Tech M&A Principal

Do you want to be a valued part of the critical infrastructure that serves communities across Europe and beyond? Are you passionate about IT Project Management, working in a Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and Post Merger Integration (PMI) context? And do challenges aplenty and the opportunity to work in an international environment appeal to you? If so, you might be just the candidate we are looking for!

Be part of the movement - and play your part.
About the role
DFDS has embarked on a fascinating journey to expand our offerings to our customers and we have a clear ambition of growing far beyond our current size. Getting there will mean taking action on opportunities in the acquisition space and we will need to excel in the balancing act of integrating new colleagues into the DFDS family while digitizing processes, ways of working and parts of our existing business model.

The position is part of the Tech M&A practice within our Technology and Innovation Division (T&I), where you will get a direct, transparent, and empowering manager who welcomes challenges and encourages continued learning.

We are a true integrated logistics provider operating in Europe and the Mediterranean with offerings in land-based logistics, passenger transport and goods shipment. As a fast-growing logistics company with an extensive history, we embrace the constant need for change and have a clear appetite for digital transformation. This is where you come in!

In the role as Tech M&A Principal, your main responsibilities will include:

• Providing support to the Tech M&A Practice Lead and to DFDS/Target IT Workstreams Leads to facilitate the successful planning and delivery of global IT integration projects to achieve set deadlines
• Leading both the planning, monitoring and coordinated delivery of all IT activities covering the full group M&A lifecycle, from pre-Day 1 to PMI
• Ensuring proper integration of acquisition projects across all tech workstreams (infrastructure, systems, people, data) on large, complex, regional & global projects
• Supporting the mobilization of cross-functional teams, working closely with our T&I teams, regional leadership and Integration Management Office (IMO) participants to ensure fit with the target operating model, design the integration plan and budget
• Tracking and providing project status, risks, issues, budget, escalation, and scope change management
• Identifying PMI related risks, inter-dependencies, and taking ownership for developing mitigation plans
• Supporting PMI best practices adoption and integration playbook continuous improvement
• Establishing effective relationships with key stakeholders in the relevant T&I teams as well as those within the organization of the acquired company.

About you
Turning the focus to you – who are we looking for?

We are looking for a passionate and strong IT project management professional, with hands-on industry and management consulting experience, having worked on big and complex projects involving many systems, and stakeholders across functional & technical areas.

You are a good problem solver with a solid toolbox, curious, with a can-do/positive attitude, good at asking questions and challenging the status quo. It is a plus if you have M&A integration or separation experience as well as experience from the transport or logistics industry.

Moreover, you are a highly organized planner able to manage your own time while providing guidance according to critical priorities. We also weigh that you are a great communicator with proven experience of interacting with senior stakeholders and people at all organizational levels.

Additionally, it is an absolute must of the ideal candidate to have the following experiences:

• 5+ years in IT project management across industry and/or management consulting (Big4 experience or similar is a strong plus)
• 5+ years of IT M&A programme/project management (IT DD, Day 1-100 planning, IT PMI delivery, IT carve-out, IT blueprint, IT integration playbook)
• End-to-end Planning & Delivery of at least 2 complex multi-IT systems transformation / integration / separation programmes/projects of 2-3 years in duration each (including multiple systems’ interfaces, data flows and inter-dependencies)
• Demonstrable track record of end-to-end delivery of at least 15+ IT projects, on time, scope and on budget
• End-to-end Delivery and Management of cross-borders and year-long IT projects, across 5+ workstreams with team size of 50+ people
• Demonstrable experience in developing and managing one-off IT project budget of €5m+ / DKK37m.

And last, we expect that the candidate has:

• Professional project management certification (Prince 2, Scrum, PMP, …)
• Strong hands-on background in one or more of the following technical disciplines: IT Target Operating Model, IT Systems, IT Architecture, IT Infrastructure, IT Operations, Cyber Security and Data Management
• Ability to work with ambiguity, incomplete data, changing priorities and tight deadlines
• Ability to work on several transactions at any one time and, to prioritize own/project team efforts while moving quickly and decisively between competing tasks
• Strong reporting, analytical and creative skills with ability to challenge conventional thinking
• Strong risks management, change resistance, conflict management, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify/resolve complex IT issues, deliver insights and provide recommendations
• Collaborative, supportive and solution focused approach in differing situations
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, stakeholder management skills (up to C-level), and calm under pressure
• University degree in computer science, information technology, business/economics or a related field and/or IT certification (ITIL, …)

We think the strongest teams are built on diversity and inclusivity. Contrasting opinions, varied skills and strong characters bring out the best in us all. And we cannot wait for you to join.

Working at DFDS
Join the movement and grow with us.

The position is located at our newly built headquarters in Copenhagen - just 5 minutes from the nearest train & metro station, making it highly accessible for those commuting from outside the city. Our headquarters is a unique, modern workplace which received the award "Office building of the year 2023". Here, we enjoy our own game room, fitness facilities, cantina and café and a rooftop terrace with a beautiful ocean view.

We promote a great workplace with a diverse and vibrant community and a healthy work/life balance with flexible work arrangements. While you are with us, we want you to develop and move yourself on. At DFDS, we believe that development happens first and foremost through activities in the workplace, and if needed we will also offer training courses that can directly support you in your role.

Are we a match? Then what are you waiting for? Apply Now.
If you think your personality, skills, experience and desire match this role, we’d love to hear from you. Send us your resume as soon as possible as we’re keen to meet potential candidates on an ongoing basis. Is there something you need to know, we haven’t covered here, please do not hesitate to reach out to Vladimir Cordier at [email protected].

We look forward to hearing from you.

Department Careers in technology Locations DFDS Headquarter (Marmorvej 18, Copenhagen) Remote status Hybrid Remote People manager position No

About DFDS Denmark
We are a transport and logistics company providing the safe, reliable and efficient movement of people and goods - more than 12,000 colleagues, all committed to transforming our business into a greener and more digitised operation. We are proud of our role as part of the critical infrastructure serving customers and communities across Europe and further afield.

Be part of DFDS and be part of the movement.