Director, Strategy and M&A

About the role

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), we believe that our strengths are built on our most important resource - our people. Join EBAD and you'll be a part of a team who creates cutting edge technology that will blast us into the future. No other company can match the innovative energetic solutions that we provide. At EBAD you will actively contribute to successful missions putting men, women and satellites into space, and protecting our armed service men and women around the world. If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD is the place for you!

About the role

Lead Strategy. Drive Growth. Shape the Future.

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense, we have been innovating for nearly 200 years, delivering mission-critical technologies that protect lives and advance exploration. As we continue to grow, we are investing in our people, processes, and culture to support our next chapter.

EBAD is seeking a high-potential Director of Strategy and M&A to partner with senior leadership in shaping enterprise strategy, strengthening the product portfolio, and supporting organic and inorganic growth. This newly created role will contribute to strategic planning, market and competitive analysis, portfolio development, investment decisions, and M&A activity.

The ideal candidate will bring strong strategic thinking, analytical ability, financial acumen, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to influence across the organization. Direct experience leading every phase of an M&A transaction is not required. We are seeking an individual with approximately five years of experience who has built a strong foundation in strategy, finance, M&A, investment banking, consulting, business development, or a related discipline and is ready to broaden their impact within a growing company.

Core Competencies for Success

• Strategic Thinking: Synthesizes complex inputs, including market trends, customer needs, competitive dynamics, and internal capabilities, into clear strategic choices, actionable recommendations, and measurable outcomes.
• Business and Financial Acumen: Understands business models, financial analysis, valuation, investment tradeoffs, return on investment, and scenario planning.
• M&A Capability and Judgment: Understands target identification, strategic fit, valuation, diligence, negotiation, and integration. Direct experience in every phase is not required, but sound judgment and learning agility are essential.
• Collaborative Influence: Builds trust and drives alignment across functions and senior leadership without direct authority.
• Communication and Executive Presence: Communicates strategy and recommendations clearly and persuasively. Presents complex information with clarity, substance, and credibility.
• Intellectual Curiosity and Learning Agility: Quickly understands complex markets, products, customers, and business models and applies learning to new situations.
• Initiative and Accountability: Creates structure in ambiguous environments, takes ownership, and drives work forward with appropriate urgency.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: Brings discipline and a drive to improve strategic processes and decision-making frameworks through EBOS, Lean, Kaizen, or related practices.

The Candidate We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field. MBA or comparable advanced business education strongly preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in M&A, corporate strategy, investment banking, FP&A, strategic consulting, business development, or a related field.
• Experience contributing to strategic planning, market analysis, portfolio strategy, M&A, due diligence, valuation, or post-close integration.
• Strong financial modeling, analytical, and business case development capabilities.
• Ability to understand complex markets, business models, customer needs, competitive dynamics, and value creation opportunities.
• Experience in a complex engineering, manufacturing, aerospace and defense, or industrial environment is preferred but not required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear recommendations.
• Ability to build strong relationships and influence senior stakeholders without direct authority.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, initiative, maturity, sound judgment, learning agility, and accountability.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous environments and create structure when answers are not clearly defined.
• Direct experience leading complete M&A transactions from sourcing through integration is not required for candidates who demonstrate strong potential, analytical capability, and sound judgment.

A Defining Leadership Opportunity

• Legacy: Join a privately held, nearly 200-year-old company that takes a long-term approach focused on durable value creation rather than short-term returns.
• Impact: Contribute to enterprise strategy, portfolio development, investment decisions, and M&A opportunities that will help shape the company's future growth.
• Growth: Gain broad enterprise experience and develop toward future leadership opportunities in strategy, business development, or general management.
• Partnership: Work directly with senior leadership and key stakeholders in a highly visible role with meaningful influence.
• Culture of Excellence: Thrive in an entrepreneurial environment that values people, integrity, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Learning Opportunity: Build experience across strategy, market analysis, financial evaluation, portfolio management, and M&A in a growing aerospace and defense business.
• Low Bureaucracy: Work in an organization that supports faster decision-making, practical problem solving, and meaningful business impact.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you are a strategic and analytical professional ready to broaden your impact, this is an opportunity to help shape the future of a growing aerospace and defense organization.

As Director of Strategy and M&A, you will work directly with senior leadership, contribute to strategic and investment decisions, and help build the foundation for EBAD's future growth. If you are intellectually curious, collaborative, financially capable, and motivated by meaningful work, we invite you to explore this opportunity and make your mark with us.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're a strategic leader looking to make a meaningful impact, this is your moment to work with a legacy-rich aerospace and defense organization poised for its next chapter of growth and this role is at the center of it. As Director of Strategy and M&A, you'll shape the future of the business, lead transformative deals, and work directly with senior leadership to drive long-term value. If you're ready to elevate your career, we invite you to explore this opportunity and make your mark with us.

We offer a competitive compensation package aligned with skills & experience, with flexibility to reward top talent and extraordinary qualifications.