Director, Corporate Development

Discord is used by over 200 million people every month for many different reasons, but there’s one thing that nearly everyone does on our platform: play video games. Over 90% of our users play games, spending a combined 1.5 billion hours playing thousands of unique titles on Discord each month. Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We are focused on making it easier and more fun for people to talk and hang out before, during, and after playing games.

As Director of Corporate Development, you'll lead Discord's M&A engine—sourcing, structuring, closing, and integrating strategic acquisitions that accelerate our growth. Reporting to the VP of Corporate Strategy and working directly with our C-suite and product teams, you'll drive deals from thesis through integration while contributing to the strategic thinking that shapes our pipeline.

What you'll be doing

• M&A Leadership
  • Source and maintain active pipeline of strategic acquisition targets across our business priorities
  • Lead end-to-end deal execution from initial outreach through diligence, negotiation, and closing
  • Develop comprehensive deal theses that secure C-suite conviction for transactions
  • Structure deals that balance strategic value, financial returns, and integration complexity—from capability tuck-ins to transformative acquisitions
  • Direct technical, commercial, financial, and strategic diligence workstreams
  • Negotiate term sheets and definitive agreements with target companies and advisors
  • Partner with Product and Engineering to drive successful post-acquisition integration
  • Build and refine repeatable M&A playbooks, templates, and processes
• Strategic Contribution
  • Provide M&A perspective on strategic questions and build-vs-buy decisions
  • Contribute to market analyses that inform acquisition pipeline development
  • Support quarterly strategic reviews, annual planning, and long-range financial planning
  • Maintain pulse on M&A landscape, competitive dynamics, and emerging opportunities
• Partnership Support
  • Advise on complex partnership structures with M&A-like characteristics
  • Provide deal structuring expertise on equity investments, joint ventures, and strategic alliances
  • Help evaluate acquire-vs-partner trade-offs on strategic opportunities

What you should have

• 10-12+ years of experience in investment banking (TMT/gaming coverage), venture capital, private equity, or corporate development at high-growth tech/media companies
• 5+ years people management experience
• Proven deal closer: Led or co-led 5+ M&A transactions from thesis through close, including at least 2 deals >$50M
• Full-stack M&A expertise: Sourcing, valuation, diligence, negotiation, and integration
• Financial modeling mastery: DCF, LBO, accretion/dilution analysis, and returns evaluation
• Gaming or digital media fluency: Understanding of business models, unit economics, and value drivers
• Executive presence: Can present effectively with C-suite executives, founders, and board members

Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties). Relocation assistance may be available.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $280,000 to $315,000 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.