Head of Corporate Development and Acquisitions

TKDA is seeking a strategic, relationship-focused leader to drive our growth-through-acquisition strategy. The Head of Corporate Development & Acquisitions will identify and evaluate acquisition opportunities, cultivate relationships with firm owners and industry advisors, lead transaction execution, and support successful integration efforts.

This role is ideal for a professional who combines strong business acumen, financial analysis capabilities, and relationship-building skills with a deep understanding of the architecture, engineering, and consulting industry. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the firm's long-term growth strategy through mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Acquisition Leadership

• Lead TKDA's growth-through-acquisition strategy, identifying opportunities that strengthen the firm's service offerings, talent base, geographic presence, and client relationships.
• Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of acquisition and partnership opportunities aligned with the firm's strategic growth objectives.
• Conduct market mapping, competitive intelligence, and industry research to identify high-potential acquisition targets and emerging market opportunities.
• Build investment theses and business cases that evaluate strategic fit, cultural alignment, financial performance, growth potential, and integration considerations.
• Lead the acquisition process from initial outreach through closing, including valuation assessments, due diligence coordination, negotiation support, and transaction execution.
• Partner closely with the CEO and executive leadership, finance, HR, legal counsel, business unit leaders, and external advisors throughout the deal lifecycle.
• Prepare recommendations, business cases, and acquisition updates for executive leadership and the Board of Directors.

Relationship Development & Industry Networking

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with engineering, architecture, and consulting firm owners, industry leaders, brokers, investment bankers, and strategic advisors.
• Develop proprietary acquisition opportunities through proactive networking, relationship building, and industry engagement before opportunities reach the broader market.
• Represent TKDA at industry conferences, trade associations, and networking events to strengthen market intelligence and expand the firm's acquisition network.
• Serve as a trusted ambassador for TKDA's employee-owned culture and long-term growth strategy.

Strategic Growth & Market Expansion

• Evaluate opportunities to expand into new geographic markets, service lines, client sectors, and adjacent business areas.
• Assess industry trends, consolidation activity, and competitive dynamics to identify future growth opportunities.
• Partner with business leaders to translate strategic priorities into actionable growth initiatives and acquisition targets.
• Support strategic planning by providing insights into market opportunities, acquisition activity, and long-term growth strategies.

Real Estate

• Work closely with Company Leaders to manage Real Estate portfolio: capture opportunities through right-sizing, relocation, and renegotiation.

Due Diligence & Integration Leadership

• Coordinate cross-functional due diligence activities, including financial, operational, legal, technology, human resources, cultural, and client evaluations.
• Lead integration planning efforts before transaction close to ensure a seamless transition.
• Partner with business leaders to execute integration activities that preserve culture, retain key talent, maintain client relationships, and accelerate value creation.
• Monitor post-acquisition performance, integration milestones, and synergy realization to ensure successful outcomes.

Executive & Board Communication

• Provide regular acquisition pipeline and strategic growth updates to executive leadership.
• Develop reports, dashboards, and metrics to track acquisition activity, integration progress, and business outcomes.
• Present acquisition opportunities, recommendations, and transaction updates to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, engineering, architecture, or a related field required.
• MBA or other advanced business degree preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in corporate development, mergers and acquisitions, investment banking, private equity, engineering or architecture consulting, strategic growth, or business development.
• Experience leading acquisition transactions from sourcing through integration.
• Experience within the architecture, engineering, environmental consulting, or professional services industry is strongly preferred.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills.
• Experience managing due diligence and transaction processes.
• Proven negotiation and relationship-building capabilities.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with executive leaders and external stakeholders.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to work with highly confidential information and navigate complex business situations.