Director of Business Development

Overview

Merge is a global M&A advisory firm focused on founder-led businesses that drive growth. We’re best known for our leadership in the agency and consultancy space, and we’re actively expanding into additional founder-led, growth-oriented verticals.

We work with founders early, often years before a transaction, helping them understand how their business is valued, what buyers care about, and what an exit process actually entails. When the timing is right, we guide them through a thoughtful, well-run sale with the right buyers.

Our approach blends financial rigor with high-touch, human advisory. No mass listings. No transactional pressure. Just long-term relationships and well-executed outcomes.

Merge is a global M&A advisory firm focused on founder-led businesses that drive growth. We’re best known for our leadership in the agency and consultancy space, and we’re actively expanding into additional founder-led, growth-oriented verticals.

We work with founders early, often years before a transaction, helping them understand how their business is valued, what buyers care about, and what an exit process actually entails. When the timing is right, we guide them through a thoughtful, well-run sale with the right buyers.

Our approach blends financial rigor with high-touch, human advisory. No mass listings. No transactional pressure. Just long-term relationships and well-executed outcomes.

The Director of Business Development is a senior, relationship-driven role focused on building and managing long-term relationships with founders as they explore potential exits.

This role is centered on education, trust, and timing. You will often work with founders over months (or years) helping them understand valuation, market dynamics, and exit readiness before they formally engage Merge to sell their business.

Once a founder decides to move forward with a sale, the relationship is transitioned to Merge’s execution team, who manage buyer introductions, diligence, and closing. This role remains focused on origination, advisory, and long-term relationship development, not deal execution.

This is a client-facing role that requires strong commercial judgment, comfort discussing financial concepts, and the ability to build credibility with founders.

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with founders considering a future exit
• Serve as a trusted advisor, educating founders on valuation, timing, and the M&A process
• Help founders assess readiness and determine when pursuing a transaction makes sense
• Originate sell-side opportunities across multiple verticals as Merge expands
• Partner closely with internal valuation and execution teams to ensure smooth handoffs
• Develop a deep understanding of buyer appetite, market trends, and valuation drivers
• Represent Merge with credibility and clarity in founder-level conversations

• Experienced relationship builder comfortable with long sales cycles
• Commercially minded, with a strong understanding of business fundamentals and valuation
• Confident speaking with founders, executives, and operators
• Patient, thoughtful, and trusted—able to guide founders through complex decisions
• Background in business development, consulting, finance, M&A, or founder-adjacent roles

• Build real, long-term relationships with founders
• Focus on advisory and origination—not running diligence checklists
• Help shape Merge’s expansion beyond agencies
• Join a founder-first team with momentum, ambition, and high standards