Specialist, Corporate Development - Mergers & Acquisitions

Overview

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals, focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including the pulp, packaging paper and board, tissue and towel, oil and gas, petroleum refining, chemical processing, mining, biorefining, power, municipal, and pool and spa markets.  

The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids and functional additives, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact and maintain healthy water.  

Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 47 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 6,000 professionals in 120 countries across five continents. 

 Solenis is a 2023 US Best Managed Company. 

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com or follow us on social media. 

Description

The Associate, Corporate Development (M&A) role is accountable for supporting the drive of profitable growth through the acquisition and development of new business models in core and adjacent target markets. The role will support and assist the entire M&A process across the Industrial, Consumer, and Pools segments. Primary activities will include market research, identifying targets, valuation of targets, developing financial models, and managing the due diligence process. Acts as a trusted partner and works to forge strong relationships with key collaborators throughout the organization. Supports the company's strategic planning process by working directly with the senior management team. The incumbent will build a rich acquisition pipeline consistent with Solenis' strategic plans, building upon the core business segments and close adjacencies. The impact of the candidate's efforts will be easily visible and critical to the growth of each business segment and Solenis as a whole. The position will report to the Specialist, Corporate Development (M&A) Manager. The role is located in the Solenis Corporate office in Wilmington, DE.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist in deal evaluations and support the integration effort with the acquiring business unit
• Support the financial and strategic assessments of acquisition and divestiture targets, perform valuation analysis, generate financial models, and produce compelling data-driven presentations
• Perform business plan analysis, financial and business due diligence, and project management
• Assist in formulating proposals for transaction terms and in negotiating transactions
• Maintain ongoing contact with international business executives at all levels of seniority, potentially involving significant travel, both domestically and internationally.

Additional Responsibilities

• Develop and screen potential transactions from internal and external deal sources (or via the candidate's professional network)
• Work closely with the Global Marketing and Product Management teams to identify attractive adjacent markets with actionable entry points for the business segment and drive internal conversations deliberately and consistently for new attractive adjacent market opportunities
• Think creatively about markets and adjacencies in which Solenis can play and recommend new attractive business areas where it can acquire an established business in a fragmented space to pursue a roll-up strategy
• Cultivate acquisition targets within served and adjacent markets
• Evaluate and communicate opportunities through well-constructed reporting documents and white papers
• Assist and support target negotiation strategy with key business leaders and corporate development based on target insights gleaned during the cultivation process
• Ensure appropriate early focus on acquisition integration and potential challenges based on deep target knowledge

Qualifications

Skills and Experience Required

• The ideal candidate will combine a sound business background with exceptional analytic and strategic skills
• A positive attitude and an exceptional work ethic are a must
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree plus 1 – 2 years of experience within an industrial-focused multinational company, boutique investment bank, management consulting firm or similar background with strategic growth or inorganic growth experience
• MBA degree strongly preferred
• Technical knowledge in chemistry and the industrial production of specialty chemicals is a plus but is not essential; the successful candidate will have a passion for industrial markets and products, and an ability to communicate with technical professionals
• Experience in transaction project management and due diligence preferred
• Ability to take on several projects in parallel

Additional Qualifications

• Strong business acumen and strategic analysis; quick comprehension of Solenis business model, go-to-market strategy, technologies, products, services, solutions offered, and strategic plans for growth
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently with relevant Solenis business leaders to understand, pressure test, and re-test strategies and assumptions; work iteratively testing ideas with business leadership and M&A/Corporate Development leadership to hone focus areas and origination efforts
• Strong teamwork skills, ability to successfully work cross-functionally in a non-hierarchical environment, ability to achieve results through influence vs. power, ability to work with and communicate effectively with individuals at all organization levels
• Technical understanding, interest, and familiarity with industrial products, ability to grasp basics of specialized products and concepts, builds credibility, effectively interact with technical professionals, and a good understanding of industrial (business-to-business) market dynamics (e.g., typical channels, buying processes, and purchase drivers)
• Strong judgment, leadership, and influencing skills to provide impetus to get deals done within realistic time frames and profitable parameters while at the same time supporting a fair and well-thought-out presentation to Senior Leadership on the strategic merits of a proposed transaction
• Strong written and oral communications skills that display the ability to crisply and concisely convey complex information
• Ability to deal with ambiguity, work within a cross-functional team environment, and communicate with multiple constituents
• Good strategic judgment and backbone to abandon bad deals early on in the process
• Bright, forward-thinking, and possessing strategic skills to explore attractive adjacencies
• Strong leadership presence and appealing/charismatic personality to put Solenis on the best footing with potential targets
• Patient and dogged pursuit of desired targets; ability to handle ability rejection well and not give up
• Good organization and project planning skills; ability to juggle multiple priorities, manage plans for complex projects, and deliver/execute in a timely fashion
• Excellent conversationalist; ability to ask thoughtful, prudent questions on the fly and listen effectively
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to successfully interact across different geographic regions and cultures

At Solenis, we understand that our greatest asset is our people. That is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits which include medical, dental, vision & 401K, and numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. So, if you are interested in working for a world-class company and enjoy solving complex challenges, whether in the lab or the field, consider joining our team.

Solenis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer, including Minorities / Women/ Veterans / Disabled.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Should you require assistance in applying to this opportunity, please reach out to Solenis Talent Acquisition at 1-888-756-2701. #LI-DS1.