Head of Global People M&A

CBRE; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading commercial real estate services firm is seeking a Head of Global People M&A to lead and execute people-related strategies in M&A transactions. This hybrid role involves close collaboration with various stakeholders and requires extensive experience in HR consulting. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of global employment laws, excellent project management skills, and the ability to work flexibly across time zones. Opportunities for growth and learning in a dynamic environment are provided.

Benefits

Support for career development

Flexible working hours

Access to industry-leading resources

Qualifications

• Minimum experience in 10 M&A transactions.
• Strong team collaboration and leadership skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft computing packages.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Global People M&A Centre of Excellence.
• Set strategic direction aligned with Global People roadmap.
• Provide regular reporting on People Integration activities.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Flexibility in work hours

Education

HR M&A consulting experience

Understanding of global employment law

Tools

Microsoft Excel

SmartSheets

Job description

Overview

Head of Global People M&A

Job ID 230473

Posted 09-Sep-2025

Service line Corporate Segment

Role type Full-time

Areas of Interest People/Human Resources

Location(s) London - England - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Head of People M&A
London or EMEA based
Application deadline: 8th August 2025

About the role

The Head of Global People M&A is responsible for leading the Global People M&A Centre of Excellence, reporting to VP, Global People Integration. The role drives the global strategy for people-related matters in all M&A transactions (mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures), working closely with various internal stakeholders and cross-functional teams to ensure successful talent and organizational integration across all business segments and lines.

This is an influential role balancing strategic planning, business management, and project management. The role involves both leadership and hands-on project execution, requiring specialist M&A knowledge.

Key stakeholders include Corporate Development, Chief People Officer, Executive Sponsors, Regional and Country Business Partners, and various People Centers of Excellence (COEs) such as Total Rewards and Talent Management, as well as cross-functional leads in Digital & Technology, Finance, Communications, Legal, and Operations.

The role will ideally be based in the UK or Europe however, being global in scope, with direct reports and stakeholders across the world, there will be some flexibility required on working hours. The role is hybrid, with occasional travel to the nearest CBRE office and offices internationally.

What you will be doing

• Lead the Global People M&A Centre of Excellence, in collaboration with the VP, People Integration.
• Set strategic direction aligned with the Global People Roadmap and People Integration strategy.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for Global M&A leads on all transactions, fostering strong partnerships and advising on best practices.
• Cultivate a collaborative team culture focused on continuous improvement by tracking process inefficiencies and evolving tools and playbooks.
• Provide regular reporting on People Integration activities and KPIs to the People Leadership Team.
• Identify and mitigate risks and integration challenges, leveraging People integration strategies.
• Utilize and promote People Team methodologies, frameworks, and governance structures, including documentation of plans, timelines, RACI, and RAID.
• Coordinate M&A integration aspects such as risk management, governance, and people system integrations.
• Collaborate with People Business Partners, COEs, and leaders to assess operational impacts in line with global or regional strategies.
• Work closely with the broader M&A team on culture, change management and communications and developing appropriate approaches throughout the integration.
• People Diligence and Integration Processes

The role oversees the entire People Diligence and Integration process globally, including:

• Due Diligence
• Managing the People Integration budget
• Organizational design
• Managing offer letters and terms and conditions processes
• Assessing total rewards including compensation and benefits for executives
• Job title mapping
• HR systems and People operations integration
• Policy and practice reconciliation and harmonization
• Talent acquisition and management integration
• People communications, Day 1 planning, onboarding, and FAQs

What you will need

The ideal candidate should have

• Minimum experience in 10 M&A transactions with extensive background in HR M&A consulting or HR M&A at a multinational corporate
• Comprehensive experience across the HR lifecycle, including HR systems, payroll, talent acquisition, total rewards, talent development, and organizational design
• Strong interpersonal skills and stakeholder management in a global matrixed organization
• Experience in international human resources with a solid understanding of global employment law and employment agreement drafting
• Experienced in cross-border and global transactions and stock, asset, JV deals
• Experience reviewing and contributing to transaction agreements such as SPAs
• Strong team collaboration, leadership, and project management skills, including familiarity with methodologies, frameworks, and project tools
• Ability to work effectively under pressure with tight deadlines and in a changing environment
• Excellent organizational, multitasking, written, and verbal communication skills with attention to detail
• A proactive, results-driven attitude and analytical thinking with process improvement capabilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft computing packages including SmartSheets (or equivalent), SharePoint, Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint
• Remote role with some in office collaboration required
• Flexibility to work across multiple time zones as needed

Working at CBRE

When you join CBRE you will have the support and resources of a global firm where an entrepreneurial mind-set is encouraged. You\'ll realize your potential with challenging work, fast-paced assignments, an environment of constant learning and commitment to results. To enable your success, we provide the best tools, training and leaders in the industry.

Our collaborative culture is built on our RISE values and reflects the needs and perspectives of our clients and our people. Our work is guided by our North Star: Creating the real estate solutions of tomorrow, so businesses and people thrive. This informs everything we do—from diversity, equity, and inclusion to sustainability initiatives to workplace safety and wellbeing.

At CBRE, we believe that the more perspectives we have, the more dimensions we see. We welcome people with different backgrounds and experiences across industries to apply for open positions even if you do not match every element of the required skills. To discover more about what it’s like to work at CBRE, visit Life at CBRE

About CBRE

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2024 revenue). The company has more than 140,000 employees (including Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE serves a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age. For information about accommodations we can make during the recruitment process, please visit: https://www.cbre.co.uk/careers/accommodations

At CBRE, we are committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels they belong. We value diverse perspectives and experiences, and we welcome all applications.

CBRE, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer (Women/Minorities/Persons with Disabilities/US Veterans)