At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead corporate development and strategic partnerships to shape Dignity's future growth.
- Company: Join Dignity, the UK's leading end-of-life company focused on care and compassion.
- Benefits: Up to £140,000 salary, extensive benefits, and 25 days annual leave.
- Other info: Hybrid working model and a chance to build a corporate development capability.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a newly created role with entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Qualifications: Experience in M&A, corporate development, or investment banking with strong financial skills.
The predicted salary is between 140000 - 140000 £ per year.
Location: Maidenhead, Hybrid Flexible Working
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Salary: Up to £140,000 per annum + extensive benefits
Help Shape the Next Chapter of Dignity’s Growth
At Dignity, our mission is to help every family in Britain navigate the hardest moments of life with simplicity, dignity, kindness and exceptional care. Our vision is to become the UK's leading end-of-life company, helping one in three people across the UK to plan for and deal with death.
As we continue to evolve and grow, we're looking for a Head of Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships to lead the identification and delivery of the opportunities that will shape our future, a highly visible role driving inorganic and strategic growth across the Group. This is a newly created role, giving you the chance to build and evolve Dignity's corporate development capability from the ground up.
You'll report into executive leadership and work closely with them, external advisers and potential partners to provide the commercial insight, market intelligence and strategic analysis that underpins our investment decisions. It's a role for someone commercially sharp and entrepreneurial, someone who enjoys building relationships, spotting opportunity, and turning insight into practical growth outcomes across our Cemetery & Crematoria estate, Funeral Division, and complementary services such as Simplicity, Legal Services, probate, will-writing and legacy planning.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Build and maintain acquisition pipelines across the Cemetery & Crematoria estate, the Funeral Division, and adjacent business areas including Simplicity and Legal Services.
- Assess and prioritise acquisition targets, from independent and small-group Funeral Directors to crematoria, cemeteries and complementary service providers.
- Evaluate opportunities for new site openings and expansion into attractive geographic markets.
- Lead commercial evaluation, valuation and business case development for acquisitions, partnerships and strategic investments.
- Build and maintain financial models covering valuation, returns, synergies and scenario analysis.
- Support and lead transaction execution, due diligence, negotiation and completion, working with internal and external advisers on deal structures, SPA/APA terms, working capital mechanisms and earn-outs.
- Develop strategic partnerships and commercial agreements with corporates, local authorities, councils, healthcare providers and charities.
- Monitor market, competitor and sector trends to identify emerging opportunities and risks.
- Present investment cases and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
What We’re Looking For
A commercially minded corporate development professional with a background in M&A, Corporate Development, Strategy, Investment Banking, Private Equity or a comparable growth environment. You'll have a track record of identifying, evaluating and executing acquisitions from origination through to completion, with strong financial modelling skills and a solid grasp of valuation methodologies, investment appraisal and transaction structures (SPAs, APAs, earn-outs, completion accounts, working capital mechanisms).
You’ll Excel in This Role If You
- Thrive in an entrepreneurial environment, shaping strategy and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Combine sharp commercial and financial judgement with strong relationship-building and negotiation skills.
- Are naturally curious about markets and competitor activity, and quick to turn insight into action.
- Want the opportunity to build and own a corporate development capability over time.
- Can present complex commercial and strategic ideas clearly and persuasively to senior leaders.
Receive a benefits package that reflects your leadership and impact. At senior level, we recognise the scale of your leadership and the impact you have across the business. That’s why we offer a comprehensive and competitive package designed to support you and your family, while enabling you to perform at your best and continue to grow.
Time to recharge - 25 days’ annual leave plus
Head of Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships in Maidenhead employer: Dignity Group
At Dignity, we pride ourselves on being a values-led organisation that prioritises employee growth and well-being. As a Director of Property Services, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our national infrastructure strategy while enjoying a competitive salary, extensive benefits including a £6,000 car allowance, and the flexibility of hybrid working. Join us in making a meaningful impact in a supportive work culture that values compassion and professionalism.
