Jobs › JBT Marel

Vice President Mergers and Acquisitions

JBT Marel · Chicago, IL · Full time

Posted Jun 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a deal you led from first contact to close. What nearly killed it?

What they are checking: Whether they have truly run deals end to end and handled the moments that derail them.

Tell me about an acquisition where integration went badly. What would you do differently?

What they are checking: Whether they know that value is lost after close and plan integration early.

How do you keep the board and senior leaders informed without overselling a deal?

What they are checking: Whether they act as a trusted, balanced advisor rather than a deal promoter.

How do you build and develop an M&A team?

What they are checking: Whether they can grow a corporate development function that lasts beyond their own deals.

What would you do

An operating unit leader is excited about a target you think is overpriced. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can say no with evidence and keep the operating leader's trust.

How do you work with legal, finance and HR during diligence so nothing important gets missed?

What they are checking: Whether they can coordinate many functions into a coherent diligence picture.

JBT Marel itself came from a large combination. What lessons from big integrations would you apply to future deals?

What they are checking: Whether they think about integration capacity and culture when sizing the next deal.

About the work

Walk me through how you would build an acquisition pipeline for a food and beverage technology company.

What they are checking: Whether they can tie a deal pipeline to strategy instead of reacting to banker-sourced opportunities.

How do you decide whether to acquire a capability, partner for it or build it internally?

What they are checking: Whether they can weigh inorganic and organic options with clear criteria.

How do you build a valuation you'd defend to the President, and what assumptions do you stress-test first?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that synergy and growth assumptions drive most valuation mistakes.

What metrics would you use a year after close to judge whether a deal succeeded?

What they are checking: Whether they hold themselves accountable to results, not just to closing transactions.

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The full job description

As published by JBT Marel.

At JBT Marel, what we do matters , we know that the contribution of our employees leads to the success of our business. Our purpose is to transform the future of food; this guides our vision of being the global leader in food and beverage technology, by harnessing the full power of JBT Marel to partner with our customers and pioneer sustainable innovation. Our values show who we are at our best. As we Create with Collaboration, Serve with Integrity, Grow with Excellence, and Advance with Innovation. The Vice President of M&A and Corporate Development is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and executing the company's inorganic growth agenda. As a core pillar of JBT Marel's strategy, M&A and strategic partnerships will play a critical role in driving long-term value creation. This leader will serve as a trusted advisor to the President and senior leadership team, acting as the primary architect of the company's acquisition pipeline, deal execution, and partnership strategy. Reporting directly to the President, this individual will foster close collaboration with operating unit leaders, innovation leaders, finance, legal, HR, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure M&A activities are tightly aligned with the company's strategic priorities. On any given day in this role, you will: • Define and lead the company's corporate development strategy, identifying and prioritizing acquisition targets, minority investments, large strategic partnerships, and joint ventures that support long-term growth objectives. • Build, develop, and manage a robust M&A pipeline in close collaboration with operating unit leaders, ensuring alignment between deal activity and business priorities. • Lead all aspects of M&A transactions — from origination, target screening and valuation, through negotiation, deal structuring, documentation and closing. • Drive comprehensive due diligence processes across financial, commercial, operational, legal, and regulatory dimensions, coordinating cross-functional teams and external advisors. • Own financial modeling and valuation analyses (e.g. discounted cash flow, comparable multiples, accretion/dilution) to support investment decisions and deal structuring. • Support post-merger integration efforts by ensuring deal rationale, value drivers, and strategic objectives identified during due diligence are clearly handed off and tracked through to realization. Monitor the performance of completed transactions against strategic and financial targets. • Prepare and contribute to executive-level materials and presentations when evaluating acquisitions, investments, divestitures, and partnerships. • Build and manage relationships with investment banks, advisors, private equity firms, and other external partners relevant to the M&A ecosystem. • Track market trends, competitive dynamics, and industry developments to proactively identify new opportunities and inform the strategic agenda. Qualifications: • Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or equivalent advanced degree required. • Minimum 8 years of progressive experience in corporate development, M&A, investment banking, or private equity, with a strong track record of leading transactions from origination to close. • Demonstrated experience in the industrial, manufacturing, or advanced technology sectors strongly preferred. • Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional deal processes including due diligence, valuation, negotiation, and post-merger integration. • Experience working directly with senior executives and boards in a strategic advisory capacity. • Prior experience building or managing small teams and/or leveraging shared resources across functions. • Advanced financial modelling and valuation skills, including discounted cash flow, leverage buyout model, comparable company and precedent transaction analysis. • Strong commercial instincts and strategic mindset, with the ability to assess market dynamics, competitive positioning, and long-term value creation potential and translate that into executable plans and outcomes. • Solid understanding of deal structures, M&A legal and regulatory frameworks, and accounting fundamentals. This role is located onsite in Chicago office of JBT Marel Must be able to work in the US without company sponsorship now or in the future. The estimated annual salary range for this role is $225,000K - $285,000K annually. Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Starting salary will vary by location, qualifications, and prior experience. We are committed to our employees and will provide you with development and opportunities to allow you to be the best version of yourself at work, at home, and in your community. We foster a genuine inclusive team culture enjoying collaborative working across our global teams to deliver world-class projects. We encourage development - ensuring new experiences and challenges at JBT Marel to feed your growth! Benefits: JBT Marel offers benefits on day 1 of your employment. Including: Medical, Dental, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, family leave, vision coverage, and a matched 401(k) plan. Commitment to Diversity: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging is a fundamental value to JBT Marel and critical to our future success. A thoughtful, focused, and sustained effort to work towards our DEIB goals is not just a principled choice, but also a business imperative. Equal Opportunity Employment: JBT Marel provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and qualified applicants for employment. We will not tolerate any form of discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. At JBT Marel, we apply this policy to all our employment practices, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. We make hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit and business needs at the time. JBT Marel will reasonably accommodate applicants who need adjustments to participate in the application or interview process. If you require assistance or accommodation during the application process, please contact JBT Marel at 844-286-4524.

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