Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead

The Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead at Gusto is responsible for shaping the company’s M&A and partnerships strategy, collaborating with product leaders to refine product roadmaps, establishing industry relationships for deal sourcing, and executing complex deals from start to finish, ensuring alignment with Gusto’s growth objectives.

To qualify for the Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead position at Gusto, candidates should possess over 10 years of relevant experience with at least three years in a similar role. A background in corporate development, partnerships, or investment banking within a high-growth software or financial technology company is crucial, along with strong financial modeling and analytical skills.

Gusto values professional growth and supports the Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead through continuous learning opportunities, collaborative team dynamics, and alignment with innovative projects that are integral to enhancing the company’s strategic position in the market.

Gusto prides itself on fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace culture. As a Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead, you’ll be part of a dynamic team that values diverse perspectives and works collectively to empower small businesses, ensuring a positive impact both internally and externally.

The Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead at Gusto will engage in a variety of projects, including strategic monitoring of industry developments, negotiating M&A transactions, refining partnership strategies, and driving innovative initiatives that support Gusto’s mission of empowering over 400,000 small businesses.

When discussing your M&A experience, highlight specific projects or deals you've led, your role in the decision-making process, and how those experiences have prepared you for the Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead role at Gusto. Emphasize your ability to negotiate, execute, and monitor deals effectively.

In your response, share specific methods you’ve employed to create and cultivate industry relationships, such as networking events, industry conferences, or leveraging professional connections. Provide examples that illustrate how these relationships have successfully influenced your previous deal sourcing efforts.

Discuss your approach to market analysis, including the tools and resources you use to monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging startups. Highlight how this ongoing analysis informs your deal strategies and decision-making in your role as Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead.

Detail the financial modeling techniques you are familiar with, such as discounted cash flow analysis, comparable company analysis, and precedent transaction analysis. Explain how these techniques contribute to your ability to assess deal viability and inform Gusto’s strategic initiatives.

Prepare an answer that details a specific partnership project, your role in its development, and the measurable outcomes that resulted from it. Highlight any challenges faced during the process and how you overcame them to achieve success, showing your capacity as the Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead.

Articulate the significance of corporate development strategies in driving growth, innovation, and competitive advantage within technology companies. Reinforce how these strategies help align product development with market opportunities while addressing Gusto’s overall mission.

Share your time management techniques and prioritization strategies when handling multiple deals. Explain how you assess urgency vs. importance, and how you ensure that each deal receives the necessary attention to drive it towards successful completion.

Emphasize skills like effective communication, negotiation, and relationship-building. Explain how these soft skills enhance teamwork and collaboration, which are critical for the Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead’s success at Gusto.

Discuss your approach to conflict resolution, stressing the importance of open communication and finding common ground. Give examples of past experiences where you successfully navigated disagreements while maintaining a focus on the company’s broader objectives.

Reflect on Gusto’s mission and values. Share your enthusiasm for contributing to a company that empowers small businesses and how that aligns with your personal career goals, demonstrating your genuine interest in the Corporate Development & Partnerships Deal Lead position.