Director Of Acquisition & Strategy

At ALS, we encourage you to dream big.

When you join us, you'll be part of a global team harnessing the power of scientific testing and data-driven insights to build a healthier future.

About the Position

The Director, Acquisitions and Strategy is responsible for designing, executing, and continuously improving the USA & Canada Environmental M&A strategy in alignment with ALS global strategy. This role owns the end-to-end lifecycle of acquisitions including strategy formulation, pipeline development, due diligence, integration governance, and post-acquisition value realization - while incorporating disciplined lessons learned from prior transactions.

In parallel, the role serves as a strategic partner to the USA Environmental leadership team, contributing to the overall national strategy for operations best practices, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives that drive margin expansion, scalability, and long-term value creation across both legacy and acquired businesses.

Specific Responsibilities:

This position is both strategic and execution-oriented, with accountability for:

• Supporting Building a credible, repeatable M&A pipeline and playbook
• Reducing execution risk through rigorous due diligence and integration discipline
• Acting as an empowered integration leader (or sponsor) post-close

This role description is intentionally designed as a senior, high-impact leadership position and may evolve as the Environmental business matures and acquisition cadence increases.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

1. M&A Strategy & Pipeline Development

• Develop and maintain a clear USA and Canada Environmental M&A strategy, aligned to ALS global capital allocation and USA growth priorities
• Define target criteria including: Target company profile (testing scope, geography, regulatory position, cultural maturity), Deal size thresholds and risk appetite, Strategic intent (bolt-on vs. platform vs. new-region entry), and best strategic fit (locations, services, culture)
• Build and manage a 6 to 12 month rolling opportunity pipeline in coordination with Corporate M&A
• Lead early-stage outreach strategy appropriate to target company type and ownership profile
• Act as USA and Canada point-of-contact with global M&A leadership and strategy function

2. Due Diligence Excellence

• Own or co-own USA & Canada side due diligence execution, ensuring rigor across: Operations, Quality, Technical Capability, Regulatory and certification risk, Culture, leadership depth, and people capability, Systems (LIMS, ERP, HRIS, IT infrastructure)
• Lead and train teams from the business who will support DD phase - ensuring they are properly resourced and free from optimism bias.
• Require documented proof and on-site verification, not verbal confirmation
• Incorporate cultural and integration readiness explicitly into valuation and deal structure

3. Integration Leadership & Governance

• Act as Integration Sponsor or empowered Integration Leader for USA acquisitions; support early post-close stage for Canada acquisitions until they can be turned over to appropriate business personnel.
• Establish integration governance from Day 1 (no soft integrations): Including clear authority, Named workstream owners, Resourced integration plan (12-18 months)
• Ensure functional integration across Quality, HSE, Operations, IT, Finance, HR, Sales
• Enforce Integration Plan milestone validation and benefits realization tracking
• Drive early system integration to enable transparency, control, and cultural unification

4. Post-Acquisition Value Realization and Transition to permanent Management Team

• Ensure acquisition thesis is translated into executable plans
• Monitor delivery of: Margin improvement, Synergies (technical, commercial, procurement, logistics), Client retention and cross-selling
• Intervene early if leadership, culture, or performance risks emerge
• Support corrective action plans where legacy issues are uncovered post-close
• Develop timeline, task lists, and handover activities to ensure completed acquisitions transition successfully into the existing regional leadership structure who will be responsible for long-term direct oversight and integration of the acquired company.

5. Strategic & Operational Enablement

• Evaluate and interact with existing legacy businesses to ensure full understanding of operational model for consistent delivery of best practices, innovation, continuous improvement and client-focused strategies across both legacy and acquired businesses promoting a OneALS approach.
• Setting strategy and supporting implementation of greenfield and brownfield location strategy for expansion of service centers, courier routes, and sales personnel into new spoke locations to support hub-lab growth.
• Supporting lab network optimization (hub-and-spoke, work sharing, PFAS concentration)
• Mentoring Lab Directors and Regional Leaders in aspects of Operations, Team Building.
• Supporting under-performing labs with on-site evaluations of existing operational challenges, designing improvements and working with personnel onsite to navigate roadblocks during implementations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Engineering, Business or a related field is required.
• At least 10+ years' operational and M&A experience at senior leadership level in Science, Testing, Inspection and Laboratory industry(s)
• Previous M&A experience is strongly preferred.

Working at ALS

The ALS team is a diverse and dedicated community united by our passion to make a difference in the world.

Our values are important to us, and shape how we work, how we treat each other and how we recognise excellence.

At ALS, you'll be supported to develop new skills and reach your full potential. We invest in our people with programs and opportunities that help you build a diverse career with us.

We want everyone to have a safe, flexible and rewarding career that makes a positive impact on our people, the planet and our communities.

Everyone Matters

ALS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment where the strengths and perspectives of each employee are both recognised and valued.

Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to race, colour, religion, national origin, military or veteran status, gender, age, disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information and any other characteristics protected by the law. We invite resumes from all interested parties, including women, members of minority groups, and persons living with disabilities.

ALS also welcomes applications from people with all levels of ability. Reasonable adjustments to support candidates throughout the recruitment process are available upon request.

Eligibility

To be eligible to work at ALS you must be a Citizen or Permanent Resident of the country you are applying for, or either hold or be able to obtain, a valid working visa.

How to apply

Please apply on-line and provide a resume & cover letter that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.