Head of UK Mergers & Acquisitions Creating brighter futures through strategic growth and partnership Location: UK-based, 3 days per week from our Theale offices. Extensive UK and some international national travel required. Reports to: UK Chief Executive Officer with dotted to Group Head of M&A (France) Contract: Full-time, Permanent Hours: 40 hours per week ROLE OVERVIEW As our Head of UK M&A, you’ll lead the acquisition strategy for The Old Station Nursery Group (TOSN) in the UK, identifying, evaluating, and securing high-quality early years settings to support our ambitious growth journey. Acting as the face of M&A across the UK, you’ll work closely with brokers, owners, and our internal teams to bring new nurseries into the group in a values-aligned, commercially sound, and culturally thoughtful way. Reporting to our UK CEO with strong links to the Group Head of M&A (France) and working in close partnership with both the UK and French senior leadership, you’ll shape the UK acquisition pipeline and lead deals from origination through to integration, ensuring every new nursery reflects our vision of delivering exceptional care and education to children and families. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Origination & Relationship Building Represent TOSN across the UK as the primary contact for brokers, owners and operators interested in selling their childcare provision Build and nurture strong relationships with brokers and nursery owners to generate a consistent and high-quality deal pipeline Work in close collaboration with the M&A Manager to identify new opportunities and maintain visibility in the market 2. Evaluation & Deal Structuring Lead the commercial and operational analysis of potential acquisitions, assessing financial performance, care quality, cultural fit, and strategic alignment Develop financial models to evaluate ROI, IRR, and key risk/opportunity metrics, ensuring robust and commercially viable recommendations Present business cases and recommendations to the UK Senior Team and Group Executive for investment approval 3. Negotiation & Deal Execution Lead valuation and commercial negotiations with sellers, balancing strategic alignment with commercial viability Manage external advisors (legal, financial, operational) to define scope, timelines and deliverables, ensuring the required level of commercial and financial due diligence is performed and evaluated. Oversee legal negotiations, including purchase agreements, lease arrangements and supporting documentation, in partnership with counsel 4. Integration & Post-Acquisition Support Partner with our Integration Manager and departmental heads to plan and execute smooth onboarding of acquired nurseries Ensure every transition is values-led, operationally smooth, and supports a sense of belonging for teams and families Act as a point of continuity for resolving post-acquisition queries and ensuring long-term success 5. Strategic Leadership Design and build the UK M&A structure to deliver the group’s growth strategy Collaborate with Group-level executives to align UK activity with overall M&A strategy Bring insight and innovation to continuously improve how we evaluate, acquire, and integrate new nurseries WHAT YOU’LL BRING Proven experience managing M&A activity end-to-end; from pipeline origination through to deal closure and integration Strong commercial acumen with the ability to model financial performance and evaluate return on investment Experience negotiating with vendors and managing professional services partners High-level stakeholder engagement skills, able to influence across Executive and operational teams Professional qualification (e.g. ACA, CFA, MBA) or equivalent strategic and financial experience Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE Experience working in the early years or education sector Experience managing and developing a small team WHO YOU ARE A confident, values-led communicator who thrives on building relationships A skilled negotiator who balances commercial insight with emotional intelligence Highly organised and analytical, with a keen eye for detail Calm under pressure, resilient in ambiguity, and adaptable to change Self-motivated, driven by results, and excited by making a tangible difference Passionate about children’s education and contributing to a growing, values-led group WHY JOIN US? At The Old Station Nursery Group, we believe in creating brighter futures — not only for the children in our care, but for the colleagues and nurseries who join our journey. As Head of UK M&A, you’ll play a central role in shaping the future of early years care across the country, bringing brilliant new settings into a group that’s trusted, respected, and growing. Safeguarding Commitment The Old Station Nursery Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all colleagues to share this commitment. This role is subject to enhanced DBS checks and appropriate pre-employment screening.