Acquisition Integration Lead

Posted today

gosnaphopChicago (IL)

Management Analysts Other Management Consulting Services

SENIORITY

Manager

SALARY

$200,000 - $280,000 per year

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About the role

Acquisition Lead, Consulting Services

Reports to: President, Consulting Services|Full-time|Hybrid / Flexible|Senior Leadership

Position Overview: We are a $300M consultancy portfolio at a pivotal stage in our growth journey and with an aggressive growth mandate. The Acquisition Lead serves as a strategic partner and operational force multiplier to the President of Consulting Services. This role sits at the center of the business - translating executive vision into action and driving organizational inorganic growth priorities. The right candidate is entrepreneurial and capable of developing and executing a strategic M&A playbook, identifying, evaluating, and integrating acquisitions, and achieving an investment thesis. This role requires a technically credible, operationally excellent leader who thrives in ambiguous environments and will help drive integration of previously acquired assets as well as tenaciously focus on inorganic growth and help identify and seamlessly integrate future acquisitions.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Execution
Develop and execute a plan on integration of previously acquired consulting assetsPartner with the President to define and drive the annual strategic agenda for M&A within the Consulting Services division
Support inorganic growth in all phases of the transaction lifecycle
Author an M&A playbook
Refine identification and assessment of targets
Perform in-depth analysis of potential targets
Serve as integration lead for acquired entities
Ensure achievement of investment thesis
Leadership Operations
Serve as a trusted sounding board and advisor to the President on inorganic growth opportunities
Own and present the analysis of potential targets
Manage a team of direct reports as the function grows
Provide relevant updates on inorganic growth performance to consulting leadership
Business Performance & Analytics
Develop a clear and concise methodology to consistently measure acquisition performance
Partner with President to drive planning, budgeting, and operational execution of the M&A playbook
Synthesize data from multiple sources into clear narratives on inorganic growth performance for leadership and board consumption
Internal Communications & Culture
Shape and steward a consistent organizational narrative across the consulting portfolio, partnering with the President to build alignment, manage change communications, and reinforce a unified culture across business units
Preserve the positive critical elements of culture upon integration of existing and future consulting assetsPartner with People Operations to support talent and workforce planning initiatives
Champion a cohesive team culture across a geographically distributed consulting organization

Qualifications:

Required 10+ years of experience in technology consulting, business operations, or strategy roles
Experience supporting all phases of the transaction lifecycle, with a focus on post-merger integration
Demonstrated track record working directly with or in support of C-suite or senior executives
Exceptional written and verbal communication; executive-ready presentation skills
Strong analytical fluency, comfortable turning data into strategic narrative
High degree of discretion and sound judgment in sensitive situations
A genuine AI adopter who actively uses AI tools to do their own work better, and brings curiosity and initiative to identifying how these tools can transform
PreferredMBA or advanced degree in a relevant field
Prior experience in a professional services or consulting firm environment
Experience with workforce analytics and HR systems
In-depth familiarity with change management methodologies
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 suite and ClaudePrior experience leading through organizational transformation or business unit integration
What Success Looks Like in Year One
A detailed M&A playbook for consulting services
Repeatable framework for CIM analysis and synergy calculation
Stakeholders across the organization view the Acquisition Integration Lead as a trusted, high-integrity resource
Any acquisitions considered an early success

Compensation: Chicago Metro

Base Salary: $200,000 – $280,000 (Posting range)

Annual Bonus: 20% – 35% (% of base) Total Comp (Est.): $240,000 – $380,000 (Base + bonus) Compensation is determined by relevant experience, market data, and internal equity. Final offers may include additional elements such as long-term incentive participation, professional development funding, and comprehensive benefits. Ranges reflect 2026 market data for senior Chief of Staff roles in professional services.

Role Details: Travel Expectation: Up to 25%Direct Reports: 0–2 to start

Work Location: Hybrid

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