In this role you will own and drive Quantinuum’s external growth strategy, identifying and executing acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic initiatives that accelerate capability, scale, and market position across hardware, software, services, commercial, supply chain and business (sales, marketing) functions ensuring disciplined value creation and successful integration.

Key responsibilities:

• External Growth Strategy: Own the definition and execution of the company’s corporate development and external growth strategy (defining the priority vectors for external growth) and be accountable for identifying opportunities that accelerate strategic priorities across hardware, software, commercial, business, and supply chain functions.

• Value Chain & Strategic Positioning: Own the assessment of value chain positioning and be accountable for identifying opportunities for vertical integration, supply chain optimisation, and horizontal capability expansion to strengthen competitive advantage.

• Market Intelligence: Maintain a forward-looking view of the market, peers, and technological developments to inform M&A strategy and pipeline and identify potential M&A or partnership priorities and targets.

• Corporate Development Governance: Establish rigorous corporate development processes for pipeline management, deal review, due diligence, value assessment & capture, and financial management.

• M&A Pipeline Management: Own the origination, qualification, and prioritisation of the M&A pipeline and be accountable for building a robust, forward-looking deal funnel, including vertical and horizontal integration opportunities that drive growth and strategic advantage.

• Business Case & Value Creation: Own the development of investment cases and be accountable for clearly articulating strategic fit, financial impact, and value creation potential for acquisitions and partnerships.

• Strategic Partnerships: Own the strategy, development, and governance of strategic partnerships and be accountable for ensuring partnerships deliver measurable strategic, technical, commercial, and supply chain outcomes.

• Joint Ventures & Strategic Structures: Own the identification, structuring, and execution of joint ventures and alternative partnership models that enable access to new markets, capabilities, technologies, and supply chain advantages.

• Deal Execution Leadership: Working with Finance / Legal leaders, own end-to-end transaction execution and be accountable for leading diligence, structuring, negotiation, and closing processes in partnership with requisite functional teams.

• Integration & Value Realisation: Own post-acquisition planning and integration and be accountable for delivering synergies, ensuring alignment, and driving value realisation across hardware, software, commercial, business, and supply chain functions.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner closely with Strategy, Product, Technical, Commercial, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain teams to ensure alignment from strategic intent through to execution and integration.

• Executive & Board Engagement: Own the development of investment papers, strategic recommendations, and updates for the Executive Team and Board of Directors and be accountable for clarity, rigour, and decision impact.

Must Haves:

• Corporate Development Leadership in Deep Tech (10+ years): Proven experience leading external growth strategy, M&A, and partnerships in complex, R&D-led environments (e.g., quantum, AI, semiconductors, advanced computing), with accountability for end-to-end deal delivery, supply chain considerations, and value creation.

We Value:

• End-to-End Transaction Expertise: Strong experience across deal sourcing, diligence, structuring, negotiation, and integration in high-growth technology environments.

• Strategic & Financial Acumen: Advanced capability in valuation, financial modelling, and investment case development.

• Partnership & Ecosystem Development: Experience building and scaling strategic partnerships and joint ventures that deliver measurable outcomes.

• Value Chain & Supply Chain Insight: Ability to assess industry value chains, supply chain dynamics, and competitive positioning to inform external growth strategy.

• Integration Leadership: Proven ability to lead post-deal integration and deliver synergies across technical, commercial, business, and supply chain functions.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Ability to operate effectively across hardware, software, commercial, business, and supply chain teams, influencing without authority.

• Stakeholder Leadership & Gravitas: Strong executive presence with the ability to engage and influence C-suite and Board stakeholders.

• Operating in Ambiguity: Comfortable navigating complex, evolving markets and long-term investment horizons typical of frontier technologies.