Corporate Development Director

div class= content-intro p GitLab is the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps. GitLab enables organizations to increase developer productivity, improve operational efficiency, reduce security and compliance risk, and accelerate digital transformation. More than 50 million registered users and more than 50% of the Fortune 100* trust GitLab to ship better, more secure software faster. /p

p The same principles built into our products are reflected in how our team works: we embrace AI as a core productivity multiplier, with all team members expected to incorporate AI into their daily workflows to drive efficiency, innovation, and impact. GitLab is where careers accelerate, innovation flourishes, and every voice is valued. Our high-performance culture is driven by our values and continuous knowledge exchange, enabling our team members to reach their full potential while collaborating with industry leaders to solve complex problems. a href= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZIb5zszQI Co-create the future with us /a as we build technology that transforms how the world develops software. /p

p * em Fortune 500® is a registered trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, used under license. Claim based on GitLab data. Fortune 100 refers to the top 20% ranked companies in the 2025 Fortune 500 list, published in June 2025. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of GitLab. /em /p /div h2 id= an-overview-of-this-role data-lfile-container= 21ea07e5-ded4-47e8-ad92-4ca7b7d6be35 data-pm-slice= 1 1 [] An overview of this role /h2

p As the Corporate Development Director, you'll help influence how GitLab invests to win: what we build, what we buy, where we partner, and what we should not pursue. This role sits within the Corporate Development Strategic Partnerships team, reporting to the VP, Corporate Development Strategic Partnerships. /p

p This role straddles strategy and M A engagements. You'll lead research that frames GitLab's options: mapping the markets in and around our AI-powered DevSecOps platform, testing where we have a right to win, and turning that into clear recommendations for the executive team. When the answer is to acquire, you'll drive the deal process end to end, from outreach through close and integration. /p

p Success here is not measured by deal count. It looks like sharper strategic choices: a well-reasoned point of view on our priority markets, investment theses that product and executive leaders rely on, acquisitions that speed up the roadmap when buying is the right answer, and an educated no when it isn't. You'll own the wider market perspective rather than individual product categories, and work with the team's Analyst on the research behind it. /p

h2 id= what-youll-do What you'll do /h2

h3 id= strategy-and-research Strategy and research /h3

ul

li strong Own the wider market view. /strong Research the broader market GitLab competes in, beyond specific product categories: competitive dynamics, AI-native entrants, technology shifts and where value is moving. Collaborate with the team's Analyst on the research and turn the findings into a clear point of view on where GitLab should play. /li

li strong Build an investment thesis for each focus area. /strong Work with Product and Engineering leaders to define the problems worth solving, the capabilities GitLab needs, and what it would cost in time and money to get there on our own. /li

li strong Own the competitive and landscape view. /strong Maintain market maps and a current read on GitLab's competitors: their strategy, product direction, positioning, pricing, and M A and funding activity. Produce competitor analyses that show where we lead, where we're exposed and how rivals are likely to move. Flag shifts by competitors, hyperscalers and AI labs that change our options, and bring the implications to Product and the executive team. /li

li strong Define where GitLab should not play. /strong Identify adjacencies that dilute focus and markets where the economics or competition work against us. Make the case for a no with the same rigor as a yes. /li

/ul

h3 id= build-buy-or-partner Build, buy or partner /h3

ul

li strong Run the build, buy, partner analysis. /strong For each strategic gap, compare the options side by side on speed, cost, risk, control and strategic fit, and bring a clear recommendation. /li

li strong Deliver strategic clarity to /strong strong executives and the Board. /strong Produce short strategy memos/decks and business cases that set out the decision, the trade-offs and what we give up with each path. /li

li strong Feed company strategy and planning. /strong Bring an outside-in view of the market and the inorganic options available into annual and long-range planning. /li

li strong Work hand in hand with Strategic Partnerships. /strong When partnering is the right answer, frame the opportunity and hand it to the partnership owner with a clear thesis. When it isn't, explain why. /li

/ul

h3 id= deal-execution-and-integration Deal execution and integration /h3

ul

li strong Own end-to-end deal process management. /strong Validate target fit against GitLab's our target profile, product roadmap and other criteria, and build the acquisition rationale and business case. Drive our M A process from intro call through the various steps through to closing and integration. /li

li strong Evaluate the deal. /strong Develop valuation, commercial integrity assessment, impact on GitLab's business and provide negotiations assistance to the VP and the executive team. /li

li strong Lead cross-functional diligence. /strong Run pre-LOI validation and diligence across Product, Engineering, Security, Finance, Legal and People, and communicate findings clearly. /li

li strong Drive deal documents with Legal. /strong Prepare NDAs, LOIs and purchase agreements with GitLab Legal and outside counsel. /li

li strong Own integration outcomes. /strong Lead post-acquisition integration as the DRI, measured against the roadmap and business goals in the business case. Bring lessons learned back into the strategy work. /li

li strong Build the external network. /strong Maintain relationships with founders, executives, investors, bankers and advisors that bring us early insight and pipeline. /li

