Head of Strategy

Position Overview:

The Chief of Staff will serve as the CEO's right hand, managing and executing strategic initiatives across the business, with a focus on mergers & acquisitions, strategic transactions, and long-term business growth. The ideal candidate is a highly resourceful, scrappy, and driven professional with a proven track record of handling high-stakes transactions, strategic planning, and executing on entrepreneurial, fast-paced initiatives. This individual must possess strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills, and be comfortable working in a fluid and evolving environment.

*** This role requires this person to be ON SITE in Naperville 4-5 days a week.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Support: Partner closely with the CEO to drive the execution of critical business initiatives, ensuring alignment across teams and stakeholders.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): Lead and manage M&A activities, from identifying potential targets to due diligence, negotiations, and integration. Ensure successful execution of strategic transactions that contribute to the company's growth.
• Transaction Oversight: Oversee and coordinate complex business transactions, including financing, partnerships, and joint ventures, working closely with legal, finance, and operations teams to ensure smooth execution.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Act as a liaison between the CEO and senior leadership, ensuring seamless communication and alignment on company priorities. Manage key cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives across the organization.
• Problem Solving: Be the go-to problem solver for the CEO, proactively identifying and resolving issues that could impede the company's success or strategic vision.
• Stakeholder Management: Manage relationships with key stakeholders, including board members, investors, external partners, and senior executives.
• Entrepreneurial Leadership: Thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment by exhibiting a high degree of flexibility and resourcefulness in tackling diverse challenges. Demonstrate the ability to work independently, yet collaborate effectively across teams.
• Ad Hoc Projects: Take on special projects as needed, supporting the CEO in various high-priority initiatives and business decisions.

Qualifications:

• Experience: 9 years of experience in management consulting, corporate strategy, investment banking, or similar high-intensity environments with a strong focus on M&A, strategic transactions, and business growth.
• M&A Expertise: Deep understanding of the M&A lifecycle, including deal structuring, due diligence, negotiation, and post-merger integration.
• Leadership Ability: Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, support, and collaborate with senior executives and diverse teams.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Proven ability to work in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment, managing multiple priorities with urgency and effectiveness.
• Scrappy & Results-Driven: Resourceful, adaptable, and highly effective in driving results in an ambiguous and fast-changing environment.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex information into actionable insights and communicate effectively to internal and external stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to analyze complex situations and make high-impact decisions.
• Education: Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

The Equus Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and takes pride in maintaining a diverse environment. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.