HR Mergers and Acquisitions - Contract

Title: HR M&A Projects Lead
Location: Remote and should be local to Morristown NJ 7960 / Walkersville MD 21793 / Portsmouth NH 03801 / Houston TX 77047 / Vacaville CA 95688
Duration: 12 months
Supervisory Organization: Total Rewards & Talent Mobility
Reports to (position): Head of Total Rewards
Experience Level: Highly Experienced - 10+ years

Notes: 
Please note the title does not call out that this role is from an HR perspective. Candidates must have experience leading HR teams through Merger, Acquisition, and/or Divestiture. Ideal candidate will come from a consulting background preferrably from a Big 4. 
Role can be 100% remote, but candidates that are local to Morristown NJ, Portsmouth NH, Houston TX, Walkersville MD, or Vacaville CA are preferred to come into the office if needed.

Summary:
This role is responsible for leading assigned HR M&A projects, providing end-to-end HR project ownership across acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, restructurings and other strategic programs.
Working under the direction of the overall Head of HR M&A, the role owns the day-to-day delivery of assigned projects, coordinating HR functions, cross-functional stakeholders and external advisors from due diligence and planning through execution, integration or separation.
The role provides HR expertise across people-related risks, workforce transition, employee experience and HR implementation. It works closely with stakeholders across the business, ensuring alignment, effective execution and timely resolution of issues. The role may manage multiple projects concurrently, depending on business priorities and portfolio requirements.

Main accountabilities:
Independently own and deliver assigned HR M&A and corporate projects, from due diligence and planning through execution, integration or separation.
Manage multiple projects concurrently, balancing priorities, resources, timelines and dependencies.
Develop and manage project plans, milestones, risks, issues, dependencies, resources and budgets.
Coordinate HR functional teams and external advisors to ensure integrated and timely delivery.
Lead HR due diligence and assess people-related risks, liabilities, costs and workforce implications, escalating material issues as appropriate.
Develop and execute HR integration, separation or change plans, including workforce transition, HR services, HRIS, payroll, benefits, talent, communications and employee experience.
Partner with Corporate M&A, Strategy, Finance, Legal, IT, business management and HR to align project delivery with broader business and transaction objectives.
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, facilitating alignment and driving resolution of complex issues.
Support transaction activities including negotiations, TSA development, costings and relevant documentation.
Ensure appropriate management of labor law, regulatory, works council/union and employee communication requirements.
Provide regular progress updates, risks, issues and recommendations to the overall HR M&A portfolio lead and relevant governance forums.
Act as the day-to-day HR point of contact for assigned projects and escalate significant risks, issues and decisions to the overall HR M&A portfolio lead.
Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of HR M&A processes, standards and ways of working.
Build and maintain project plans covering workforce transition strategy, communications, employee experience continuity, and regulatory compliance.
Support negotiation and engagement with unions and works councils during restructuring, divestitures, or integration.
Perform other duties as assigned

Area:
HR M&A experience, ideally gained in consulting, project driven environment and/or in-house with a multinational (mid-sized or larger) organization 

Key Stakeholders:
•    HR M&A team
•    HRLT and their teams
•    Cross functional partners e.g. Corporate M&A, Legal, Finance, IT and business leaders

Must Have Skills:
• Ability to build credibility quickly with senior leadership, internal teams, and external parties
• Ability to translate deal strategy into HR execution plans
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills
• Highly honed planning and project management and execution capability
• Self-starter and fast learner with the experience to quickly establish relationships and be viewed as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert
• Strong conceptual skills and ability to package complex materials into a well-organized and succinct work product (PowerPoint)
• Strong work ethic, resilience, time management skills and a positive attitude
• Thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments with multiple simultaneous projects

Qualification:
You bring a broad spectrum of knowledge to this position roles in the M&A HR space. You have exceptionally strong business acumen, the ability to develop trusting and authentic relationships, and you are experienced at guiding and leading multiple complex projects.
•    Demonstrated depth of experience in HR, Total Rewards, HR Operations, M&A, Project Management and HR Systems
•    Experience working independently and requiring little instruction on day-to-day work
•    Proven project management and project execution experience in a cross-functional and international environment
•    Must be able to perform successfully in a fast-paced, service-oriented environment and to navigate ambiguity, interpret rules and guidelines flexibly to enhance the business and in keeping with Lonza’s values and culture
•    Experience working successfully within a complex matrix structured organization is essential
•    Good experience and understanding of managing complex reporting relationships and incorporating multiple cultures

Education:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, Preferred area of study: HR, Business Administration, Economics, Finance or Tax

Language(s):
English Required
German Preffered