/ul

h2 id= what-youll-bring What you'll bring /h2

ul

li strong Strategy and deal experience. /strong 8+ years across corporate development, corporate strategy, strategy consulting or technology investing, including 5+ years leading acquisitions end to end in enterprise software. /li

li strong Structured strategic thinking. /strong You form a point of view from incomplete information, test it against data, and change your mind when the evidence says so. You're as comfortable recommending that we stay out of a market as that we enter it. /li

li strong Market research depth. /strong Skilled in market sizing, competitive analysis and landscape mapping, and in turning research into a recommendation, not a report. /li

li strong Deal craft. /strong Skilled in valuation, financial modeling, deal structuring, negotiation and integration planning, with experience across varied consideration structures. /li

li strong Technical fluency. /strong A working understanding of software development, DevSecOps and the AI landscape, enough to hold substantive conversations with product and engineering leaders about roadmaps and architecture. /li

li strong Clear executive communication. /strong You write short, decision-ready updates and present trade-offs plainly to executives and the Board, in an async-first environment. /li

li strong Influence without authority. /strong You build trust across Product, Engineering, Finance and Legal and move decisions forward across functions. /li

li strong Ownership with collaboration. /strong You own the strategic view and the recommendation, and partner closely with the team's Analyst on research and analysis. /li

li strong Preferred: /strong familiarity with the DevSecOps, security, AI and open source ecosystems. /li

li You value the a href= https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/company/culture/all-remote/ target= _blank all remote /a lifestyle and share our a href= https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/values/ target= _blank values /a . /li

/ul

h2 id= about-the-team About the team /h2

p The Corporate Development Strategic Partnerships team helps GitLab decide how to grow beyond what we build on our own. We own inorganic strategy: acquisitions, strategic partnerships with hyperscalers and AI labs, and the research that tells us which to pursue and which to pass on. /p

p We work across Product, Engineering, Finance, Legal and the executive group. We set direction and do the detailed work ourselves, with a high degree of ownership and transparency in a fully remote, asynchronous environment. /p div class= content-pay-transparency div class= pay-input div class= description p em The base salary range for this role’s listed level is currently for residents of the United States only. This range is intended to reflect the role's base salary rate in locations throughout the US. Grade level and salary ranges are determined through interviews and a review of education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities of the applicant, equity with other team members, alignment with market data, and geographic location. The base salary range does not include any bonuses, equity, or benefits. See more information on our a class= waffle-rich-text-link href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/total-rewards/benefits/general-and-entity-benefits/ data-sheets-formula-bar-text-link= https://bit.ly/GLBeneUS data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style= font-size:12px;color:#1155cc;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline;font-family:''Arial'';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none; benefits /a span data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style= font-size:12px;color:#000000;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;font-family:'Arial';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none; and /span a class= waffle-rich-text-link href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/stock-options/ data-sheets-formula-bar-text-link= https://bit.ly/GLequity data-sheets-formula-bar-text-style= font-size:12px;color:#1155cc;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:underline;font-family:''Arial'';font-style:normal;text-decoration-skip-ink:none; equity /a . Sales roles are also eligible for incentive pay targeted at up to 100% of the offered base salary. /em /p /div div class= title United States Salary Range /div div class= pay-range span $168,000 /span span class= divider /span span $285,600 USD /span /div /div /div div class= content-conclusion h4 strong How GitLab Supports Full-Time Employees /strong /h4

ul

li a href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/total-rewards/benefits/general-and-entity-benefits/ Benefits to support your health, finances, and well-being /a /li

li a href= https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/people-group/time-off-and-absence/time-off-types/#flexible-paid-time-off-pto Flexible Paid Time Off /a /li

li a href= https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/company/culture/inclusion/tmrg-tmag/ Team Member Resource Groups /a /li

li a href= https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/total-rewards/stock-options/ Equity Compensation Employee Stock Purchase Plan /a /li

li a href= https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/people-group/learning-and-development/growth-and-development/ Growth and Development Fund /a /li

li a href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/total-rewards/benefits/general-and-entity-benefits/#parental-leave Parental Leave /a /li

/ul

p Please note that we welcome interest from candidates with varying levels of experience; many successful candidates do not meet every single requirement. Additionally, studies have shown that people from a href= https://about.gitlab.com/company/culture/inclusion/#examples-of-select-underrepresented-groups underrepresented groups /a are less likely to apply to a job unless they meet every single qualification. If you're excited about this role, please apply and allow our recruiters to assess your application. /p

hr

p strong Country Hiring Guidelines: /strong GitLab hires new team members in countries around the world. All of our roles are remote, however some roles may carry specific location-based eligibility requirements. Our Talent Acquisition team can help answer any questions about location after starting the recruiting process. /p

p strong Privacy Policy: /strong Please review our a href= https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/hiring/candidate-faq/recruitment-privacy-policy/ target= _blank Recruitment Privacy Policy. /a Your privacy is important to us. /p

p GitLab is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. GitLab’s policies and practices relating to recruitment, employment, career development and advancement, promotion, and retirement are based solely on merit, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression), national origin, age, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information (including family medical history), discharge status from the military, protected veteran status (which includes disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans), or any other basis protected by law. GitLab will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. See also a href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/people-policies/inc-usa/#equal-employment-opportunity-policy target= _blank GitLab’s EEO Policy /a and a href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/labor-and-employment-notices/#eeoc-us-equal-employment-opportunity-commission-notices target= _blank EEO is the Law /a . If you have a disability or special need that requires a href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/people-policies/inc-usa/#reasonable-accommodation target= _blank accommodation /a , please let us know during the a href= https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/hiring/interviewing/#adjustments-to-our-interview-process target= _blank recruiting process /a . /p /div