Corporate Development Lead

About the role

Corporate Development Lead

Rivet is an American company dedicated to building integrated task systems. We connect hardened hardware with software, sensors, AI, and networking to serve industrial workforces and defense personnel. Our mission is to multiply the effectiveness of every individual and to create tools that perform reliably in the world's most demanding conditions.

We exist to support the people who build, operate, maintain, and defend the foundations of our society. This includes technicians, engineers, first responders, and service members. These individuals embody the hard work, ingenuity, and meritocratic values responsible for Western prosperity. Too often, they are constrained by outdated tools that cannot handle current pressures. Rivet was founded to change this priority.

Joining Rivet means becoming part of a mission-driven team that blends multiple disciplines to produce decisive results. Professionals here shape technology, strengthen alliances, and build a culture that prepares frontline teams with the modern systems they require.

Work Authorization Requirement

All candidates must be a U.S. Person. After hiring, you must provide documentation confirming U.S. Citizenship, lawful permanent residency, or protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

We are seeking a Corporate Development Lead to define the next phase of Rivet's expansion. You will act as a strategic partner to the executive team. Your responsibilities include evaluating growth opportunities, guiding long-term planning, supporting board and investor engagement, and driving initiatives from concept to completion. You will translate company strategy into actionable plans while balancing analytical rigor with operational execution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assess and execute strategic growth opportunities, including partnerships, investments, and corporate development projects.
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, and opportunity assessments to guide long-term planning.
• Negotiate and manage strategic commercial partnerships and supplier agreements.
• Prepare materials for board and investor communications, including updates and strategic discussions.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop, refine, and execute long-term business strategies and plans.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and special projects assigned by the executive team.

Required Qualifications

• Over four years of experience in investment banking, private equity, consulting, corporate development, strategic finance, or a related field.
• Demonstrated strength in financial modeling, analysis, and complex problem-solving.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for interacting with executives, investors, and external partners.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and drive execution among multiple stakeholders.
• Strong business judgment and comfort operating in fast-paced, ambiguous situations.
• Highly organized with meticulous attention to detail and a strong sense of ownership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a high-growth technology company.
• History of evaluating and negotiating significant strategic partnerships, investments, and acquisitions.
• Experience creating presentations and memoranda for boards and sophisticated investors.
• A track record of influencing decisions and driving outcomes across functions.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation for this role is set at $180,000 per year for candidates with four or years of experience. This package may vary based on relevant skills, education, and other job-related factors. In addition to base salary, this position may qualify for equity and other forms of compensation. Eligible employees also receive a competitive benefits package, including unlimited paid time off.

Rivet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will receive fair consideration regardless of characteristics protected by law. Certain roles may require U.S. Person status, security clearance eligibility, or other legal requirements.

Role Summary

You analyze expansion vectors and shape portfolio choices while owning end-to-end corporate development for Rivet. You translate board expectations into clear operational roadmaps for our defense and industrial customers. This role drives strategic optioneering and turns complex data into decisive action.

Key Facts

Core Duties

• Setting strategic options and screening potential partnerships for long-term value.
• Building financial models that clarify tradeoffs and support board-level decision making.
• Guiding supplier negotiations and commercial terms to protect Rivet interests.
• Crafting investor narratives that clarify growth pathways and risk factors.
• Coordinating cross-functional teams to align strategy with execution capabilities.
• Preparing concise board materials that highlight progress, assumptions, and tradeoffs.
• Owning special projects that require rapid analysis and confidential handling.
• Championing initiative rollout across units to ensure adoption and measurable impact.

Required Background

You bring four or more years of experience in investment banking, private equity, consulting, corporate development, or strategic finance roles. You construct rigorous financial models and solve complex business problems with structured logic. You communicate clearly with executives, investors, and external partners under tight timelines. You manage intricate projects while coordinating many stakeholders and competing priorities. You operate confidently in fast-moving contexts and exercise sound business judgment. You maintain meticulous organization and show deep ownership over details and outcomes.

Nice to Have

Experience in a high-growth technology environment shaping commercial strategy. History evaluating major strategic partnerships, investments, and acquisition targets. Preparing decks and memoranda for boards and sophisticated investors. Influencing decisions across functions while sustaining trust and momentum.

Tools and Skills

Financial analysis; strategic planning; negotiation; partnership evaluation; board communication.

Final Notes