Senior Director, Corporate Development

Wiley is at an exciting inflection point in its transformation, as we anticipate and adapt to the shifting needs of our customers while harnessing the possibilities enabled by technology and innovation. As part of our recent strategic pivot, we are actively pursuing opportunities at the frontiers of research & discovery, identifying new opportunities to leverage AI, content, and data services. This is an opportune moment to join Wiley as a Senior Director in our Corporate Development team, helping to drive Wiley's growth and shape our enterprise portfolio through transformative transactions around the world.

Reporting directly to the Corporate Vice President, Head of Corporate Development, you'll be a key architect of Wiley's inorganic growth agenda. You will drive the full M&A lifecycle - from origination and market intelligence through diligence, valuation, and close - with the speed, thoroughness, and precision required in a fast-moving and high-stakes transformation environment. This is a high-visibility role with direct C-suite exposure and meaningful impact on the company's long-term trajectory, ideal for a self-directed dealmaker who thrives with autonomy and knows how to marshal resources and engage with key internal and external stakeholders to get transactions done.

Job Responsibilities

Deal Origination, Pipeline Management, and Competitive Intelligence

• Work with the SVP-Strategy, CVP-Corporate Development, and partners in the business units to 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

• In partnership with the Strategy team, leverage Wiley's market intelligence capabilities across target verticals 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

• Expand and deepen relationships with our growing network of external partners in investment banking, venture capital, financial sponsors, and other thought leaders in our markets

• 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

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA from a top-tier business school or graduate degrees in related discipline strongly preferred

• 8-10+ years of progressive experience in investment banking (M&A or coverage), private equity, venture capital, or corporate development at a company undergoing significant transformation; candidates with both investment banking and corporate development experience strongly preferred

• Deep expertise across the full M&A transaction lifecycle - origination, valuation, diligence, negotiation, and close

• Proven track record of leading multiple complex, time-sensitive transactions with real financial and strategic accountability

• Exceptional financial modeling skills with the ability to independently build and stress-test deal models

• Executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to C-suite and Board-level stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and self-direction in fast-paced, ambiguous environments

• Experience in publishing, education technology, information services is a strong plus