The Role
Support sourcing, evaluating, and executing acquisitions and strategic initiatives. Build financial models (DCF, comps, precedent, accretion/dilution), coordinate due diligence and virtual data rooms, maintain market maps and deal pipeline, conduct outreach to targets/advisors, prepare investment memos and board materials, partner cross-functionally to validate assumptions, and support post-close integration and synergy tracking.
Summary Generated by Built In
WHO WE ARE
Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.
Role Summary
The Senior Manager, Corporate Development & M&A will support the SVP of Corporate Development & Strategy in sourcing, evaluating, and executing acquisitions and strategic initiatives that strengthen Lindblad Expeditions' portfolio of experiential travel businesses. This role combines financial analysis, market research, relationship development, due diligence, and cross-functional project management to support transactions from initial outreach through integration. The ideal candidate is an analytical, detail-oriented professional who enjoys building relationships, evaluating strategic opportunities, and partnering across the organization.
ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIESTransaction Execution & Financial Analysis
- Support execution of acquisitions from initial evaluation through closing by coordinating financial, operational, commercial, and confirmatory due diligence.
- Build and maintain financial models, including DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions, accretion/dilution, synergy, and return analyses.
- Coordinate diligence request lists, manage virtual data rooms, and summarize findings, risks, and value drivers for executive leadership.
- Support transaction structuring, valuation analysis, and post-close integration planning.
Market Mapping & Business Development
- Develop and maintain market maps, acquisition target lists, and competitive landscape analyses across expedition cruising, land travel, and adjacent markets.
- Maintain a structured pipeline tracking ownership, financial profile, strategic fit, valuation expectations, and relationship history.
- Support outreach and relationship development with acquisition targets, advisors, and industry contacts to generate proprietary deal flow.
Investment Materials
- Prepare investment memos, opportunity assessments, Board materials, and Executive Leadership Team presentations.
- Present financial analysis and strategic recommendations with clear, concise supporting data.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with Finance, Legal, Operations, Marine, Hotel, Sales, Marketing, and other functional leaders to validate assumptions and evaluate strategic opportunities.
- Support integration planning, synergy tracking, and value creation initiatives following acquisitions
GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS Education & Experience
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field. MBA, CPA, or CFA is a plus.
- 5–8+ years of experience in Corporate Development, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Strategy Consulting, Transaction Advisory, or a related M&A environment.
- Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, strategic investments, or corporate development initiatives from evaluation through execution.
- Strong financial modeling skills including DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions, accretion/dilution, and return analysis.
- Experience performing financial, commercial, and operational due diligence.
- Excellent analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
- Experience preparing investment memoranda, executive presentations, and materials for senior leadership.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to simplify complex financial concepts.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
Preferred Experience
- Experience in the travel, hospitality, leisure, cruise, transportation, or consumer services industries.
- Exposure to post-acquisition integration planning and synergy analysis.
- Experience supporting executive leadership or Board-level presentations.
- Familiarity with CRM systems and market intelligence platforms
- Demonstrated ability to build professional relationships with founders, business owners, and external advisors.
- Experience working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
OUR BENEFITS
• Travel benefits for employees and their family
• Voyage of Discovery trips for employees to travel as guests
• Health insurance including Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Long-Term Disability, Life & AD&D Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to be used for out-of-pocket medical and dependent care
• Pre-Tax Commuter Benefit
• 7-8 Paid Holidays
• 1 Floating Holiday Options
• Up to 15 days of vacation (pro-rated per anniversary year)
• Parental Leave
• Sick/personal days per city & state ordinance
• Pet Insurance discount
Communication Skills
Using the English language, this person must have the ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos. Must also possess the ability to effectively communicate--both in writing and orally--with a professional demeanor.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee will also be required to write and type. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
COMPENSATION STATEMENT
Lindblad Expeditions determines the pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted salary range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s location, level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT
At Lindblad Expeditions, we simply could not do our work without the diverse kaleidoscope of humanity that creates and delivers our remarkable offerings across the planet. As a Company that respects and celebrates the inherent diversity in the places we explore, we recognize the need to mirror that same diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where every person brings their whole self to work and whose skills, talents, and abilities are valued. We believe we can explore further and in a more meaningful way by actively creating a more diverse and inclusive organization where everyone feels they belong.
Lindblad Expeditions is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals seeking employment at Lindblad Expeditions are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or related field
- 5-8+ years experience in Corporate Development, Investment Banking, Private Equity, Strategy Consulting, Transaction Advisory, or related M&A environment
- Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, strategic investments, or corporate development initiatives from evaluation through execution
- Strong financial modeling skills (DCF, comparable companies, precedent transactions, accretion/dilution, return analysis)
- Experience performing financial, commercial, and operational due diligence
- Experience preparing investment memoranda, executive presentations, and materials for senior leadership
- Strong project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
- MBA, CPA, or CFA
- Experience in travel, hospitality, leisure, cruise, transportation, or consumer services industries
- Exposure to post-acquisition integration planning and synergy analysis
- Familiarity with CRM systems and market intelligence platforms
- Demonstrated ability to build professional relationships with founders, business owners, and external advisors
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The Company
What We Do
In 1958 Lars-Eric Lindblad, considered the father of eco travel, founded Lindblad Travel and pioneered the first non-scientific expeditions to Antarctica (1966) and Galápagos (1967), subsequently opening the Amazon, Papua New Guinea, China, Bhutan, and more to curious, respectful travelers. In 1979, his son Sven-Olof Lindblad founded Special Expeditions, eventually re-named Lindblad Expeditions, specializing in ship-based expedition travel. In 2004 Lindblad Expeditions forged an unprecedented alliance with National Geographic with a joint mission “to inspire people to explore and care about the planet through expedition travel.” Today the company operates a fleet of 10 ships, including the 148-guest National Geographic Explorer, the world’s ultimate expedition ship, and the 106-guest National Geographic Orion, the newest ship in the Lindblad-National Geographic fleet. All ships sail equipped with sophisticated exploration tools, to provide unique, immersive experiences in the planet’s capitals of wildness and culture. Our expedition ships regularly explore Galápagos, Antarctica, Alaska, Arctic Norway, Baja California, Costa Rica and Panama, Europe, the Baltics, Vietnam and Cambodia, and more.
