About Core Education

Core Education is a dynamic organization dedicated to transforming the business model of higher education through innovative programs and partnerships. We work collaboratively with colleges and universities to enhance learning experiences, promote student success, and drive positive outcomes. 

About the role

The M&A Practice Area Lead will own and scale Core’s Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships (MAP) practice - a cornerstone of Core’s Business Model Transformation. This leader will guide institutions through the full lifecycle of strategic transactions - from financial runway assessment and pre-LOI design to due diligence, integration, and post-merger activation.

This role combines strategic insight, deal-making acumen, and institutional empathy, translating opportunity into executable models of shared strength. The ideal candidate is a builder - equally fluent in corporate development and higher education strategy, capable of leading teams that turn institutional collaboration into system-level transformation.

What you'll do

Practice Leadership

• Lead and grow Core’s M&A / MAP practice area, establishing methodology, playbooks, and success metrics for transaction design and integration.
• Serve as a senior advisor to presidents, boards, and CFOs on mergers, affiliations, partnerships, and system formation.
• Build a strong pipeline of engagements in collaboration with Core’s business development and partnerships team.
• Represent Core in sector forums, conferences, and board-level discussions, articulating the value of system-enabled growth.

Engagement Delivery

• Oversee all phases of M&A engagements - including strategy development, opportunity screening, financial and operational modeling, due diligence, and post-transaction integration design.
• Direct multi-disciplinary Core teams (finance, technology, HR, and governance) to deliver coordinated, data-driven analyses and recommendations.
• Lead deal structuring and LOI-to-agreement progression, working in concert with institutional and legal counsel.
• Ensure that every engagement aligns with Core’s mission of strengthening independence through shared capacity.

Operational and Financial Oversight

• Manage project economics, staffing, and resource allocation across engagements.
• Partner with Core’s finance team to establish deal budgets, forecasts, and margin targets.
• Track and report on practice-level performance indicators, driving continuous improvement.

Thought Leadership and Growth

• Shape Core’s intellectual capital in M&A and system design, developing frameworks, case studies, and best practices.
• Mentor emerging leaders across the firm to strengthen expertise in transaction design and institutional integration.
• Contribute to the evolution of Core’s Private Systems model as a platform for multi-institution collaboration and growth.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in higher education strategy, M&A advisory, investment banking, or management consulting - with a strong record of leading complex transactions or system integrations.
• Deep understanding of higher education finance, governance, and institutional operations.
• Proven experience managing senior client relationships at the president, board, or CFO level.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and scenario analysis skills.
• Exceptional communication and presentation ability — able to distill complexity into clarity for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated success in building and scaling a practice, business line, or team.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in a growth-oriented, mission-driven organization.

Core Attributes

• Builder Mentality: Creates new systems and structures where none exist.
• Strategic Operator: Connects vision to execution with precision and pace.
• Collaborative Leader: Works across practice areas to deliver unified, high-impact outcomes.
• Mission-Driven: Believes in strengthening independent institutions through shared capability and modernization.