Director, Mergers and Acquisitions

Company: YUM! Brands, Inc.
Location: Plano, TX

Description: Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer of Pizza Hut - who oversees Financial Planning & Analysis, Strategy, Net Revenue Management, and Mergers & Acquisitions - the M&A team plays a critical role in driving the brand's growth agenda. This includes identifying and executing both organic and inorganic growth opportunities in collaboration with internal stakeholders and our franchisee network. The team actively supports strategic M&A initiatives, enables franchisee-led transactions, and partners closely with franchisees to pursue aligned growth strategies that strengthen the overall business.

We are looking for a high-impact, well-rounded Director of M&A, who is comfortable thinking strategically, as well as rolling up their sleeves to support our local teams in designing and evaluating potential growth opportunities. The Director, M&A also closely partners with Yum!'s M&A team to assess the overall strategic fit of growth opportunities with the overall Yum! strategy. The ideal candidate will have experience in transaction execution and have demonstrated the ability to influence at the most senior levels of an organization. This role has two direct reports.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop a holistic, long-term M&A & deal strategy to identify a roadmap and target areas for potential future acquisitions of Pizza Hut and our franchisees, collaborating closely with Pizza Hut's Development team, Yum M&A and local market resources.
• Depending on deal size and complexity, lead, support and/or coordinate key aspects of deal sourcing and execution (e.g., deal sourcing, due diligence, valuation analysis, creating final binding agreements, presenting to deal committee, coordinating with external advisors, integration planning, etc.).
• Collaborate closely with local market leaders to develop and pressure-test development agreements to unlock growth of our existing franchisee base.
• Liaise with Pizza Hut's legal team to identify, assess, and solve potential legal considerations related to deals or incentives offered to our franchisees.
• Coach, mentor and serve as a positive role model for more junior M&A team members and members of other close internal partner teams.
• Play a leading role in improving and formalizing our current processes and decision-making approach to further solidify our M&A strategy and execution.

Required Qualifications:

• You will be required to attend the Plano, TX office 3 days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field is required; advanced credentials such as an MBA, CFA, or CPA are strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in corporate M&A, business development, investment banking, or finance, with a demonstrated ability to drive organizational impact.
• Proven success operating in fast-paced, high-intensity environments, particularly within investment banking.
• Industry experience in the restaurant or foodservice sector is highly preferred.
• At least 3 years of experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex, high-impact projects.
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to lead and align diverse stakeholders.
• Advanced financial analysis skills, including expertise in financial modeling, valuation methodologies, and financial statement analysis.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively present to and build relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including Pizza Hut and Yum! Brands executive leadership.
• Comprehensive exposure to the full M&A lifecycle, from deal sourcing through integration.
• International experience is strongly desired.
• A blend of corporate and investment banking experience is preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with financial research tools such as CapIQ, Bloomberg, AlphaSense, or similar platforms is required.

Salary Range: $160,400 - $180,000 annually + bonus eligibility and stock-based compensation. This is the expected salary range for this position. Ultimately, in determining pay, we'll consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.