Group director , hr m&a

At Cadence, we hire and develop leaders and innovators who want to make an impact on the world of technology. As Group Director, HR M&A, you will have the opportunity to shape the people strategy behind some of the company’s most important strategic transactions. In this highly visible role, you will lead global HR M&A strategy and execution across mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other transformational initiatives, partnering closely with executive stakeholders and deal teams from strategy through integration. You will drive end-to-end HR M&A activity, including due diligence, organization design, talent assessment, retention strategy, employee transitions, communications and onboarding. This is a unique opportunity for a strategic, hands-on leader to build and scale HR M&A capabilities, influence critical business decisions, and help deliver successful outcomes in a dynamic, global environment.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the HR M&A strategy and execution for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and other strategic transactions, ensuring alignment with business objectives and enterprise people priorities.
• Build and continuously strengthen the HR M&A operating model, playbooks, governance, tools and metrics to enable consistent, scalable execution across geographies and business units.
• Partner with executive stakeholders and deal teams to shape transaction strategy through insights on organizational design, talent, culture, rewards, labor considerations and integration risk.
• Lead HR due diligence, Day 1 readiness, synergy planning, and integration execution, helping the business navigate complexity with clarity, rigor and speed.
• Lead and influence cross-functional and cross-regional teams, including HR, Legal, Finance, IT, Payroll, external advisers and business leaders, to deliver coordinated, high-impact transaction outcomes.
• Drive the HR approach to organization design, talent selection, leadership assessment, retention, employee transition and onboarding to support business continuity and long-term value creation.
• Provide thought leadership on HR M&A priorities, guide stakeholder communications and decision-making forums, and capture lessons learned to continuously strengthen the organization’s transaction capability.

To thrive in this role, you will bring deep HR M&A expertise, strong leadership instincts and the ability to operate with confidence in complex, fast-moving environments. You are equally comfortable setting direction and rolling up your sleeves to solve problems, build alignment and move work forward. You bring sound judgment, executive presence and a collaborative style that enables you to influence senior leaders, build trusted partnerships across functions and regions, and deliver results through change. If you are energized by high-impact work, enterprise-level visibility and the opportunity to help shape major business moments, this role offers a meaningful platform to lead.

What You’ll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree and 12+ years of progressive experience in corporate HR, HR consulting or related roles, including substantial experience leading complex global programs and initiatives.
• Deep expertise across core HR disciplines, including organizational design, talent management, employee relations, compensation and benefits, change management and workforce transitions.
• 8+ years of HR M&A experience, including leading due diligence, deal execution, integration and/or separation planning across domestic and international transactions.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively as a senior leader in fast-paced environments with tight timelines, high ambiguity and sensitive stakeholder dynamics.
• Strong leadership and program management capabilities, with a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams, influencing senior decision-making and managing external advisers.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize large volumes of complex information into clear recommendations and decisive action.
• Strong business and financial acumen, with the ability to understand enterprise strategy, value creation objectives and industry dynamics in the computational software and semiconductor sectors.
• Extensive experience working across global organizations, including virtual and international environments, with strong cultural awareness and judgment.
• Excellent communication skills and executive presence, including the ability to influence and present effectively to senior leadership and other key stakeholders.

Why Join Us:

This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible role at the intersection of people strategy and business transformation. You will help shape how the company approaches some of its most important strategic transactions, working alongside experienced leaders across HR, the business and key corporate functions. You’ll have the chance to build and strengthen a critical capability, influence high-impact decisions, and see the direct results of your work in a global organization that values collaboration, rigor and continuous improvement. Ideally this position will be based in San Jose, California, but other locations or remote work may be considered.

The annual salary range for California is $210,000 to $390,000. You may also be eligible to receive incentive compensation: bonus, equity, and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the salary range is a guideline and compensation may vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location.

Our benefits programs include: paid vacation and paid holidays, 401(k) plan with employer match, employee stock purchase plan, a variety of medical, dental and vision plan options, and more. We’re doing work that matters. Help us solve what others can’t.

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Cadence plays a critical role in creating the technologies that modern life depends on. We are a global electronic design automation company, providing software, hardware, and intellectual property to design advanced semiconductor chips that enable our customers create revolutionary products and experiences. Thanks to the outstanding caliber of the Cadence team and the empowering culture that we have cultivated for over 25 years, Cadence continues to be recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. Our shared passion for solving the world’s toughest technical challenges, our dedication to pushing the limits of the industry, and our drive to do meaningful work differentiates the people of Cadence. Cadence is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other protected class.