Director Transaction Lead

A Day in The Life

Lead the transaction execution workstream for the franchise conversion program, serving as owner of transaction process management and coordinator across internal resources and external transaction advisors. Ensure that transaction structure, buyer-seller agreements (from LOI through sign and close), franchise documentation, TSA agreements, regulatory compliance, and counterparty management are executed with discipline and integrated with the parallel capability-build and separation workstreams.

The Transaction Lead reports to the Global Head of Franchise Growth and works in close coordination with the Franchise Transformation Office, and the Franchise Platform capability build teams. The role connects transaction-level decisions to operational, strategic, and financial considerations – ensuring the transaction workstream stays in lockstep with, and enables, the broader transformation.

What You'll Do

• Transaction execution
• Own the day-to-day execution of transactions – managing the critical path from structuring through signing and closing.
• Maintain an integrated view of timelines, advisor deliverables, open issues, milestones, costs, and approvals.
• Internal / external team coordination
• Coordinate a small internal core team and external advisors (bankers, lawyers, accountants, tax) into a functioning deal team. Set clear accountabilities, run a disciplined cadence, and close gaps across fragmented resources.
• Transaction structure and agreements
• Define the transaction perimeter and structure across assets, people, processes and systems
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and external counsel on drafting of relevant agreements, including franchise agreements, asset-transfer documents, and associated commercial agreements.
• Ensure documentation reflects the deal thesis, perimeter decisions, and franchise operating-model requirements.
• Counterparty engagement and diligence
• Coordinate buyer/franchisee screening, qualification, negotiation, and onboarding across multiple counterparties.
• Manage the VDR and diligence process and maintain information governance, confidentiality protocols, and compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
• Cross-pillar coordination
• Bridge transaction decisions across the Franchise Transformation Office, deal execution (perimeter decisions, TSA scoping, entanglement resolution, Day 1 readiness) and franchise platform workstreams (capability build, system readiness, brand standards).
• Collaborate to surface and address operational constraints that could influence deal structure or timing.
• TSA and ongoing-service strategy
• Work with the Franchise Transformation Office and functional workstream leads to scope post-close services, distinguishing transition services from permanent franchise-system obligations.
• Ensure pricing, duration, and exit plans are structured correctly across all relevant functions.
• Transaction economics
• Maintain a clear view of one-time transaction costs, advisor fees, separation costs, stranded costs, and dis-synergies.
• Ensure cost estimates are grounded, reconciled with Finance, and reported transparently to the Strategy & Execution team, Executive Sponsor, and SteerCo.
• Governance support
• Prepare transaction-workstream inputs for SteerCo, Executive Sponsor, and Strategy & Execution team forums.
• Escalate decisions outside the negotiation mandate with clear options, recommendations, and implications.
• Post-close execution (incl. TSA and cost tracking)
• Drive post-close execution with a focus on TSAs and separation costs.
• Monitor and report on TSA status and billing on a regular basis.
• Collaborate with the Franchise Transformation Office to drive effective governance and wind down of service agreements.
• Track separation one-time and stranded costs against estimates and coordinate with Franchise Transformation Office on reporting across costs and supporting workstream initiatives.

What We're Looking For

• 10–15 years of experience in corporate development, M&A transaction execution, investment banking, transaction advisory, or private equity – with demonstrated ownership of deal execution from structuring through close
• Direct experience with divestitures (sell-side experience is required, carve-out experience is also preferred), asset sales, and complex multi-jurisdiction commercial transactions. Franchise-sector experience is a strong plus but not required
• Experience in multi-jurisdictional or cross-border transactions preferred
• Proven ability to coordinate and integrate fragmented teams: internal resources, executive sponsor support, and multiple external advisors – without direct line of authority
• Deep understanding of business and operational requirements in a separation, and ability to effectively collaborate with key workstream leads across the business (e.g., IT, HR, Ops) to drive transaction and post-close coordination
• Strong working knowledge of transaction agreements (SPAs, asset-purchase agreements, franchise agreements, commercial contracts, TSAs) and the ability to translate legal and commercial terms into operational implications
• Experience with the broader separation process, including effective tracking and management of priorities through post-close execution
• Financial literacy sufficient to own transaction-cost tracking, evaluate dis-synergy and stranded-cost estimates, and engage credibly with Finance and external financial advisors
• Executive presence and credibility with SVP and C-suite stakeholders, SteerCo members, and external counterparties
• Excellent business judgment under ambiguity, time pressure, and confidentiality constraints
• Strong project management discipline – milestone tracking, issue-log management, decision-escalation protocols, and cadence design

What You'll Get

Hybrid office model – 3 days minimum in the office with Tuesday & Wednesday being mandatory days

Bonus

Company Car or Car Allowance

Equity

• Private health care
• Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays (after your 5th anniversary, increases to 28 days, after your 10th anniversary, increases to 30 days)
• Pension: Matched up to 8%
• Eyecare vouchers

Flexible Working Opportunities

• Work from anywhere Opportunities
• Gift Vouchers for expectant parents
• Death in Service Payment
• Referral scheme

Long Service Award

• Discounts: IHG Staff Discount, Discounted Gym Memberships, KIA Affinity Hertz Staff Discount, Perks at Work
• 40% off any standard Hertz Rental in a Corporate country
• Employee Assistance Programme for employees and family
• Training & Development Opportunity – Apprenticeship Scheme
• Perks at work - employee discount portal