M&A Integration Programme Manager
Location: Midlands - hybrid, ideally 3-4 days per week in the office (negotiable) Salary: £80,000-£110,000 + car allowance/company car + 7.5% pension + bonus Type: Permanent
The Opportunity
A rapidly growing, international manufacturing group is looking to appoint an M&A Integration Programme Manager to join the business.
The business is undergoing a significant period of transformation and growth, having expanded substantially in recent years, with an ambitious strategy to continue growing through both organic development and acquisitions.
This is a strategically important role, responsible for ensuring newly acquired businesses are successfully integrated into the wider group, with a clear focus on delivering the operational, financial and commercial value identified through each transaction.
The Role
You will take ownership of the integration programme following an acquisition, coordinating multiple business functions and ensuring that agreed actions, milestones and synergies are delivered.
A typical integration will involve approximately 3 months of pre-deal planning followed by 9 months of post-deal execution, although programmes can range from 6-18 months depending on the complexity of the acquisition.
An established integration playbook is already in place, covering approximately 12 workstreams and 30-50 actions across functions including:
Finance
Operations
Manufacturing
Engineering
Supply Chain
Sales
Marketing
You will be responsible for bringing these workstreams together, maintaining momentum and ensuring senior stakeholders remain accountable for delivery.
When there is no live acquisition integration, you will also have the opportunity to contribute to wider strategic transformation initiatives across the group, which could include CRM and HR systems, operating model transformation, centralisation, optimisation and other strategic projects.
Key Responsibilities
Lead end-to-end post-acquisition integration programmes.
Support integration planning during the pre-deal and due diligence phases.
Develop and maintain detailed integration plans across multiple workstreams.
Coordinate senior stakeholders across the business and acquired organisations.
Establish clear ownership, milestones and accountability for delivery.
Track and deliver identified synergies and integration benefits.
Identify risks, dependencies and issues and drive appropriate resolution.
Challenge and hold senior stakeholders accountable where required.
Work closely with Corporate Development, Finance, Operations, HR, Supply Chain, Engineering and other functional leaders.
Continuously improve the organisation's M&A integration methodology and playbook.
Support wider strategic transformation initiatives between acquisitions.
About You
The key requirement is genuine, hands-on M&A / acquisition integration experience.
You will need to demonstrate that you have personally led or owned integration activity and delivered outcomes, rather than simply having worked within an organisation that was involved in an acquisition.
We're looking for someone who combines strong programme management capability with the confidence and credibility to operate at senior level.
Leading complex, cross-functional programmes without direct reports.
Managing and influencing 20+ stakeholders.
Challenging senior leaders and holding them accountable.
Working autonomously and taking ownership of outcomes.
Operating in a fast-moving, acquisitive environment.
Balancing structured programme management with pragmatism and flexibility.
Moving between M&A integration and wider strategic transformation activity when required.
Experience
Proven experience leading M&A / acquisition integrations.
Strong programme/project management experience.
Excellent senior stakeholder management and influencing skills.
Demonstrable experience driving delivery across multiple business functions.
Strong commercial awareness and understanding of how to deliver value from acquisitions.
Manufacturing, engineering or industrial sector experience.
Experience working within a PE-backed or acquisitive environment.
Consultancy / Big Four M&A or integration experience.
Experience developing or improving M&A integration frameworks/playbooks.
German and/or Italian language skills.
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to join a business with a significant acquisition pipeline and ambitious growth plans.
The successful candidate will play a central role in building and embedding the organisation's M&A integration capability, with exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to influence how future acquisitions are integrated across the group.
There is also considerable scope to broaden your remit into wider strategic transformation, making this an excellent opportunity for an experienced integration professional looking for a role with genuine breadth and visibility.
To apply, please submit your CV or contact us for a confidential discussion about the opportunity.
At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.
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