Human Resources Mergers & Acquisitions Operations Director

Microsoft Acquisition and Venture Success (MAVS) Human Resources (HR) is part of the team at Microsoft that integrates and onboards the companies that Microsoft acquires. We provide timely insights to influence the integration strategy, we conduct scaled and rigorous due diligence, and we utilize our expertise to educate and influence leaders and teams for acquisition success. The landscape of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) activities is changing drastically, and this is an especially exciting time in this space as we experience our next big tech pivot. 

This is fast paced and exciting work. As part of a cross-functional team across HR, tech, finance, and integration management, the HR M&A Operations Director will partner with the business leaders from Microsoft and acquired companies to create and execute on the deal strategy and resulting people plan.  This position will lead and execute M&A activities while also contributing to various project endeavors. This position and reporting team play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth transition of teams and cultures during complex transactions. Importantly, the HR M&A Operations Director will take on diverse projects that streamline processes and modernizes the work, utilizing their strategic acumen and a meticulous approach to drive organizational growth and success.  

Utilizing HR skills and experience, HR M&A Operations Director will have the opportunity to provide leadership on the operational components of deals; including talent planning, risk assessment and mitigation, employee onboarding, and engagement to ensure deal success. This includes leading the coordination of HR teams across functions and geographies to develop and execute on the integrated talent plan with Microsoft and acquired company. The ability to strategically collaborate across teams is critical, as this role plays a pivotal part in the execution of deals from start to finish.  

Ideally, the candidate for this role will be located in the US Pacific or Mountain time zone. 

Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our culture is centered on embracing a growth mindset, a theme of inspiring excellence, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best each day. In doing so, we create life-changing innovations that impact billions of lives around the world. You can help us achieve our mission. 

Responsibilities

 People Management 

Managers deliver success through empowerment and accountability by modeling, coaching, and caring. 

• Model - Live our culture; Embody our values; Practice our leadership principles. 

• Coach - Define team objectives and outcomes; Enable success across boundaries; Help the team adapt and learn. 

• Care - Attract and retain great people; Know each individual’s capabilities and aspirations; Invest in the growth of others. 

Operations 

• Lead and oversee all operational aspects of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the HR department, ensuring seamless integration of new entities and alignment with organizational objectives. 

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess the success of M&A initiatives, monitoring progress and identifying areas for improvement to optimize HR operations and processes. 

• Develop and implement comprehensive M&A strategies tailored to HR functions, including due diligence, risk assessment, timelines, budgets, resourcing, and post-merger integration plans. 

• Collaborate with executive leadership to evaluate potential M&A opportunities, providing analysis and recommendations on their HR implications and alignment with corporate goals. 

• Drive organizational change management initiatives to support cultural integration and mitigate employee concerns during M&A transitions, fostering employee engagement and retention. 

• Direct cross-functional teams throughout the M&A lifecycle, including HR, legal, payroll, HRSDEE, finance, and IT, fostering effective communication and coordination to achieve integration milestones on time and within budget. 

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards throughout the M&A process, mitigating legal and compliance risks associated with HR practices and policies. 

• Serve as a subject matter expert on HR Operations-related M&A matters, providing guidance and support to stakeholders at all levels of the organization and fostering a culture of continuous