M&A Programme Manager

Role: Programme Manager / Head of Transformation – M&A Integration

Location: London

Length: 6 months initially

Rate: £850 to £900 per day (Outside IR35)

The programme: High-impact transformation programme driven by the merger of two iconic UK brands, delivering large-scale integration, innovation, and operational alignment across enterprise systems.

Person: We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager / Head of Transformation to lead a major M&A integration programme, bringing together businesses, operations, people, processes and organisational structures to deliver a successful post-acquisition transformation.

This is a senior business transformation leadership role, focused on the operational and organisational aspects of M&A integration. The emphasis is on defining and delivering the future business, establishing the Target Operating Model (TOM), aligning operational capabilities and ensuring the organisation realises the strategic and commercial benefits of the transaction.

Whilst technology will form part of the wider integration landscape, this is not a technology transformation or IT implementation role with the primary focus being on business operations, organisational change and operational transformation.

Key responsibilities

• Programme leadership: Own and lead the end-to-end post M&A transformation and integration programme, establishing governance, programme structure, delivery plans, milestones and executive reporting.
• Target Operating Model: Lead the definition and design of the future-state operating model, covering organisational structures, roles and responsibilities, processes, governance, decision-making and operational capabilities.
• Operational integration: Drive the integration of business operations across the acquired and existing organisations, identifying opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve how the business operates.
• Business transformation: Translate the strategic objectives of the acquisition into a clear transformation agenda, ensuring changes are effectively designed, prioritised and delivered.
• Organisation and people change: Lead organisational design, role alignment, leadership structures, cultural integration and workforce transition activities.
• Business process alignment: Assess existing operational processes, identify duplication and inefficiencies, and establish consistent future-state ways of working.
• Stakeholder engagement: Work closely with executive leadership, business unit heads and functional directors to build alignment, secure decisions and maintain momentum.
• Change management: Lead the people and business change agenda, ensuring stakeholders are engaged, prepared and equipped to operate successfully within the new organisation.
• Benefits realisation: Establish clear business outcomes, track synergy delivery, operational improvements, cost efficiencies and wider M&A value realisation.
• Integration risk management: Identify and manage operational, organisational and business integration risks, dependencies and critical decisions.

Experience and capabilities

We are looking for a senior transformation professional with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and offer:

• Significant experience leading complex business transformation or M&A integration programmes.
• A strong track record of delivering post-merger integration, business integration or large-scale organisational transformation.
• Extensive experience designing and implementing Target Operating Models.
• A deep understanding of business operations, organisational design, process transformation and operating model alignment.
• Experience bringing together different businesses, functions or operating environments into a cohesive organisation.
• Strong programme leadership capabilities, including executive governance, senior stakeholder management and delivery oversight.
• Experience managing complex business change, cultural integration and organisational transition.
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to translate acquisition strategy into tangible operational and financial outcomes.

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