SD-VP-Finance, Mergers, & Acqusition

When you join Kohler, you can make your mark on an iconic brand. Together, we challenge the status quo, stretch our imaginations, put ideas to the test, and demand better for ourselves, our customers, and each other. Join our community of creators and difference makers to build a career of impact. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday The Position The Sr. Vice President – Corporate Development & Strategy serves the CEO, Kohler Leadership Team (KLT), and Kohler Board of Directors as a trusted enterprise partner on strategy, portfolio management, and long-term value creation. The role owns the end-to-end enterprise strategy lifecycle, from formulation through deployment, capital allocation, portfolio optimization, and performance review. This executive leads inorganic growth, corporate development, and (over time) corporate venturing as integrated extensions of enterprise strategy. The role ensures that strategic choices are clearly articulated, rigorously evaluated, and translated into decisive actions—balancing organic and inorganic investments to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders. The Sr. VP operates with enterprise-wide authority, deep Board engagement, and close partnership with the CEO, CFO, business unit presidents, and functional leaders. Success is defined by clarity of strategic direction, disciplined capital deployment, effective portfolio management, and realized value from acquisitions, partnerships, and ventures. Accountabilities: Enterprise Strategy & Deployment • Lead the development, refinement, and global deployment of Kohler’s Enterprise Strategy, in partnership with the CEO, KLT, and Board of Directors. • Create and maintain an enterprise strategy deployment roadmap that articulates winning aspirations, strategic choices, required capabilities, and management systems. • Serve as the enterprise “one source of truth” for market, competitive, and macroeconomic insights informing strategic decision-making. • Lead annual enterprise strategy reviews with the KLT and Board to pressure-test strategic choices and portfolio direction once strategy is fully deployed. • Provide ongoing enterprise-level decision support to the CEO and Board on strategic priorities, trade offs, and capital allocation. Portfolio Management & Capital Allocation • In close partnership with Finance, lead strategic reviews of business units and assets to assess performance, strategic fit, and value creation potential. • Develop recommendations regarding investment, restructuring, partnerships, or exits to optimize enterprise portfolio performance. • Ensure disciplined capital allocation aligned with enterprise strategy and long-term value creation objectives. Corporate Development (M&A & Partnerships) • Own the end-to-end corporate development governance framework, from inorganic strategy through diligence, transaction approval, integration, and value realization. • Identify and cultivate a pipeline of acquisition and partnership opportunities that address strategic gaps identified through enterprise strategy deployment. • Lead investment thesis development and valuation in partnership with P&L owners and Finance. • Lead discussions with the target, along with partners in legal and other functions, including due diligence, negotiations, structuring and closing. • Drive coordination across Legal, Finance, HR, and functional leaders to prepare Board-ready materials and support go/no-go decisions. • Create and deploy integration frameworks to ensure value creation targets are achieved post-close. Corporate Venturing (Phased) • Following establishment of strategy and corporate development foundations, design and lead a corporate venturing strategy aligned with Kohler’s winning aspiration. • Establish venturing governance structures, including Advisory, Investment, and Governance Boards. • Lead identification, diligence, and portfolio management of venture investments, ensuring insights are leveraged by the core business. • Own reporting, performance monitoring, and exit strategies for venture investments. People & Organizational Leadership • Serve as a key member of the Kohler Leadership Team. • Build and lead a high-performing strategy and corporate development team, serving as a talent engine for the enterprise. • Develop strong, trust-based relationships with senior leaders across the organization to enable strategy deployment and execution. • Represent Kohler externally with advisors, partners, and investment communities in alignment with company values. Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree strongly preferred. • 15+ years of experience across enterprise strategy, corporate development, M&A, portfolio management, or related leadership roles. • Demonstrated experience partnering with Boards of Directors and CEOs on enterprise strategy and major investment decisions. • Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives in a global, matrixed environment. • Strong strategic, financial, and analytical capability, including valuation and capital allocation decision support. • Track record of building and leading high-performing teams. • Exceptional executive presence, judgment, and communication skills. • Ability to balance long-term strategic thinking with decisive execution. Relationships and Contacts Reports To: • Chair / Chief Executive Officer Direct Reports: • Strategy, Corporate Development, and (over time) Corporate Venturing leaders (staged build) Organization Relationships: • CEO and Kohler Leadership Team • Board of Directors • CFO and Finance leadership • Business Unit Presidents and Managing Directors • General Counsel and senior functional leaders External Business Relationships: • Investment banks, strategy consultants, venture capital firms • Legal and financial advisors • Acquisition targets, partners, and venture ecosystem participants Additional Role Requirements: • Based in Kohler, WI, with 4 day/week in office presence • Travel required, including international The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location. In addition, this position is eligible for a performance bonus/variable incentive compensation. We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing and help you be your best. It’s a workplace that works—for you, your family, and your lifestyle. You are eligible for our total rewards package on Day 1 of your employment, including medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance; mental health and care resources; pension and 401k plan with company match; paid time off and volunteer time off; paid maternity and paternity leave; tuition assistance; and associate discounts on a variety of Kohler products and services. It is the policy of Kohler Co. to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disabilities, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We are strongly committed to this policy and believe in the concept and spirit of the law. Kohler Co. is committed to assuring that: All recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, and other employment related programs and processes are provided fairly to all persons on an equal opportunity basis without regard to any characteristic protected by law; Employment decisions are based on merit and the principles of equal opportunity; Its applicants and associates with disabilities have equal access to its employment processes, including those implemented through information and communication technologies. When requested and possible, Kohler Co. will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure qualified applicants and associates with disabilities receive equal employment opportunity in the operation of employment policies and processes. In addition, Kohler Co. complies with the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA). It will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and associates to accommodate known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; It will provide reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs or practices where appropriate and in accordance with applicable law; and Associates and applicants will not be subjected to retaliation, harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination because they have exercised any right protected by law. Kohler Co. believes in and practices equal opportunity. The Assistant General Counsel, Employment & Compliance, serves as the Equal Opportunity Coordinator for Kohler Co., and has overall responsibility for assuring compliance with this Policy. All associates are expected to support and uphold this policy. Kohler Co. maintains Affirmative Action Plans as required by and in accordance with applicable law. Any questions regarding the Plans should be directed to the Assistant General Counsel, Employment & Compliance. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.