HR Integration Lead - 12 month FTC in Maidenhead

We’re looking for an experienced HR Integration Lead to play a pivotal role in one of RWS’s exciting acquisitions. In this high impact position, you’ll lead the full HR workstream, driving the end‑to‑end integration of people operations, talent strategies, compensation & benefits and HR systems into the RWS Group HR operating model. This is a high‑visibility, time‑bound role covering pre‑completion planning, day 1 readiness and the first 12 months of post completion integration.

You’ll translate the acquisition’s synergy plan into detailed organisational designs and workforce plans, manage key talent retention and partner closely with Finance and functional leaders to ensure workforce‑related synergies are delivered on time, in full, and in line with local labour regulations. You’ll collaborate with HRLT, Global Reward, Talent Acquisition, Group Payroll and the Acolad HR team to ensure a well‑sequenced, culturally aligned integration that protects employee engagement and minimises flight risk of critical talent. This includes navigating the French works council and wider European consultation processes.

You’ll also work closely with the wider integration programme- Legal, Tax, Finance and IT/CTPO, ensuring HR dependencies, milestones and employee transfer timelines are fully aligned across the overall integration plan.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop the HR integration blueprint covering organizational structures, payroll alignment, global reward mapping, talent retention and local HR compliance across RWS entities.
• Workforce Synergies, Org Design & Talent Retention
• Benefits & HR Systems Integration
• Employee Relations, TUPE & Employment Compliance
• Culture, Onboarding & Change Management
• Continuous Improvement & Governance

Key Skills Required:

• Extensive operational HR or M&A integration experience, with a good proportion in a senior HR leadership role.
• Proven track record of leading cross-border HR integrations, carve-outs, or organizational restructurings in a complex, multi-country environment.
• Strong expertise in international employment law, specifically TUPE compliance, European collective consultation processes (with French labor/Works Council regulation know-how is a preference).
• Demonstrated experience partnering with Finance on synergy tracking, financial headcount modeling, and restructuring cost management.
• Professional HR Certification (CIPD or equivalent) is highly desirable.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
• Strong English language skills; plus French language skills are highly beneficial.
• Practical experience working with enterprise HRIS platforms and navigating complex employee data migrations.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the capability to influence senior executives, build trust with employee representatives, and lead cross-functional integration project teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, ambiguous environment with shifting transaction timelines and multiple concurrent project workstreams.

RWS embraces DEI and promotes equal opportunity, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. RWS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment.