Manager, Corporate Development

About Mariana Minerals

Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making.

The Corporate Development team

Corporate Development raises the capital and closes the transactions that take Mariana's projects from development to operation. The team sits at the intersection of corporate finance, project finance, and M&A, and works directly with the CEO, CFO, and commercial leadership.

The team's work spans:

Corporate and project financing:

equity raises, project-level equity, project finance debt, export credit agency and government-backed financing, venture and corporate debt.

Structured commercial transactions:

offtake agreements, prepayments, working capital and inventory financing with strategics and commodity trading houses.

M&A and partnerships:

acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships across lithium, copper, and adjacent minerals.

Investor relations:

materials, process management, and ongoing engagement with existing and prospective investors and lenders.

We are hiring an Associate and a Manager. Both roles report to the Director of Corporate Development, are based in Houston, and will help build how the function itself runs on MarianaOS.

Manager, Corporate Development

The Manager leads transaction workstreams end to end: owning the process, the counterparties, and the analysis behind them. You will negotiate directly, manage advisors, and help shape how Mariana finances its projects and pursues growth.

What you'll do

• Lead individual financing and M&A workstreams from origination through close, including process design, timeline, and counterparty management.
• Negotiate commercial and financing terms directly with investors, lenders, strategics, and trading houses, working alongside legal and commercial teams.
• Own the financial models and investment cases behind each transaction, and review and direct Associate's work.
• Structure transactions across the capital stack: project equity, project finance debt, ECA and government-backed financing, prepayments, and offtake-linked structures.
• Manage third-party diligence and advisors, and synthesize findings into clear recommendations for management and the board.
• Build and maintain relationships with investors, lenders, and strategic partners.
• Help design and build the corp dev function on MarianaOS, and mentor junior team members.

What we're looking for

• 4–7+ years in investment banking, private equity, or corporate development, with experience leading workstreams on closed transactions.
• Expert financial modeling and the judgment to know which assumptions drive value.
• Demonstrated ability to manage counterparties and negotiate terms.
• Executive presence and clear written and verbal communication with senior stakeholders.
• Comfort with ambiguity and building process where none exists.
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or CFA a plus.
• Nice to have
• Project finance experience in mining, energy, power, or infrastructure.
• Exposure to commodity offtake, prepayment, or trade finance structures.
• Experience working with export credit agencies, development finance institutions, or government loan programs.
• Preferred Location: Houston, TX (in office).
• Alternative Location: San Francisco, CA (in office).
• Target start: early 2027.
• Our culture is built on four principles: Everyone Gets Home Safe.
• We never put speed or cost ahead of people.
• Extreme Ownership.
• We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions.
• Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate.
• We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale.
• Share Your Legos.
• We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions.
• Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply!