Director, People M&A

Databricks; California (MO); On-site; USD 203,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Databricks seeks a strategic, hands-on Head of People M&A to lead the global deal lifecycle from due diligence through Day 1 and multi-year integration. You will partner with CorpDev, Legal, Finance, and business leaders to design scalable playbooks and govern cross‑functional teams across TA, Benefits, Total Rewards, and Mobility.

The role requires 12+ years in HR/People Ops with 8+ years shaping global M&A in high-growth tech, strong executive presence, and deep knowledge of

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience with 8+ years leading end-to-end global M&A in high-growth tech.
• Proven track record managing M&A programs across due diligence, deal structuring, Day 1 readiness, and post-merger integration.
• Strong executive presence with ability to influence founders/C-suite and CorpDev leaders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary People executive on global M&A deals and drive due diligence, design org design alignment, retention, and risk mitigation.
• Design and execute comprehensive post-merger integration across Culture, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, and People Systems.

Skills

People Operations

M&A leadership

Executive stakeholder mgmt

Global employment law

Job description

GAQ327R268

While candidates in the listed location(s) are encouraged for this role, candidates in other locations will be considered.

The Role

Databricks continues to grow both organically and through strategic acquisitions. To support our scale, we are elevating our People M&A engine to handle high-volume, and complex global deals. As a player-coach for this function, you will lead the strategic vision, hands‑on execution, and continuous evolution of our global People M&A function. Reporting to the Director of People Programs (Global Mobility, M&A, Compliance), you will bridge Corporate Development, People Leadership, and functional business teams to orchestrate end‑to‑end deal lifecycles—from due diligence through Day 1 execution and multi‑year post‑merger integration.

We are seeking a strategic builder who blends high‑level vision with rigorous execution and a \"doer\" mentality. You will lead cross‑functional deal teams, build scalable operational frameworks, manage senior executive stakeholders, and ensure every acquired employee experiences a world‑class transition into Databricks.

The impact you will have:

• Strategic Deal Leadership & Due Diligence: Serve as the primary People executive on M&A deals. Drive holistic due diligence, organizational design alignment, retention strategies, deal risk mitigation, and employment law strategy globally.

• Deal Execution & Post‑Merger Integration: Design and execute comprehensive integration strategies across Culture, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, People Operations, and Systems, balancing aggressive timeline targets with employee experience.

• M&A Platform & Playbook Strategy: Architect and mature the enterprise People M&A Playbook, establishing standardized governance, automation roadmaps, and data‑integrity frameworks with People Tech.

• Executive Stakeholder Management: Partner closely with CorpDev, Legal, Finance, and Business Unit Leaders to present People diligence findings, synergy plans, and integration roadmaps.

• Functional Governance & Cross‑Functional Alignment: Lead cross‑functional People workstreams (TA, Benefits, Total Rewards, Global Mobility, People Partners) to ensure seamless alignment, resource allocation, and program execution across deal phases.

What We Look For

• 12+ years of progressive HR/People Operations experience, with 8+ years focused directly on leading end‑to‑end global M&A deals in high‑growth tech environments.

• Proven track record of managing M&A programs across the full deal lifecycle: Due Diligence, Deal Structuring, Day 1 readiness, and Post‑Merger Integration.

• Strong executive presence with demonstrated ability to influence Founders/C‑suite stakeholders, CorpDev leaders, and business executives.

• Deep technical understanding of global People workflows, international employment law, compensation architecture, and system integrations.

• Strategic builder mindset capable of operating at high altitude while maintaining rigor over deal execution and complex operational mechanics.

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected base salary range for non‑commissionable roles or on‑target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job‑related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipated utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

Zone 1 Pay Range

$225,300—$309,750 USD

Zone 2 Pay Range

$202,700—$278,750 USD

Zone 3 Pay Range

$191,500—$263,350 USD

Zone 4 Pay Range

$180,200—$247,850 USD

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non‑commissionable roles or on‑target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job‑related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

Zone 1 Pay Range

$225,300—$309,750 USD

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non‑commissionable roles or on‑target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job‑related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

Zone 2 Pay Range

$202,700—$278,750 USD

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non‑commissionable roles or on‑target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job‑related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

Zone 3 Pay Range

$191,500—$263,350 USD

Pay Range Transparency

Databricks is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The pay range(s) for this role is listed below and represents the expected salary range for non‑commissionable roles or on‑target earnings for commissionable roles. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job‑related skills, depth of experience, relevant certifications and training, and specific work location. Based on the factors above, Databricks anticipates utilizing the full width of the range. The total compensation package for this position may also include eligibility for annual performance bonus, equity, and the benefits listed above. For more information regarding which range your location is in visit our page here.

Zone 4 Pay Range

$180,200—$247,850 USD

About Databricks

Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 20,000 organizations worldwide — including adidas, AT&T, Bayer, Block, Mastercard, Rivian, Unilever, and 70% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Data + AI Platform to build and scale data and AI apps, analytics and agents. Headquartered in San Francisco with 30+ offices around the globe, Databricks offers a unified platform that includes Genie, Lakebase, Agent Bricks, Lakeflow, Lakehouse, and Unity Catalog. To learn more, follow Databricks on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, and Instagram.

Benefits

At Databricks, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits and perks that meet the needs of all of our employees. For specific details on the benefits offered in your region click here.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Databricks, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone can excel. We take great care to ensure that our hiring practices are inclusive and meet equal employment opportunity standards. Individuals looking for employment at Databricks are considered without regard to age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Compliance

If access to export‑controlled technology or source code is required for performance of job duties, it is within Employer's discretion whether to apply for a U.S. government license for such positions, and Employer may decline to proceed with an applicant on this basis alone.