Business Development Manager - M&A Deal Origination

Business Development - M&A Deal Origination03 Open Positions · Indonesia · Malaysia · Philippines · Thailand · Singapore · Vietnam

Vela Software | Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU)

We Don't Flip Companies. We Find Them a Permanent Home.

With over 100 acquisitions in a single year, Constellation Software is one of the world's most active — and most trusted — software acquirers. We buy vertical market software businesses and hold them forever. No exit agenda. No rebrand. No management overhaul.

We're expanding our Southeast Asia deal origination team and hiring across three levels. Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned BD professional, there's a seat for you — and a clear path to grow into.

The Role

You identify and build relationships with software founders across Southeast Asia who may one day sell their business to Vela. This is not a quota-driven, transaction-chasing job. It's a long-horizon, relationship-first role where patience, cultural intelligence, and founder empathy matter as much as deal skills.

You will source and qualify acquisition targets, manage a disciplined CRM pipeline (Salesforce), conduct first-cut assessments, and represent Vela at regional M&A events such as the SEA M&A Forum and Techsauce Global Summit. Over time, you will develop genuine vertical market expertise, M&A modelling skills, and a personal reputation in the regional software community.

Three Open PositionsBD Associate

For: 2–4 years of experience in software sales, enterprise BD, or deal sourcing.

You are learning the craft. Your focus is building disciplined outreach habits, maintaining a clean pipeline, and generating your first qualified M&A opportunities.

• Monthly target: to be shared during the interview session
• Master Salesforce workflows, cadence execution, and multi-channel outreach
• Shadow senior BDs on calls; participate in win/loss reviews
• Develop foundational M&A vocabulary and Vela's ICP criteria

You're ready for this if: You have a strong sales or BD foundation, learn fast, and are hungry for a role with more intellectual depth than quota-chasing.

BD Senior Associate

For: 4–6 years of experience with a proven track record in deal sourcing or enterprise sales.

You own a real pipeline and are developing vertical expertise. You take on conference attendance, peer mentoring, and more complex founder relationships.

• Monthly target: to be shared during the interview session
• Develop clear vertical market expertise in 1–2 industry niches
• Attend at least one in-person regional conference annually
• Mentor BD Associates; contribute to pipeline quality reviews
• Begin building broker and PE/VC referral networks

You're ready for this if: You consistently hit targets, operate independently, and are ready to start influencing the people around you.

BD Manager

For: 6+ years of experience, with demonstrated leadership and M&A deal sourcing ability.

You lead by example and, if the team leadership path suits you, you will manage and develop a small sub-team of BDs. You bring strategic thinking, cultural depth across multiple SEA markets, and the credibility to earn trust from C-level founders.

Manager — Team Leader path:

• Lead a local BD team; accountable for both individual and team targets
• Team target:to be shared during the interview session
• Hire, onboard, and develop junior BDs; build a low-turnover, high-performance team
• Drive strategic BD initiatives that improve pipeline conversion

Manager — Individual Contributor path:

• Own a high-quality pipeline per month (detailed KPI to be shared during the interview session)
• Develop relationships with larger companies for future carve-out opportunities
• Engage large corporations monthly on potential carve-out conversations
• Attend two or more regional conferences annually

You're ready for this if: You have the track record, the cultural range to navigate Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam, and the self-awareness to know whether you want to lead a team or deepen your individual craft.

Your Career Path at Vela

Junior Associate Associate Senior Associate Asst. Manager Manager

(Leadership trial: managing 1–2 BDs
while building your own pipeline)

Junior Associate / Analyst Baseline outreach targets, supported by senior mentoring. Focus: discipline and independence. Promotion trigger: 6 of 8 months at 100%+ target; first qualified opportunity sourced.

Associate Increased targets, CRM sophistication, multi-channel outreach mastery. Promotion trigger: 10 of 14 months on target; ethical Salesforce record; operator relationships built.

Senior Associate Vertical expertise, conference attendance, pipeline quality ownership, peer mentoring. Promotion trigger: 85%+ of targets for 16 months; demonstrated leadership on projects.

Assistant Manager(transitional leadership milestone) Managing 1–2 junior BDs while maintaining individual pipeline. A leadership trial before formal promotion — for those showing management potential who are ready to prove it.

Manager Full team or individual contributor leadership. Choose your path — both are respected and rewarded. Subsequent path: Senior Manager Director VP

Compensation advances at each stage. Performance targets, promotion timelines, and bonus structures are clearly defined at each level — nothing vague, nothing arbitrary.

Beyond BD: Other Doors This Role Opens

BD at Vela is a launchpad, not a ceiling. High performers could move into:

• M&A Analyst / Associate — supporting deal evaluation and due diligence on opportunities they sourced, growing into VP of M&A
• Strategy roles — analytical and operational support within Vela's portfolio groups
• Portfolio Management — transitioning from BD into overseeing acquired businesses within Vela Software SEA's portfolio
• Other Vela SEA Business Units — Vela's SEA portfolio spans travel, agriculture, automotive, financial services, oil & gas, and more. Strong performers can transfer into commercial or operational leadership roles within these vertical businesses

The common thread: everyone who has made these transitions first proved themselves as exceptional BDs.

What We Build Into You

Skills: Vertical market mastery · Enterprise sales and BD best practices (1:1 mentoring) · AI-powered BD workflows · 1st-cut M&A financial modelling

Knowledge: M&A deal process · Salesforce reporting · Industry and competitive analysis

Attitude: Founder mindset coaching · Personal identity and inner strength development · Self-leadership culture

Who We're Looking For

Across all three levels, we look for the same core traits:

• Founder mindset — you think like an owner, not an employee. You may have started something, or always wanted to. You understand why founders are protective of what they've built, which is why they'll trust you.
• Discipline that compounds — you update the CRM every day not because someone checks, but because you know a clean pipeline is a predictable pipeline
• Cultural range — you can earn trust from a Chinese Malaysian SME founder, a Singapore PE-backed operator, and an Indonesian family business patriarch using completely different approaches
• Persistence without pressure — you play the 18-month relationship game naturally

Language: Native or near-native proficiency in the language of your target market is strongly preferred. Mandarin is a meaningful advantage for Malaysia and Singapore. Local Thai will open doors easier for Thai business owners, or Bahasa Indonesia will help you navigate the complex family business culture on the island of Java.

About Vela and Constellation Software

We are part of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU) — over 1,500+ vertical market software businesses, 07 operating groups, active in 100+ verticals globally.

csisoftware.com · velasoftwaregroup.com

For a deeper look at our philosophy: Business Breakdowns Podcast

How to Apply

Send your application to Steve Le, Head of BD, Vela Software SEA at [Confidential Information]

Subject line: Vela Software BD Application – [Your Name] – [Level] – [Country]

Candidates ideally based in Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.

Your application should include:

1. CV/Resume

2. Three software companies you believe Vela should acquire — and why

Pick three companies anywhere in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, or Vietnam. For each, write 2–3 bullet points: what the company does, why it fits Vela's acquisition criteria, and one specific reason the founder might be open to a conversation right now. There's no right answer — this is a window into how you think.

3. Where this role fits your next five years One short paragraph. Be honest: what are you building in your career, and why does this path make sense for you

4. Optional — but telling

What is the founder mindset and trait inside you that makes you right for this role Why do you think a Vela BD professional must possess this mindset to succeed

We read every application. The quality of your three software companies will tell us more about you than your CV.