The next part of your journey is right around the corner — with The Standard.

A genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of others is the foundation for everything we do. With a customer-first mindset and an intentional focus on building strong teams, we’ve been able to uphold our legacy of financial stability while investing in new, innovative technologies that support the needs of our customers. Our high-performance culture focused on operational excellence thrives thanks to remarkable people united by compassion and a customer-first commitment. Are you ready to make a difference?

Job Summary

The Corporate Development Director supports the execution of The Standard’s growth initiatives, including mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and strategic investments, as directed by the CEO and corporate development leadership. This role evaluates potential opportunities, supports transaction execution, and helps advance corporate development projects that align with the company’s long-term strategic objectives.

The position is actively involved across the transaction lifecycle, including strategic assessment, valuation, due diligence, and transaction execution. The Corporate Development Director works closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including senior leaders and officers across finance, actuarial, legal, HR, IT, and operations, and partners with external advisors to support thorough evaluation and efficient execution of transactions.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Deal Evaluation:
Support the execution of corporate development initiatives by evaluating potential acquisitions, partnerships, and investment opportunities. Research market trends, industry developments, and competitive dynamics, and perform financial and strategic analyses to assess strategic fit, risks, and value creation potential.
 

Due Diligence and Transaction Execution:

Coordinate and manage assigned diligence workstreams across cross-functional partners, track progress, and surface key risks, issues, and decision points. Work closely with external advisors and internal stakeholders to keep diligence activities on track, elevate issues, and provide recommendations to corporate development leadership in support of transaction structuring, negotiation, signing, and closing.

Analysis, Communication, and Strategic Storytelling:

Prepare analyses, presentations, and communication materials to support internal discussions and inform decision-making related to corporate development initiatives. Contribute to the development of the strategic rationale for transactions, including supporting preparation of board-level materials.

Process Improvement and Operational Effectiveness:

Maintain and enhance corporate development tools, templates, and processes to support consistent and efficient deal execution. Establish effective ways of working with external advisors and internal stakeholders to improve coordination, communication, and overall transaction effectiveness.

Skills and Background You’ll Need

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Economics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in investment banking, investor relations, private equity, corporate development, corporate finance, actuarial, consulting, or a related field.
• Strong financial acumen, including the ability to understand and analyze financial statements, valuation analyses, and key deal economics in the context of mergers, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize financial, legal, operational, and market information to evaluate strategic alternatives, identify risks, and develop recommendations for senior leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and drive projects to completion.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding, and often ambiguous environment.

Key Behaviors of a Successful Candidate

Driving Success:

Demonstrates energy and persistence when tackling complex challenges and views difficult problems as opportunities to create value. 

Adaptability:

Adapts quickly to changing priorities and business needs, remains effective in ambiguous situations, and takes ownership for delivering results. 

Winning Together:

Builds trust and strong working relationships across teams, values diverse perspectives, and fosters collaboration to achieve shared objectives. 

Strategic Visioning:

Considers future scenarios, opportunities, and risks to develop thoughtful recommendations that align with the company's long-term strategic objectives.

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Why Join The Standard?

We have built an enduring legacy of stability, financial strength and exceptional customer service through the contributions of the service-oriented people who choose to work at The Standard. To ensure we can attract and retain the best talent, when you join The Standard you can expect:

• A rich benefits package including medical, dental, vision and a 401(k) plan with matching company contributions

• An annual incentive bonus plan

• Generous paid time off including 11 holidays, 2 wellness days, and 8 volunteer hours annually — PTO increases with tenure

• A supportive, responsive management approach and opportunities for career growth and advancement 

• Paid parental leave and adoption/surrogacy assistance

• An employee giving program that double matches your donations to eligible nonprofits and schools

In addition to the competitive salary range below, our employee-focused benefits support work-life balance. Learn more about working at The Standard.

• Eligibility to participate in an incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program and plan. Any award depends on a variety of factors including individual and organizational performance.

The actual compensation for this role will be based on a combination of education and experience, knowledge and skills, position budget, internal equity, and market data.

Salary Range:

Standard Insurance Company, The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., StanCorp Mortgage Investors, LLC, StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., and American Heritage Life Insurance Company and American Heritage Service Company, marketed as The Standard, are Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status or any other condition protected by federal, state or local law. Except where precluded by state or federal law, The Standard will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. The Standard offers a drug- and alcohol-free work environment where possession, manufacture, transfer, offer, use of or being impaired by an illegal substance while on The Standard's property, or in other cases which the company believes might affect operations, safety or reputation of the company is prohibited. The Standard requires a criminal background investigation and employment, education and licensing verification as a condition of employment. After any conditional offer of employment is made, the background check will include an individualized assessment based on the applicant’s specific record and the duties and requirements of the specific job. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain and correct background information. All employees of The Standard must be bondable.