ABOUT ELEVATE:
Elevate is a full-service consulting firm that inspires high-performing organizations to find their limits and push past them. With expertise in brand consulting, sales strategy, data-driven insights, and talent optimization, Elevate gives its clients a competitive edge in the fight for people’s precious time and attention. Established in 2018, Elevate set out to help sports teams and leagues spark innovation and drive performance. In the years since, the world of sports has transformed, today standing at the convergence of media, entertainment, and consumer brands, with Elevate supporting some of the world’s most ambitious businesses across these sectors. Elevate’s proprietary technology, data sources, and software products combined with our thoughtful insights, and people-centric approach give clients a 360-degree view of their customers, underpinning intelligent decision-making on marketing spend, growth strategy, and more.
Our team of 400+ employees spans the globe with in 20 locations worldwide. We value recruiting diverse individuals to our team to bring new perspectives to our company and look forward to learning more about you in the recruitment process. To learn more and see what we’ve been up to, follow Elevate on
X,
LinkedIn, and
Instagram.
ROLE OVERVIEW:The Director, M&A Integration will lead the post-acquisition onboarding and integration of newly acquired businesses for Elevate. This role ensures that each acquisition is smoothly incorporated into Elevate’s operational, financial, and cultural frameworks while preserving key relationships with clients and partners. This role acts as the central coordinator between executive leadership, functional teams, and the acquired company’s management to ensure business continuity, cultural alignment, and realization of deal value.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Integration Strategy & Planning
- Develop and execute tailored integration strategies for acquired agencies and businesses, balancing standardization with the need to preserve brand and client relationships.
- Conduct pre-close assessments to identify key synergies, risks, and integration priorities specific to sports agency operations (e.g., contract management, sponsorship portfolios, client representation).
- Establish clear integration roadmaps with defined milestones, ownership, and success metrics.
Cross-Functional Coordination
- Lead integration teams across HR, Legal, Finance, IT, Marketing, and Commercial Partnerships.
- Align business operations, systems, and financial reporting structures while minimizing disruption to ongoing athlete and brand relationships.
- Ensure consistent service delivery, client communications, and talent support throughout the transition.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
- Serve as the primary liaison between the parent company’s leadership and the acquired company’s executive team.
- Work with leadership and communications teams to craft messaging that reinforces continuity and shared values across all brands.
Systems, Processes & Culture Integration
- Oversee the alignment of databases, CRM systems, and commercial deal tracking tools.
- Integrate financial and operational processes to support unified reporting, compliance, and strategic decision-making.
- Support cultural integration, ensuring that the acquired agency’s identity and relationships are respected while fostering a sense of belonging within the larger organization.
Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
- Establish KPIs and reporting mechanisms to track integration success (e.g., retention of key talent, client satisfaction, revenue synergy realization).
- Identify risks or bottlenecks early and implement corrective actions.
- Capture integration lessons learned to refine playbooks for future acquisitions.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or a related field (MBA preferred).
- 7+ years of experience in M&A integration, corporate development, or strategic operations — ideally within sports, media, or entertainment sectors.
- Experience working with or within talent-driven organizations (sports agencies, media rights firms, sponsorship or marketing agencies).
- Experience leading end-to-end global M&A transactions, including experience with international post-merger integration across multiple diverse international markets.
- Proven ability to manage sensitive transitions involving client contracts, agent relationships, and brand equity.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong program and project management skills (PMP or equivalent certification a plus).
- Deep understanding of sports and entertainment business dynamics — including stadium development, venue optimization, sponsorships, and brand partnerships.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage executive and talent-level stakeholders.
- Strategic thinker with operational rigor and attention to detail.
- Change management expertise with the ability to integrate diverse teams and cultures.
Personal Attributes
- Collaborative and empathetic leader capable of building trust across organizations.
- Diplomatic and discreet, especially in managing high-profile talent relationships.
- Results-oriented with a calm and structured approach under pressure.
- Passion for sports, talent representation, and agency growth.
Success Indicators
- Seamless onboarding of acquired businesses within targeted timeframes and budgets.
- Retention of key talent and client accounts post-acquisition.
- Operational alignment across systems, finance, and legal frameworks.
- Realization of strategic and commercial synergies (e.g., cross-agency sponsorship deals, expanded athlete portfolios).
- Positive feedback from leadership and acquired teams on the integration process.
POSITION AND BENEFIT DETAILS:
- Compensation - $150,000 - $200,000
- Full Time, Exempt
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance + FSA, HSA, and more
- 401k Employer Match after meeting eligibility requirements
- Unlimited PTO, plus Sick Leave and Paid Parental Leave
WORKING CONDITIONS
Location
Work Environment
Compensation listed is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. This range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in New York, NY. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs.
This position is open to all qualified candidates. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability in connection with the application process, you may contact us at [email protected] We are proud to be an equal opportunity/veterans/disabled/ LGBT employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
