Acquisition Integration Lead

Addison Group; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Addison Group is seeking an Acquisition Lead reporting to the President of Consulting Services. This senior leadership role focuses on strategic M&A, integration of acquired consulting assets, and driving inorganic growth.

You will develop a playbook, identify targets, and lead integration efforts to realize the investment thesis. The role requires 10+ years in technology consulting or strategy, with strong C-suite interaction, executive communication, and a proactive AI-enabled mindset.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in technology consulting, operations or strategy.
• Experience supporting all transaction lifecycle phases, esp. post-merger integration.
• Direct work with C-suite or senior executives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; executive-ready presentations.
• High discretion and sound judgment in sensitive situations.
• A genuine AI adopter using AI tools to work smarter.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute integration plans for acquired assets.
• Define and drive the annual M&A agenda with the President.
• Support inorganic growth across the transaction lifecycle.
• Author and implement an M&A playbook.
• Identify and assess potential targets.
• Lead integration for acquired entities.
• Present analyses of targets to leadership.
• Manage growing team and report performance.

Skills

Strategic thinking

C-suite collaboration

Executive communication

AI adoption

Change management

Education

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Microsoft 365

Claude

Job description

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 assets
• Partner 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 assets
• Partner 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

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

Preferred

MBA 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 Claude

Prior 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

Base Salary - $200,000 – $280,000

Annual Bonus - 20% – 35%

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.