Job Details

Job Title: VP Corporate Development and Strategy Leader

Reports to: Lamb Weston Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: Eagle, ID (Corporate HQ)

Job Summary: The VP Corporate Development and Strategy Leader is responsible for leading Lamb Weston's annual and long-range global strategic planning processes, enterprise project execution, M&A initiatives, and market intelligence capabilities. This position partners closely with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to define, operationalize, and execute enterprise strategy and value creation initiatives that drive sustainable growth. This role also oversees the Strategic Execution Office (SXO), a newly established function designed to align and deliver the company's most high-priority cross-functional projects.

This role is central to integrating strategic planning, M&A activity, and execution governance under a single leader to ensure Lamb Weston makes the right strategic choices and executes them effectively. It includes end-to-end ownership of identifying and executing acquisition opportunities, developing robust market and competitive intelligence functions, and creating governance structures that ensure the company's initiatives deliver measurable business results.

This role is critical to Lamb Weston's next chapter of growth, ensuring that we not only choose the right priorities but execute them with precision and purpose.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Lead Lamb Weston's global annual strategic planning and long-range planning processes in collaboration with the ELT.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable roadmaps and KPIs with financial and operational accountability.
• Facilitate ELT strategic sessions, monitor progress of key initiatives, and ensure organizational alignment.
• Build scenario planning capabilities and develop strategic frameworks that guide executive decision-making.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Divestitures (M&AD)

• Identify and evaluate M&A and divestiture opportunities that align with corporate growth strategies.
• Lead full M&A lifecycle: target sourcing, due diligence, valuation modeling, deal structuring, negotiation, and post-deal integration or separation.
• Collaborate with legal, finance, HR, and business units to ensure seamless integration or divestiture execution.
• Develop and maintain an active pipeline of opportunities and relationship network within the industry.

Enterprise PMO / Strategic Execution Office (SXO)

• Establish and lead the SXO function, providing centralized oversight and governance for enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Ensure effective prioritization, resource allocation, execution discipline, and performance tracking of critical strategic projects.
• Develop and deploy enterprise-wide project management methodologies, tools, dashboards, and standards.
• Support change management, adoption, and communication strategies across all business units.

Market Intelligence and Competitive Analysis

• Build a market intelligence function that provides ongoing monitoring of industry trends, competitor activity, and macroeconomic risks.
• Deliver actionable insights and strategic recommendations to ELT and functional leaders.
• Lead strategic benchmarking, whitespace identification, and early warning systems to inform corporate strategy.

Business Development and Partnerships

• Develop business cases for new opportunities, strategic investments, and joint ventures.
• Represent Lamb Weston in external partnership discussions and strategic negotiations.
• Maintain alignment between external growth opportunities and internal capability readiness.

Governance, Risk, and Resource Optimization

• Define governance structures for initiative selection, prioritization, and performance management.
• Manage resource planning across projects to avoid bottlenecks, duplication, or misalignment.
• Drive proactive risk mitigation strategies and issue resolution frameworks for all enterprise-level initiatives.

Leadership and Team Development

• Build and lead a high-performing SXO and corporate strategy team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Provide executive-level updates and strategic recommendations to the CEO and Board of Directors.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10+ years of experience in corporate strategy, M&A, and enterprise project management, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• MBA required.
• Preference for a background in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, manufacturing and/or food industry.
• Proven track record in executing full-cycle M&A and divestiture transactions.
• Expertise in financial modeling, valuation techniques, and investment decision frameworks.
• Deep understanding of enterprise PMO structures and strategic governance models.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams in matrixed environments.
• High emotional intelligence, executive presence, and stakeholder influence skills.
• Proficient in project management methodologies (Agile, PMI, Waterfall) and strategic planning tools.
• Ability to interpret complex data, market signals, and operational trends to make sound strategic recommendations.