Director, Corporate Development

The Director, Corporate Development will be a key driver of Standex's inorganic growth agenda — building and managing a robust acquisition pipeline, cultivating deal-sourcing relationships, leading valuation and diligence work, and helping shape divestiture activity as the company continues to optimize its portfolio. This role partners closely with segment presidents, finance, legal, and senior leadership, and will regularly prepare materials for and present to the executive committee and board members. The ideal candidate is an analytically rigorous, self-directed professional who is equally comfortable building a detailed valuation model, managing a live transaction, and building trust with a business owner considering a sale.

What You'll Do

M&A Funnel Management – Build, prioritize, and continuously grow a robust pipeline of acquisition targets across Standex's operating segments; proactively screen opportunities against strategic and financial criteria.

Relationship Building & Deal Origination – Develop and maintain a strong network of relationships with business owners, investment bankers, brokers, private equity sponsors, and other intermediaries to generate proprietary and competitive deal flow.

Deal Execution – Lead end-to-end acquisition execution, including due diligence, negotiation, purchase agreement support, and closing; coordinate cross-functional diligence teams spanning finance, legal, HR, operations, EHS, and IT.

Valuation Modeling – Build and stress-test detailed financial models (DCF, comparable company, precedent transaction) with multiple scenarios and sensitivities to inform investment decisions and negotiating strategy.

Divestitures – Support evaluation and execution of portfolio-pruning opportunities, including sell-side process management, buyer outreach, and coordination with bankers and advisors.

Board & Executive Presentations – Prepare clear, well-substantiated presentations and investment memos for the Board of Directors and executive leadership summarizing deal rationale, valuation, risks, and integration considerations.

Process Improvement & Standardization – Continuously refine and standardize corporate development processes, tools, and playbooks, including deal-screening frameworks, diligence checklists, valuation templates, and post-close tracking.

Cross-Functional Collaboration – Partner with segment leadership, FP&A, legal, and integration teams to ensure a smooth handoff from deal close through integration.

Market Intelligence – Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and market dynamics across Standex's end markets to inform M&A strategy and target prioritization.

Drive Inorganic Growth – Directly contribute to Standex's growth algorithm by ensuring a steady, well-vetted cadence of value-accretive acquisitions and disciplined portfolio management.

What You'll Bring

Bachelor's degree in Engineering preferred (or another quantitative/technical discipline); finance or business degrees also considered

7–10+ years of experience in corporate development, investment banking, private equity, transaction advisory, or M&A consulting

Demonstrated track record of sourcing, structuring, and closing M&A transactions, ideally within industrial or manufacturing sectors

Experience preparing and presenting materials to senior executives and/or a Board of Directors

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex analysis into clear, concise narratives

Advanced Microsoft Excel financial modeling skills and strong PowerPoint / presentation-building skills

Self-starter who can manage multiple concurrent workstreams independently with minimal oversight

Strong interpersonal skills and executive presence; able to build trust and credibility with diverse stakeholders — segment presidents, bankers, target company owners, and board members

Rigorous analytical and quantitative skills paired with sound business judgment

Strong project management skills; able to run complex, multi-workstream deals under tight timelines

Skilled negotiator with a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach

High discretion and sound judgment in handling highly confidential and market-sensitive information

Working knowledge of accounting (GAAP), tax, and legal considerations relevant to M&A structuring is a plus

Comfort operating in a lean, fast-paced corporate development team within a publicly traded company

Willingness to travel domestically, and occasionally internationally, as deal activity requires

What We Value

MBA preferred

**This role can be based in Salem, NH; or Cincinnati, OH. Regular travel expected to segment locations, target companies, and advisor meetings.