Senior Director, Corporate Development

About the role

We are transforming Wiley into a leader in data services, AI-enabled publishing, and adjacent content and technology verticals. As a Senior Director in our Corporate Development team, you'll play a pivotal role in driving Wiley's growth through transformative transactions worldwide.

Job Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a disciplined M&A pipeline aligned with Wiley's strategic priorities in data services, AI-enabled publishing, and adjacent content and technology verticals
• Leverage Wiley's market intelligence capabilities to deliver competitive intelligence and strategic foresight that informs the acquisition agenda
• Translate market dynamics into strategic recommendations that inform M&A prioritization
• Proactively identify and cultivate acquisition targets and partnership opportunities through market intelligence, industry relationships, and competitive analysis
• Own the deal thesis from initial screen through executive and Board-level presentation, synthesizing complex market dynamics into compelling, actionable investment recommendations
• Support investor relations and corporate marketing in articulating Wiley's M&A narrative and strategic differentiation to external stakeholders

Financial Analysis & Valuation

• Lead rigorous financial modeling and valuation work including DCF, comparable company analysis, precedent transactions, and accretion/dilution modeling
• Apply sharp deal judgment to assess risk-adjusted returns and strategic fit, moving quickly in ambiguous situations to frame trade-offs for senior decision-makers and executive leaders
• Partner closely with Finance to ensure disciplined assumptions and integration of strategic plans into financial frameworks
• Translate financial objectives to inform deal structuring and key transaction terms

Due Diligence & Transaction Execution

• Own deal structuring and negotiation support, partnering with Legal to optimize transaction terms in service of strategic and financial objectives
• Lead all phases of due diligence — commercial, financial, legal, operational — coordinating cross-functional workstreams and external advisors, balancing speed, quality, and thoroughness
• Successfully manage multiple simultaneous deals in a fast-paced transformation environment, escalating decisively when issues arise
• Ensure clear, consistent and timely communication with key stakeholders

Strategic Integration Planning & Post-Close Value Creation

• Collaborate with functional leaders and external vendors to develop integration plans that capture synergies and protect deal value from Day 1
• Establish KPIs and performance frameworks to track post-close value creation against the original deal thesis and modeling assumptions