision points.
• Drive alignment across internal and external teams, ensuring appropriate escalation, timely follow-up, and clear communication of status, risks, and outcomes.
• Serve as liaison between the Store Support Center, subsidiary businesses, and domestic or international teams on tax matters, as applicable.
• 20% Talent Leadership, Coaching, and Associate Development
  • Attract, develop, engage, and retain high-performing tax professionals.
  • Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, feedback, and career development opportunities to direct reports and other associates within the Tax Department.
  • Establish clear expectations, accountability measures, development goals, and performance standards.
  • Build technical depth, leadership capability, collaboration, ownership, and engagement within the team.
  • Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-accountability culture that supports continuous learning, strong business partnership, and effective execution.
• 10% Operational Excellence, Governance, and Process Improvement
  • Establish and maintain effective processes, controls, documentation, and governance to support tax, controversy, planning, and audit readiness.
  • Use data, technology, analytics, and process improvement practices to increase efficiency, scalability, accuracy, and transparency within the tax function.
  • Prioritize initiatives based on materiality, risk, business impact, resource requirements, and strategic value.
  • Manage internal and external resources…