Sage is hiring a Director, People M&A to lead the People workstream across our acquisition lifecycle - from pre-deal due diligence and Day 1 readiness through post-close integration. This is a senior individual contributor role with high visibility across Executive Leadership, Corporate Development, and People Leadership where you'll shape the People M&A strategy and integration approach for each acquisition, with accountability for how acquired organisations are brought into Sage in a way that protects deal value, accelerates organisational alignment, and retains critical talent.You will typically manage multiple integrations concurrently, remaining accountable for execution outcomes while working closely with regional Director-level People Business Partners and global HR Centres of Excellence in support of planning, coordination, and the delivery of the people-related work required for each integration. You will advise on people risk, trade-offs, sequencing, and integration decisions, often within compressed decision windows. By shaping how Sage integrates acquired organisations, you will play a central role in supporting the company's strategic growth through acquisitions. What Makes This Role Distinctive - M&A is a deliberate and recurring growth lever for Sage. This role operates within an acquisition strategy where multiple integrations are planned, sequenced, and executed over time, requiring comfort making people and integration decisions across concurrent initiatives. - You'll partner closely with Executive leadership, Corporate Development, CHRO, EVP People, and Consultants/Advisors to shape decisions and recommendations on people-related risks, trade-offs, and timing, with direct impact on outcomes - This role offers scope to continuously refine Sage's People M&A integration approach to evolve playbooks, tools, and ways of working while operating in live deal environments. - You'll lead cross-border HR integrations across different regulatory environments, labour markets, and cultural contexts, with particular relevance across North America and Europe. Who is Sage? Sage is a FTSE 100 software company headquartered in the UK, supporting millions of small and medium-sized businesses with accounting, finance and ERP solutions. We offer the scale and stability of an established global business, while continuing to invest in SaaS, AI, product innovation, and strategic growth. That transformation includes Sage Copilot, our AI-powered assistant designed to help customers work more efficiently and make more confident decisions. Alongside organic innovation, acquisitions continue to play an important role in strengthening Sage's portfolio and expanding the value we bring to customers. For this role, that means high-impact work at the intersection of People, Corporate Development, Executive leadership, and acquired organisations - shaping how teams are brought into Sage and set up for long-term success. Location/Hybrid Requirement: 3 days per week of in-office collaboration from our London office. Minimum Qualifications - Extensive experience leading the People/HR workstream across complex, multi-country M&A transactions, from pre-deal due diligence and Day 1 readiness through post-close integration. Depth and complexity of global experience matter more than deal count. - Direct, hands-on HR M&A experience gained in a global organisation, M&A consulting/advisory environment, or both, with exposure to SaaS, technology, financial services, fintech, or other complex corporate environments. A blend of consulting and in-house M&A experience is strongly preferred. - Experience leading acquisitions involving North America and Europe, with exposure to differing employment, regulatory, labour market, and cultural considerations. - Strong understanding of the people implications of different deal structures, including asset transfers and share/share purchases. - Proven ability to operate as the senior People/HR M&A lead, advising on risk, trade-offs, sequencing, and decisions in ambiguous, time-sensitive deal environments. - Strong programme and project management capability, including experience managing multiple complex integration workstreams concurrently across geographies, functions, and senior stakeholders. - Strong ability to build relationships, credibility and influence with senior leaders and external advisors with the confidence to challenge constructively when needed. - Ability to travel 25% of the time (typically between Europe & the U.S.) Key Responsibilities Pre-deal diligence and deal planning - Lead HR due diligence for acquisitions, including discovery sessions with senior management, target company leadership, and external advisors to identify people-related risks, liabilities, opportunities, and integration considerations that inform deal decisions. - Assess the people implications of different deal structures, including asset transfers and share/share purchases, ensuring key risks, dependencies, and employee impacts are understood early. - Advise senior leaders on people risk, sequencing, and trade-offs, providing clear recommendations during periods of ambiguity, incomplete information, and competing priorities. Integration strategy and execution - Own the HR/People integration strategy for each acquisition, partnering with Sage leadership, Corporate Development, and target organisations to design approaches that address organisational design, workforce planning, talent retention, culture, and change management. - Remain accountable for execution outcomes across concurrent integration lifecycles, working closely with regional Director-level People Business Partners and global HR Centres of Excellence to ensure decisions, timing, dependencies, and risks are actively managed. - Develop and manage integration project plans, timelines, budgets, governance, and decision frameworks across multiple concurrent M&A projects. - Coordinate with HR Centres of Excellence to execute workforce integration plans, address redundancies where applicable, harmonise policies where appropriate, and align organisational structures and operating model adoption. Leadership, communication, and talent retention - Partner with Corporate Affairs to design and execute employee communication strategies that support confident transitions for colleagues joining Sage. - Design and oversee retention approaches for critical talent across active acquisitions. - Support senior leaders in acquired organisations by helping them understand Sage's operating model, culture, and leadership network, establishing the relationships required for successful integration. Continuous improvement and M&A discipline - Capture lessons learned from each integration to strengthen institutional knowledge and continuously improve Sage's HR/People M&A integration methodology and discipline. - Build and maintain external networks to stay current on M&A integration best practices and act as a subject matter expert shaping Sage's approach within the People Function. Benefits? We have plenty Video:? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCMtTYUUiuU - Generous bonuses (30%) - Up to 8% matched pension contribution plus 2% top-up by Sage. - 25 days of paid annual leave with the option to buy up to another 5 days - 8 bank holiday days - Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation - 50% income protection - Holiday buy sell - Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year - Ongoing training and professional development - Hybrid working (2 days from home) - Healthy Mind app membership - Access to various helpful memberships for finances, health and wellbeing \LI-CH1 People United Kingdom London Hybrid Working at Sage means you're supporting millions of small and medium sized businesses globally with technology to work faster and smarter. We leverage the future of AI, meaning business owners spend less time doing routine tasks, like entering invoices and generating reports, and more time pursuing their ambitions. Our colleagues are the best of the best. It's why we were awarded 2024 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor. Because to achieve extraordinary outcomes, we need extraordinary teams. This means infusing Sage with people who knock down barriers, continuously innovate, and want to experience their potential. Learn more about working at Sage: sage.com/en-gb/company/careers/working-at-sage/ Watch a video about our culture: youtube.com/watch?v=qIoiCpZH-QE We celebrate individuality and welcome you to join us if you embrace all backgrounds, identities, beliefs, and ways of working. If you need support applying, reach out at careers@sage.com. Learn more about DEI at Sage: sage.com/en-gb/company/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/ HR M&A Director Job Description : Key Responsibilities : Function : Country : Office Location : Work Place type : Advert Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Sage is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Sage will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Sage does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.