Senior Vice President, People HR Lead - M&A

It’s never been a more exciting time to join Vistra. 

At Vistra our purpose is progress. We believe that our clients have the power to change the world and to do great things for global progress, and we exist to remove the friction that comes from the complexity of global business – to help our clients achieve progress without friction.

But progress only happens when people come together and take action. And we’re absolutely committed to building a culture where our people can do just that. 

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as SVP People HR Lead - M&A on a 12 month fixed term contract. Reporting to the Chief Corporate Development Officer, this full-time and permanent position can be based in the UK or Europe and offers global coverage, allowing you to make a significant impact to our global business and it’s growth.

We are seeking an experienced Interim People HR Lead to support and manage the human capital aspects of ongoing and upcoming acquisitions and divestments. This strategic role will act as the People HR subject matter expert throughout the deal lifecycle—providing leadership on due diligence, organizational design, integration/separation planning, change management, and risk mitigation.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in People HR M&A, a proven ability to operate in fast-paced and ambiguous environments, and the ability to work cross-functionally with legal, finance, business leadership, and external advisors.

Key Responsibilities:

M&A and Divestiture Project Leadership

• Serve as the HR workstream lead across the full deal lifecycle: due diligence, negotiation, signing, close, and post-deal integration or separation.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams including Corporate Development, Legal and Finance to evaluate people-related risks, liabilities, and opportunities during due diligence.
• Develop and execute People HR integration or separation strategies in alignment with business objectives.
• Lead or support the design and implementation of target operating models, workforce transitions, retention programs, and communication plans.

Strategic HR Partnership:

• Partner with HRBPs and business leaders to align people strategy with deal rationale.
• Provide expert guidance on employment law implications, cultural integration, talent assessment, and workforce planning.
• Advise on organizational design, role mapping, leadership assessment, and change readiness.

Risk and Compliance Management

• Identify and mitigate People HR-related legal, compliance, and reputational risks.
• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, global mobility regulations, benefits continuity, and employee relations during transitions.

Stakeholder & Change Management

• Serve as the People HR liaison for internal and external stakeholders including employees, leadership teams, unions, and advisors.
• Design and execute employee communication plans to ensure transparency and minimize disruption, working with the Comms & Engagement team
• Provide coaching to business and HR leaders on navigating organizational change.

Relevant Skills & Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive People HR experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role focused on both M&A and Divestitures.
• Demonstrated experience managing People HR workstreams across multiple complex transactions.
• Deep understanding of due diligence processes, integration/separation planning, and post-merger transformation.
• Strong working knowledge of global HR practices, employment law, and compliance.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Resilient and adaptable in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Strong analytical and project management skills.

Education and Professional Qualifications:

• Experience with cross-border transactions and global workforce transitions.
• Background in consulting or private equity environments is a plus.
• Professional HR certification (e.g., CIPD, SHRM, HRCI).
• Experience with Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, or other HRIS tools.

Company Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave per annum
• Private medical insurance cover (Family)
• Health cash plan
• Pension: 3% employee and 8% employer
• Life Assurance 4x Salary
• Group income protection
• Season ticket loan
• Ride to work scheme
• A day’s birthday leave
• Ability to buy up to one week’s annual leave per year

If you are excited about working with us, we encourage you to apply or have a confidential chat with one of our Talent Acquisition team members. Our goal is to make this a great place to work where all our people can thrive. We hope you join us on this exciting journey!