Collaborative Strategies, Inc. (CSI) is conducting a search on behalf of PHG, a family-owned holding group with three generations of business-building experience dating to 1979. PHG partners with founder and family-owned businesses as a long-term owner, investing its own capital to build stronger businesses while preserving what makes each company unique.
THE OPPORTUNITY
PHG is seeking a Vice President, Corporate Development to lead growth through acquisition and help unlock new opportunities across its existing portfolio. Reporting to the CEO and based in St. Louis, this role combines the strategic discipline of private equity with the entrepreneurial mindset of an operator and the long-term perspective of an owner.
This is a newly created role that will not only shape how PHG approaches M&A but will also catalyze growth across the portfolio businesses — from sourcing and closing acquisitions to partnering with company leaders to invest in new capabilities that build lasting value. With the backing of a family enterprise and the latitude to pursue opportunities within a clear strategic framework, the VP will have real ownership of the results.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- SHAPE GROWTH STRATEGY: Partner with the CEO, CFO, Board, and operating-company leaders to define acquisition priorities, develop target theses, and identify opportunities to expand existing businesses and build new platforms.
- SOURCE & EXECUTE ACQUISITIONS: Build proprietary deal flow through direct outreach, industry relationships, and intermediaries; lead evaluation, financial modeling, valuation, due diligence, negotiation, and transaction execution from origination through close.
- EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE NUMBERS: Assess strategic fit, leadership, culture, risk, and long-term potential to ensure investments align with PHG’s ownership philosophy and create sustainable value.
- BUILD VALUE ACROSS THE PORTFOLIO: Work alongside operating-company presidents to identify growth opportunities, evaluate strategic investments, and explore new capabilities, markets, and business lines that strengthen existing companies.
- LEAD POST-ACQUISITION INTEGRATION: Serve as PHG’s senior representative to newly acquired businesses, guiding onboarding, first-100-day priorities, governance, and performance tracking while respecting leadership autonomy and preserving each company’s unique culture.
- BUILD A REPEATABLE GROWTH ENGINE: Establish disciplined acquisition processes, pipeline management, diligence frameworks, and post-close feedback loops that strengthen PHG’s approach to investing and building businesses over time.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in private equity, corporate development, investment banking, M&A advisory, or an acquisitive operating company, with demonstrated success leading transactions from origination through close.
- Strong financial modeling, valuation, due diligence, negotiation, and deal-structuring capabilities.
- The ability to translate strategic opportunities into actionable plans, with a strong preference for experience working within or alongside operating businesses and their leadership teams.
- Experience building acquisition pipelines, managing complex cross-functional diligence, and partnering with senior leaders to drive post-acquisition performance.
- Exceptional relationship-building, judgment, and executive presence, with the ability to influence without authority and earn the trust of founders, owners, and operating executives.
- A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field; an MBA, CFA, or CPA is preferred.
- Experience with privately held founder or family-owned businesses is a plus.
READY TO APPLY? If you are interested, qualified, and ready to take the next step, click the APPLY button on this page. Or you may apply directly at getcollaborative.com/careers. Please do not contact PHG directly.
ABOUT COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES
Collaborative Strategies is a St. Louis based consulting firm with a dedicated search practice and has been connecting talent with opportunities since 1994. We take pride in matching talented leaders seeking mission critical endeavors with entrepreneurial organizations. Inquiries and submissions will always be treated confidentially.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of experience in private equity, corporate development, investment banking, M&A advisory, or an acquisitive operating company
- Demonstrated success leading transactions from origination through close
- Strong financial modeling, valuation, due diligence, negotiation, and deal-structuring capabilities
- Ability to translate strategic opportunities into actionable plans
- Experience working within or alongside operating businesses and their leadership teams
- Experience building acquisition pipelines and managing complex cross-functional diligence
- Experience partnering with senior leaders to drive post-acquisition performance
- Exceptional relationship-building, judgment, and executive presence
- Ability to influence without authority and earn the trust of founders, owners, and operating executives
- Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field
- MBA, CFA, or CPA
- Experience with privately held founder or family-owned businesses
What We Do
Collaborative Strategies is our region’s leading strategic business planning firm – providing strategic planning, executive search, organizational development, succession management, and advisory board facilitation to the best organizations in the St. Louis area and beyond. Collaborative Strategies is an entrepreneurial firm serving entrepreneurial leaders. Our team of consultants primarily assist closely-held businesses with annual sales ranging from $5 million to $1 billion as well as the not-for-profit organizations on whose boards business owners and civic leaders serve. Collaborative Strategies helps its clients tackle challenging issues and opportunities to achieve breakthrough performance. Collaborative Strategies’ consulting team members fully embody the collaborative spirit. Prepared by education and enriched by experience, our principals and consultants combine deep knowledge with practical expertise gained across a wide spectrum of organizations. For more information, please visit us at www.getcollaborative.com.
