Director of Mergers & Acquisitions

Private Equity–Backed Consumer Services Platform | St. Louis, Missouri

This position is with a private equity–backed, multi-site consumer services organization headquartered in St. Louis. The business operates more than 100 locations across multiple markets and has scaled rapidly through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions. With a strong capital partner, an experienced executive team, and dedicated integration resources in place, the company is entering its next phase of accelerated inorganic growth.

The Director of Mergers & Acquisitions will play a critical role in executing the company’s acquisition strategy, serving as the deal athlete responsible for end-to-end transaction execution while also acting as a relationship-driven partner to business owners. This individual will report directly to the President / Chief Growth Officer and work closely with the CFO, FP&A, integration leaders, and the private equity sponsor.

This role is ideal for a hands‑on M&A professional who enjoys owning transactions from first conversation through close and post‑close handoff, in a high-volume, fast-moving environment.

• Execute a disciplined, repeatable M&A strategy aligned with the company’s growth objectives.
• Partner with an engaged buy‑side broker to prioritize opportunities by geography and strategic fit.
• Proactively manage and advance an active pipeline of LOIs and targets through consistent follow‑up and seller engagement.
• Represent the organization’s value proposition, culture, and long‑term vision to prospective sellers, many of whom may be first‑time or unsophisticated in M&A.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for sellers throughout the transaction lifecycle.
• Guide sellers through the M&A process with professionalism, transparency, and confidence.
• Lead transactions from initial evaluation through LOI, diligence, negotiation, and close.
• Structure and negotiate transaction terms in partnership with legal, financial advisors, and the private equity sponsor.

• Build and review financial analyses, valuation models, and investment recommendations.
• Assess historical performance, growth potential, and synergy opportunities.
• Synthesize findings into concise, decision‑ready materials for executive leadership and the sponsor.

• Lead cross‑functional diligence efforts across finance, operations, tax, legal, HR, insurance, and IT.
• Coordinate third‑party diligence providers and manage data flow through closing.
• Partner closely with the integration team to ensure effective handoff and execution post‑close.
• Track deal performance against investment theses and support reporting at monthly operating reviews.

• Act as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership on growth, capital deployment, and market opportunities.
• Monitor industry, competitive, and economic trends to inform acquisition strategy.
• Support broader strategic initiatives and special projects as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, Economics, Operations, or a related field required.
• Typically 4–8+ years of experience in M&A, corporate development, investment banking, or private equity.
• Proven experience leading end‑to‑end buy‑side transactions.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical skills.
• Comfortable managing multiple deals simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment.
• Highly relationship‑oriented, with the ability to build credibility and trust with business owners.
• Strong executive presence, communication, and negotiation skills.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and attention to detail.
• Self‑starter with a proactive, execution‑oriented mindset.

• Strong preference for candidates based in or willing to do heavy travel or relocate to St. Louis.
• Some travel required to meet sellers and support transactions.