Strategy Manager, M&A

Varsity Brands

7d•$150,000•Remote

About The Position

Varsity Spirit is seeking a Strategic M&A Manager to lead merger and acquisition (M&A) diligence and integration efforts that support Varsity’s continued growth and operational excellence. This highly visible role will report to the Director of Strategy and partner closely with leadership across Varsity Spirit. The Strategic M&A Manager will play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless transitions for acquired businesses—driving alignment, efficiency, and value creation from initial diligence through full integration. This is a two-year, project-based opportunity designed to provide meaningful enterprise exposure and strategic impact. Upon completion, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to interview for another role within Varsity Brands or leverage this experience to pursue future career opportunities with strong endorsement and support from leadership. The Strategic M&A Manager will partner with the Director of Strategy, executive leadership, and functional teams to manage the full lifecycle of M&A diligence and integration initiatives. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and bring a balance of strategic thinking, operational discipline, and collaborative leadership.

Requirements

Proven track record of successfully managing complex, cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders and tight timelines
Strong executive presence and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences—from detailed working sessions to leadership presentations
A ‘hands on’ orientation to problem solving and pushing through ambiguity to concrete action
Ability to shape stories with structure, data, and logic to make well-supported recommendations and communicate effectively to senior leaders
Deep curiosity and humility that can lead to quickly learning the nuances of the Varsity Spirit business
Exceptional interpersonal and collaboration skills for relationship building at all levels of the organization
Strong familiarity with productivity tools such as Microsoft Office Suites
Ability to work well independently and in collaboration with others
Excellent verbal and written communication and collaboration skills
5 years of experience in management consulting, private equity, integration management, or related strategic project roles (M&A diligence or post-merger integration experience strongly preferred)

Responsibilities

M&A Diligence and Integration Leadership: Lead end-to-end diligence and integration planning for acquisitions, ensuring business continuity and alignment with Varsity’s strategic goals.
Coordinate cross-functional teams (Finance, HR, IT, Operations, Marketing, etc.) to assess risks, identify synergies, and develop actionable integration plans.
Monitor and report on integration progress, proactively identifying and resolving issues to maintain momentum.
Project and Change Management: Establish and manage detailed project plans, timelines, and deliverables across multiple workstreams.
Serve as the central point of contact for integration communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and accountability.
Facilitate effective change management to help acquired teams successfully transition into the Varsity Spirit organization.
Strategic Partnership and Business Enablement: Collaborate with business leaders to translate strategic objectives into practical, measurable outcomes.
Support ongoing process improvements that enhance post-merger performance and long-term scalability.
Capture and codify lessons learned from each transaction to strengthen Varsity’s M&A playbook.