Corporate Development Director

Location:

New York (Hybrid) Office: 2 days/week with team in office; more as projects require Travel:
Occasional, < 25%

The Global Corporate Development (GCD) team sits within Wolters Kluwer's Global Strategy group, which reports to the CEO and Chair of the Executive Board, giving the team a direct line of sight to Group‑level capital allocation and portfolio strategy. The team is a driving force behind the company's inorganic growth strategy, partnering with divisional general managers and senior executives across all five of Wolters Kluwer's global divisions to source, assess, structure, and execute transactions.

The culture is collaborative, low‑ego and high‑performing, with a track record of developing talent and promoting from within. Over the last two years, the GCD team has executed nearly US $2 billion in transactions in both the US and Europe. Deal sizes typically range from US$ ~5M to 500M, creating a dynamic environment where team members can take the lead on smaller transactions while directly contributing to larger, more complex deals.

This role provides exceptional visibility to senior leadership within a highly acquisitive organization. Recent acquisitions include Finca Group carve‑out from Isabel Group, RASi, and Libra.ai.

The Director, Global Corporate Development is expected to lead transactions with limited oversight a senior individual contributor and deal leader within the GCD team, reporting to the VP Americas, Corporate Development. This role is comparable in scope and responsibility to a senior ‘Vice President’ or junior ‘Director’ level role in investment banking, with direct accountability for leading transactions end‑to‑end and shaping investment/deal recommendations.

In this position, you will own the execution of selected M&A transactions — from initial deal intake through diligence, valuation, board memo prep, negotiation, and execution. You will serve as a point of contact for internal stakeholders and external counter parties on active deals, and you will be accountable for recommendations presented to the VP and SVP of Corporate Development. While the role is US‑based and focused on the Americas, Directors are expected to contribute selectively to transactions in EMEA and other regions as required.

The US‑based team is lead by VP Americas, one Director (this opportunity), one Associate Director and one Senior Analyst.

• Enterprise Understanding & Strategic Connectivity — Build deep fluency across Wolters Kluwer’s operating businesses and strategic priorities, and develop meaningful professional relationships across the Global Strategy group to drive alignment and effective collaboration on transactions.
• Deal Leadership & Execution — Lead assigned acquisition and divestiture processes end‑to‑end, with accountability for transaction strategy, timelines, and outcomes.
• Stakeholder & Relationship development — Meaningfully engage divisional leadership, bankers, PE sponsors, and industry contacts to advance opportunities aligned with strategic priorities. Build and maintain trusted relationships with divisional GMs, SVPs, and functional leaders. Act as the day‑to‑day lead with target management teams, PE funds, and transaction advisors on selected deals.
• Investment Thesis & Decision Framing — Develop investment theses; frame key value drivers, risks, and trade‑offs; prepare and present recommendations to senior executives.
• Financial & Operating Model Oversight — Direct the development and review of valuation and operating models (DCF, comps, accretion/dilution, multiple‑case operating scenarios); challenge assumptions and ensure analytical rigor rather than acting as the primary…