Economic Development Director Jobs in Riverside, CA

CSC Generation is the AI-native holding company re-engineering omnichannel retail. We acquire iconic brands and transform them with Genesis, our operating platform combining a Data Fabric, Automation Engine, proprietary tools, and shared services to modernize operations, elevate customer experience, and expand margins. With $1B+ in revenue across 13 brands, our portfolio includes Sur La Table, Backcountry, One Kings Lane, and others that serve as real-world innovation labs.

Reports to: VP, Corporate Development

Location: Austin, TX (Hybrid); Salt Lake City, UT (Hybrid - 3x/week in-office); Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid); Toronto, ON (Hybrid)

CSC Generation continues to grow through M&A, acquiring iconic consumer and retail brands and revitalizing them through operational transformation. The Investments team needs a Director-level deal professional who can bridge transaction execution and portfolio value creation with greater independence than the current team structure allows.

As Director of Corporate Development, you will lead transactions end-to-end from LOI through close, develop sector theses and proprietary deal flow, and partner with portfolio company operators to design and execute value-creation roadmaps. Within your first 6–12 months, success means independently leading at least one acquisition to close, establishing repeatable diligence and integration playbooks, and building trusted relationships with lenders, advisors, and portfolio leadership.

This is a lean team. You will own a lot, move fast, and make decisions with full end-to-end responsibility.

• Build and maintain relationships with investment bankers, brokers, and advisors to generate proprietary deal flow across consumer, retail, ecommerce, and adjacent sectors.
• Lead early-stage screening and high-level modeling for inbound and proprietary opportunities.
• Develop and refine sector theses (e.g., omnichannel retail, outdoor and sporting goods, home, specialty consumer) and maintain active target lists.
• Prepare go/no-go recommendations with clear return framing and strategic rationale for VP and senior leadership review.

• Serve as deal lead on transactions from LOI through close, owning day-to-day workstreams including modeling, diligence, financing coordination, and documentation.
• Lead negotiation of key commercial terms with sellers and management teams, with VP oversight on final structure decisions.
• Draft and present investment committee materials including investment thesis, value-creation plan, downside scenarios, and risk/mitigant analysis.
• Coordinate internal and external diligence teams (legal, accounting, tax, IT, operations) and hold them accountable to timelines and deliverable quality.
• Manage lender and co-investor relationships and support financing process management.

• Partner with portfolio company operators and CSC functional leads to design and execute 100-day plans and multi-year value-creation roadmaps for newly acquired brands.
• Track portfolio performance through dashboards and monthly reviews; flag variances and work with operators to course-correct.
• Support initiatives across pricing and promotion, channel mix, merchandising strategy, store fleet rationalization, digital/customer acquisition, and SG&A efficiency.
• Partner with CSC's AI and analytics teams to embed automation and data-driven decision-making into portfolio operations.
• Evaluate and support execution of add-on acquisitions and strategic partnerships for portfolio brands.

• Manage and develop Senior Associates and Analysts on deal teams; set expectations on modeling, research, and communication quality.
• Contribute to internal playbooks, templates, and investment processes that help the platform scale efficiently.
• Support capital-raising efforts, including data room prep and case study development, as needed.

• 6–10 years of total professional experience, including 2+ years in investment banking, restructuring advisory, or top-tier strategy consulting and 3+ years in private equity, special situations, or principal investing.
• Proven track record as a deal contributor or lead on multiple closed transactions (buyouts, corporate carve-outs, distressed or special-situations deals).
• Advanced financial modeling skills: full LBOs, operating models, returns analysis, debt sizing, and capital structure optimization.
• Strong command of accounting, cash flows, and credit documentation; comfortable evaluating lender viewpoints.
• Solid understanding of operational drivers in consumer and retail: traffic, conversion, AOV, merchandising economics, inventory turns, store productivity, CAC, and retention.
• Demonstrated ability to lead deal workstreams independently with VP-level oversight on key decisions.
• Strong communication skills; comfortable engaging directly with C-level executives, lenders, and advisors.
• Experience drafting investment committee materials and presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Ability to manage junior team members and external advisors simultaneously across multiple live workstreams.
• Ability to translate incomplete or messy data into clear insights and actionable recommendations.
• High proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Willingness to travel regularly to portfolio companies, partners, and key markets.

• Experience in consumer, retail, ecommerce, or multi-unit businesses.
• Exposure to middle-market companies and complex situations (multi-brand platforms, operational turnarounds, cross-border operations).
• MBA or equivalent graduate degree.
• Familiarity with BI tools, SQL, or Python.

The people who do best here are builders. They take ownership, move fast, and want to see the direct impact of their work.

• Executive Access: Work directly with brand CEOs and C-suite leadership, solving real business problems and earning mentorship from top operators across a 13-brand portfolio.
• Leadership Opportunities Across the Portfolio: High performers are quickly entrusted with greater responsibility, from leading larger transactions to shaping investment strategy and building out the team.
• Shape Strategy at Portfolio Level: Own deal origination, execution, and post-acquisition value creation that directly determines the trajectory of iconic consumer brands.
• Competitive Benefits (US): Paid time off policies, 401(k) match, medical/dental/vision and a variety of supplemental policies, and employee discounts across our portfolio of brands.
• Competitive Benefits (Canada): Paid time off policies, RRSP match, medical, dental, and vision coverage, a variety of supplemental benefit options, and employee discounts across our portfolio of brands.

1. Recruiter Screen - A 30-minute conversation with our recruiting team to align on the role, your background, and what you are looking for.
2. Hiring Manager Interview - Conversation with the VP of Corporate Development focused on your deal experience, investment judgment, and approach to portfolio value creation.
3. Case / Technical Discussion - A short challenge to assess how you approach problem-solving, financial analysis, and deal evaluation.
4. Executive Interview - Deep-dive conversation with CSC senior leadership focused on strategic thinking, leadership approach, and cultural alignment.
5. In-Person Interview - We'd like to meet you at our Austin or Salt Lake City office. Details and logistics will be arranged with your recruiter.
6. Reference Checks - Conducted in parallel with the final stages where possible.
7. Offer - We move quickly for the right candidate.

Interview process is subject to change. Any updates will be communicated promptly and clearly.

CSC Generation is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The CSC Generation family of brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact hrbenefits@cscshared.com.

For Ontario applicants, please note that this posting is for an existing vacancy.

For US-based candidates, this posting is intended for candidates that reside in the following states:
AZ, DE, FL, GA, IN, LA, MI, MS, MO, NV, NC, OK, PA, TN, TX, UT, WV, WI, and WY.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.