Head of Corporate Development

About the role

Plaid seeks a leader to guide its corporate development efforts, focusing on mergers, acquisitions, and strategic investments. This role involves shaping the company's growth strategy by evaluating opportunities that enhance Plaid's product offerings, technological capabilities, and market presence. You will report directly to the CFO and play a central role in key strategic decisions.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop and manage a pipeline of acquisition and investment targets aligned with Plaid's strategic goals.
• Cultivate relationships with founders, executives, and investors in fintech and related sectors to generate deal flow.
• Research and analyze market trends and competitor activities to inform Plaid's strategic direction and investment priorities.
• Oversee all stages of deal execution, including valuation, financial modeling, due diligence, negotiation, and structuring.
• Collaborate with internal teams like Finance, Legal, and People to ensure successful post-acquisition integration.
• Establish clear integration plans with milestones and performance metrics, tracking progress and evaluating outcomes against initial investment theses.
• Engage with Product, Engineering, and Go-to-Market teams to qualify opportunities and refine strategic focus areas.
• Prepare materials for executive leadership and the Board on market landscape, deal pipeline, evaluation, due diligence, and post-close performance.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in Investment Banking, Private Equity, Corporate Development, or Management Consulting (with a focus on PE due diligence).
• Extensive practical experience in evaluating and executing deals from start to finish, including sourcing, valuation, financial modeling, diligence, negotiation, and closing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex deals concurrently, from initial concept through post-close integration.
• Strong analytical capabilities combined with sound business judgment, knowing when to investigate further and when to make a decision.
• A mindset for building frameworks and processes, transforming unclear situations into repeatable actions.
• Executive presence and exceptional written, verbal, and visual communication skills for engaging senior stakeholders and Board-level audiences.
• Mandatory prior experience in the Technology sector.

Nice to have

• Experience collaborating with Product and Engineering leaders.
• Background in fintech or financial services.

Skills & tools

• Financial modeling
• Due diligence
• Negotiation
• Strategic planning

Practical notes

Additional compensation may include equity and/or commission, depending on the position. Plaid offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Compensation and benefits are subject to change. Plaid is an equal opportunity employer and committed to diversity.

About the company

Plaid Cymru is a centre-left to left-wing Welsh nationalist political party that supports independence from the United Kingdom. The party campaigns on a platform of social democracy and civic nationalism. It is a supporter of the European Union and a member of the European Free Alliance. Plaid Cymru was formed in 1925 under the name Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru. Gwynfor Evans won the first Westminster seat for the party at the 1966 Carmarthen by-election. In the first devolved Welsh Assembly election in 1999 the party gained considerable ground in traditionally Labour heartlands. Plaid Cymru was part of a coalition government with Welsh Labour as a junior partner between 2007 and 2011. Ieuan Wyn Jones served as deputy First Minister during that period. Leanne Wood succeeded Jones as leader following losses in the 2011 election. Adam Price became leader in 2018 after a leadership contest. The party formed a co-operation agreement with the Welsh Labour government after the 2021 Senedd election. Price resigned as leader in May 2023 following a report detailing failings to prevent sexual harassment and bullying. Rhun ap Iorwerth was elected unopposed as leader in June 2023. Plaid Cymru won a plurality in the 2026 Senedd election with 43 out of 96 seats. The party formed the Welsh government and Rhun ap Iorwerth became the first Plaid Cymru First Minister. The party currently holds four of 32 Welsh seats in the UK House of Commons and 200 of 1,234 principal local authority councillors.