Integration Manager

Join us as a Integration Manager and make an invaluable contribution to our Food Safety & Biosecurity!

We're seeking an Integration Manager to lead the planning and delivery of post-acquisition integration as Fera grows. Working as part of a small Corporate Development team, you will take ownership of bringing acquired businesses into Fera, ensuring each acquisition delivers its intended strategic and financial value. You will also support the team on deal execution, giving you exposure to the wider transaction lifecycle.

This is an exciting time to join Fera Science, a high-growth business operating in the broader testing, inspection and certification (TIC) market, backed by private equity firm Bridgepoint. As a leading provider of scientific services, diagnostics, research and consultancy across the agri-food, environmental and biosecurity sectors, Fera is pursuing ambitious growth plans supported by both organic expansion and targeted acquisitions.

This role is ideally suited to someone with a track record of delivering post-acquisition integration, whether in-house, within a PE-backed business, or in an integration, transformation or consulting role, who is looking to take ownership of integration in a buy-and-build environment. You will design integration plans, run the integration management office, coordinate functional workstreams and track synergy delivery, working closely with senior leaders, the management teams of acquired businesses and external advisers. M&A transaction experience would be helpful, and you will contribute to due diligence and deal execution, but your primary focus will be making acquisitions work once the deal is done

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead post-acquisition integration planning and delivery, from pre-completion through Day 1, the first 100 days and beyond.
• Establish and run the integration management office (IMO), including governance, reporting cadence, steering committees and decision-making forums.
• Set up and manage integration workstreams working closely with teams across finance, HR, IT, operations, commercial, quality and accreditation, and legal, defining and supporting on milestones, dependencies and owners.
• Develop and track synergy and value-creation plans, working with Finance to baseline, monitor and report benefits realisation and integration costs.
• Coordinate Day 1 readiness, ensuring business continuity, colleague and customer communications, and critical systems and controls are in place.
• Identify, track and manage integration risks, issues and interdependencies, escalating where required.
• Lead change management and stakeholder engagement, supporting the leadership teams and colleagues of acquired businesses through the transition and ensuring effective communications at all times.
• Prepare integration updates, dashboards and papers for the executive team, board and investors.
• Develop and continuously improve Fera’s integration playbook, templates and tools, capturing lessons learned from each acquisition.
• Bring an integration perspective to due diligence, including operational and people assessments, integration cost estimates and synergy validation.
• Support the Corporate Development team with transaction execution activities, such as coordinating due diligence workstreams and liaising with external advisers.

What we’re looking for:

• Proven experience leading or playing a key role in post-acquisition integration, ideally across multiple acquisitions, gained in-house, within a PE-backed business, or in an integration, transformation or consulting role.
• Strong programme and project management skills, with experience running cross-functional workstreams and governance.
• Experience developing and tracking synergy plans and integration budgets.
• Experience of change management and engaging stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders.
• Good commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to interpret financial information and understand key value drivers.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing materials for senior audiences.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Desirable:

• Experience of M&A transactions, such as supporting due diligence or deal execution, particularly in a buy-side role.
• Experience in a buy-and-build or PE-backed environment.
• A project or change management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, APM or PMP), or a professional qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA.
• Familiarity with financial modelling and valuation.
• Knowledge of scientific services, TIC, diagnostics, environmental, agricultural or life sciences sectors is preferable but not a requirement.

What’s in it for you?

• ?25 days’ holiday (rising to 29) with the opportunity to buy & sell extra leave.
• Flexible working hours, on-site gym, restaurant, and free parking
• The opportunity to take a paid day out of the office, volunteering for our charity partners or a cause of your choice
• Company matched pension, life assurance, a cycle2work scheme, 15 weeks’ fully paid maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, paternity pay of two weeks…and plenty more.
• Voluntary benefits designed to suit your lifestyle – from discounts on retail and socialising, to health & wellbeing, travel and technology
• Fera operates a LTIP ( Long Term Incentive Plan) under which all employees are awarded points towards shares in the Employee Benefits Trust on an annual basis. The Employee Benefits Trust holds shares on behalf of our employee, at the point of an equity event the shares will realise a cash value.

What we hope you’ll do next:

Choose ‘Apply now’ to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you. If you have any questions you’d like to ask before applying, you can contact [email protected]

We’re an equal opportunity employer, which means we recruit and develop people based on their merit and passion. We’re committed to providing an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment process and working environment for everyone. If you need the job description or application form in an alternative format or if you’d like to discuss other changes or support you might need going forward, please email at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you. #LIhybrid

At Fera, we’re making the world a better, healthier and safer place. We’re a joint venture partnership between Bridgepoint and Defra and we’re working proactively to protect the world we live in and the food we eat. Our teams are investigating plant and bee health, crop protection and sustainable agriculture. Join us and discover better as you deliver world-class science for the future.