Sr Director Mergers & Acquisitions

Title: Sr Director Mergers & Acquisitions

Location: Statewide Multi Use, IL

Job Requisition ID: Req-272022

Time Type: Full time

About Lamb Weston

You’ve probably enjoyed our fries without even knowing it! As a leading manufacturer in our industry, we inspire and bring people together with foods they love and trust. Our customer base includes international food service providers, restaurants, and households in over 100 countries around the world.

A highly innovative global corporation with a start-up mindset, we empower every individual to make a genuine difference. You’ll gain access to hands-on training to fuel your growth and success, explore opportunities for new solutions, and you’ll join a winning team of 10,000+ people all dedicated to raising the bar – together.

If you have a strong drive for results, a desire to help us bring the world together through our fries, and are ready for a fresh challenge, we want to hear from you.

Job Description Summary

At Lamb Weston, we don't pursue transactions for their own sake. We invest behind long-term value creation.
As Senior Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, you will serve as the Company's lead to Corporate M&A and principal advisor to the CFO, CEO, and Executive Chairman on acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and strategic investments. You will help determine where the Company deploys capital, identify transformational opportunities, lead transaction execution, and drive value realization following close.
This role offers a unique opportunity for an accomplished investment banker or corporate development leader to transition from advising clients to directly influencing enterprise strategy and investment decisions within a $6+ billion global public company.
Reporting directly to the CFO, you will operate at the highest levels of the organization, regularly engaging with the executive leadership team, our Executive Chairman and CEO, and the Board of Directors on matters critical to the Company's future growth and shareholder value creation.

Why This Role
This position offers the opportunity to:
• Partner directly with the CFO, CEO, and Executive Chairman on corporate strategy and capital allocation decisions
• Lead strategic acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and investment opportunities from origination through value realization
• Influence long-term enterprise growth strategy through M&A across global markets and business segments
• Present directly to Executive Chairman, CEO and the Board of Directors
• Expand beyond transaction execution into enterprise finance leadership, strategic planning, and business decision-making
• Build broad operating experience while working alongside leaders across Finance, Strategy, Legal, Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain and HR functions

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Development and Strategic Growth

Partner with Corporate Strategy leadership to shape and execute Lamb Weston's inorganic growth agenda.

You will:

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize acquisition, partnership, joint venture, and investment opportunities in line with Lamb Weston’s strategy
• Develop M&A investment theses aligned with long-term growth objectives
• Monitor industry trends, competitive dynamics, market disruptions, and emerging opportunities
• Maintain executive-level relationships with investment bankers, advisors, and potential transaction counterparties
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to senior leadership on transaction alternatives and capital deployment

Transaction Leadership

Lead transactions from opportunity assessment through deal execution.

You will:

• Source and evaluate acquisition opportunities
• Build and oversee advanced valuation, financial modeling, and scenario-planning analyses
• Lead negotiations alongside senior executives and external advisors
• Direct comprehensive due diligence activities across financial, operational, commercial, tax, human resources and in conjunction with Legal team
• Structure transactions to maximize strategic and financial outcomes including synergy realization, and minimize transaction risks and integration challenges
• Prepare investment recommendations for executive leadership and the Board
• Lead deal execution through signing and close

Value Creation and Integration

Move beyond transaction execution to ensure investments deliver expected value.

You will:

• Develop synergy cases and investment return frameworks
• Partner with business leaders to establish integration priorities and accountability
• Support post-close integration planning and execution
• Monitor value realization and identify opportunities to accelerate returns

Executive Partnership

Serve as one of the Company's most trusted advisors on strategic investment decisions

You will:

• Present complex financial and strategic analyses to senior executives
• Provide objective recommendations on significant investment opportunities
• Support enterprise capital allocation decisions
• Advise leadership on strategic alternatives, risks, and value creation opportunities

Finance Leadership

This role is designed for individuals seeking to grow from transaction leadership into broader enterprise finance leadership.

You will:

• Mentor high-potential finance talent
• Lead team of Analyst or Manager, and stand up and direct “ad hoc” teams from multiple disciplines and/or Business Units
• Contribute to the evolution of the Company's strategic finance capabilities
• Develop enterprise-wide business perspective beyond M&A execution

Basic & Preferred Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field
• 8+ years of experience in investment banking, private equity, corporate development, strategic finance or M&A advisory
• Significant transaction experience involving acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, strategic investments, or joint ventures
• Advanced financial modeling and valuation expertise
• Strong commercial judgment and analytical rigor
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and business leaders
• Exceptional written, presentation, and communication skills
• Experience managing multiple strategic priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred

• Vice President or equivalent experience within a leading investment banking, private equity, or corporate development organization
• Experience working with public company boards and executive leadership teams
• Experience in multinational organizations
• Understanding of regulatory, governance, and compliance considerations associated with strategic transactions

Industry-Competitive Benefits

Coupled with our compensation and bonus incentive programs, our benefits deliver rewards that are market competitive. Some of the most attractive elements of our benefit programs include:

• Health Insurance Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision

• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health and Dependent Care, and Health Reimbursement Accounts

• Well-being programs including companywide events and a wellness incentive program

• Paid Time Off

• Financial Wellness – Industry leading 401(k) plan with generous company contributions, Financial Planning Services, Employee Stock purchase program, and Health Savings Accounts, Life and Accident insurance

• Family-Friendly Employee events

• Employee Assistance Program services – mental health and other concierge type services

Benefits may vary based on location, job role/level, job status, and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Anticipated Close Date

The anticipated close date is a good faith estimate for when this job will be closed. Some jobs may be unposted or filled earlier or later than the Anticipated Close Date depending on interview processes and business needs.

Anticipated Close Date: 12/15/2026

Pay Transparency

In compliance with applicable state and local laws, Lamb Weston has opted to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation is specific to this position and takes into account a number of variables. Actual compensation may be higher or lower in the range posted based on various factors, including, but not limited to, job duties, experience and expertise. A candidate's work location could also impact the actual compensation being outside of the range to reflect local cost of labor. A reasonable annual estimate of the range for this role is listed below.

Pay Rate or Range: $226,960.00 - $340,440.00

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lamb Weston is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected factor under federal, state or local law

Current Lamb Weston employees, please click here and apply via the Career worklet.

Started in 1950 on a small farm in the Northwest region of the U.S., Lamb Weston has grown to be one of the world’s largest frozen potato companies, happily delivering the delicious goodness of fries to more than 100 countries. Lamb Weston has created inventive products and processes that are standards in the industry. When we look at a potato, we see possibilities.

Our people are a valuable and integral part of our business and play a vital role in our success as an organization. At Lamb Weston we offer the financial stability and career potential of a true industry leader.

Lamb Weston will offer you the opportunity to put your education and skills to work as part of a great team, contributing to the achievement of the organization’s goals and objectives. You will be challenged to take responsibility, drive results, show creativity, and display initiative - and you will be rewarded for your contributions and impact.

Let’s explore the possibilities together.