IS Lead M&A Integration Programme Lead

IS Lead, M&A Acquisition Integration

Contract | Immediate Start | Outside IR35

Location: Remote
Candidate Location: UK / EU candidates only
Travel: European travel required as needed

We are seeking an experienced IS Lead / Senior Programme Manager to lead the planning and delivery of complex M&A acquisition integration programmes.

The role will translate acquisition objectives and due diligence findings into a controlled integration roadmap covering Day 1, transition, stabilisation and target-state integration. You will work across Technology, Finance, HR, Procurement, Legal, Security, Data and Operations, coordinating workstreams, dependencies and senior stakeholders while remaining hands-on with delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end M&A integration planning, mobilisation and delivery.
• Develop and manage the integrated programme plan, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues and actions.
• Translate due diligence findings and deal commitments into practical delivery plans.
• Lead Day 1 readiness, cutover, hypercare and stabilisation.
• Coordinate application, infrastructure, cybersecurity, data, ERP and business workstreams.
• Define technology integration strategies covering retain, integrate, migrate, replace or retire decisions.
• Manage Transitional Service Agreements (TSAs), suppliers and third-party dependencies.
• Establish data migration, cleansing, reconciliation and business sign-off processes.
• Provide executive governance, reporting and escalation.
• Ensure business continuity throughout integration.
• Apply and continuously improve the M&A Integration Playbook.
• Identify opportunities to use automation and AI to improve delivery, reduce risk and accelerate integration.

Experience Required

• Significant experience leading M&A, acquisition integration, merger, divestiture or carve-out programmes.
• Strong hands-on programme management experience across governance, planning, risk, budget and dependencies.
• Proven experience delivering Day 1 readiness, cutover and stabilisation.
• Experience coordinating business, technology, application and data workstreams.
• Strong senior stakeholder and executive management experience.
• Experience managing suppliers, implementation partners and acquired organisations.
• Practical understanding of AI, automation and digital tools within programme delivery.
• Strong communication, analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Relevant programme management certification or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Experience within technology, telecommunications or other complex international environments.
• ERP, HCM, enterprise data or service-management integration experience.
• TSA and seller-separation experience.
• Experience across both acquisition integration and carve-out programmes.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform or Microsoft Fabric.