Position Overview We are seeking an experienced Director, M&A Separations & Execution to lead the planning and execution of complex divestitures, carve-outs, asset sales, and other portfolio transactions. This role will manage operational separation activities from initial planning and pre-sign preparation through Day 1 readiness, close, and post-close execution.Working closely with Strategy & Corporate Development, Finance, Legal, IT, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Regulatory, Commercial, and other functional leaders, this individual will play a key role within the Separation Management Office (SMO). The Director will translate transaction strategy into practical operating plans, identify critical separation requirements, establish interim operating models, manage Transition Service Agreements (TSAs), and drive the organization toward the intended post-transaction end state.This is a hands-on individual contributor position with no direct reports. The Director will work directly with the VP of Strategy & Corporate Development and collaborate extensively withexecutives, business leaders, transaction counterparties, and third-party advisors.The ideal candidate combines significant sell-side M&A and carve-out experience with strong operational execution capabilities and is equally comfortable managing detailed project plans, facilitating cross-functional workstreams, and providing executive-level recommendations.Key Responsibilities M&A Separation Strategy & Planning
- Lead operational separation planning for divestitures, carve-outs, asset sales, and other portfolio transactions from pre-sign through close and post-close.
- Translate transaction strategy and deal requirements into integrated separation plans, workstreams, milestones, dependencies, and key decision points.
- Conduct operational carve-out assessments across business processes, technology, legal entities, employees, regulatory requirements, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercial operations.
- Identify separation complexity, stranded-cost considerations, operational risks, dependencies, and resource requirements early in the transaction process.
- Establish appropriate deal governance, decision rights, escalation procedures, and execution cadences.
Sell-Side M&A Execution
- Serve as an operational lead on complex sell-side transactions in partnership with Corporate Development, functional leadership, external advisors, and transaction counterparties.
- Support operational due diligence and buyer requests while identifying and resolving separation dependencies.
- Translate transaction terms and deal assumptions into actionable operational requirements.
- Partner with Legal and Corporate Development on operational inputs related to transaction documents, schedules, and separation agreements.
- Lead sign-to-close readiness and coordinate priorities across functional workstreams.
Day 1 Readiness & Separation Execution
- Develop and manage the overall Separation Management Office plan and transaction timeline.
- Oversee functional separation planning across signing, closing, Day 1, and post-close transition activities.
- Establish Day 1 readiness criteria and lead cross-functional readiness assessments.
- Identify and resolve material gaps that could impact operational continuity or transaction execution.
- Oversee functional cutover plans and coordinate critical activities required for a successful close.
- Monitor post-close execution and drive progress toward the defined end-state operating model.
- Develop executive dashboards and reporting that clearly communicate progress, risks, dependencies, issues, and required decisions.
Transition Service Agreements
- Lead the operational development, implementation, and governance of Transition Service Agreements (TSAs).
- Partner with functional owners and Legal to define TSA scope, services, duration, service levels, costs, dependencies, and exit requirements.
- Establish post-close TSA governance and performance-monitoring processes.
- Develop TSA exit strategies early in the transaction lifecycle and proactively identify barriers to successful exit.
- Monitor TSA performance, costs, and milestones while escalating issues requiring executive-level decisions.
Interim & End-State Operating Models
- Design interim operating models that maintain business continuity following carve-outs, asset sales, and other separation transactions.
- Define how critical processes, systems, services, resources, and decision rights will operate between Day 1 and the targeted end state.
- Partner with functional leaders to determine which capabilities will transfer, remain with the seller, operate temporarily through TSAs, or require alternative solutions.
- Develop detailed transition roadmaps from interim environments to sustainable standalone or buyer-owned operating models.
- Pressure-test operating-model assumptions against transaction timing, organizational capacity, cost, and execution risk.
Cross-Functional Leadership, Risk & Executive Communication
- Lead highly complex, cross-functional separation initiatives without direct reporting authority.
- Coordinate decisions and dependencies across multiple functional workstreams.
- Anticipate cross-functional challenges and facilitate timely issue resolution.
- Maintain an integrated view of transaction risks, decisions, dependencies, and milestones.
- Develop mitigation strategies and ensure appropriate ownership and follow-through.
- Provide concise, decision-oriented updates and recommendations to senior executives and transaction leadership.
- Translate complex operational issues into clear options, trade-offs, and recommendations while remaining closely involved in execution.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Operations, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of direct carve-out, divestiture, separation, or related transaction execution experience, with meaningful responsibility for operational delivery.
- Significant professional experience within M&A, Separation Management Offices, transaction execution, business operations, transformation, or related disciplines.
- Demonstrated sell-side M&A experience, ideally involving complex carve-outs, divestitures, or asset sales.
- Experience across multiple stages of the transaction lifecycle, including pre-sign planning, sign-to-close execution, Day 1 readiness, and post-close separation.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute complex separation plans spanning multiple business functions.
- Direct experience developing, implementing, or managing TSAs, including governance, performance management, and exit planning.
- Experience designing or implementing interim operating models related to carve-outs, asset sales, or business separations.
- Strong understanding of the operational implications of transactions across processes, people, systems, supply chain, manufacturing, and business continuity.
- Experience working effectively within global, matrixed organizations across multiple jurisdictions and time zones.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead complex programs without formal authority.
- Strong financial, commercial, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior executives.
- Ability to operate as a hands-on individual contributor and personally develop plans, analyses, executive presentations, issue logs, dashboards, and operating-model documentation.
Preferred Qualifications
- MBA or other relevant advanced degree.
- Experience within medical devices, MedTech, healthcare, pharmaceutical, or another highly regulated global industry.
- Previous experience within a Big Four transaction/deal advisory practice, strategy consulting firm, corporate development organization, or private equity portfolio environment.
- Experience supporting transactions involving manufacturing, supply chain, regulated products, or complex international operations.
- Experience working directly with buyers, sellers, investment bankers, transaction counsel, and third-party advisors.
Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Deerfield, IL. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $90.00 - $110.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Deerfield, IL. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 18, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a hybrid position in Deerfield,IL.
About Aston Carter
Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
