Senior Programs Manager - People Transformation & M&A
TLDR
Lead high-impact People transformation initiatives focusing on M&A strategies and integration, driving organizational effectiveness and cultural alignment at IonQ.
About IonQ:
IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier - delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, and AstraZeneca achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.
Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before.
We are seeking a Senior Program Manager – People Transformation & M&A to lead high-impact initiatives at the intersection of business transformation and the People function. This role is central to enabling successful mergers, acquisitions, and enterprise change by designing and executing scalable People strategies that accelerate integration, align culture, and drive organizational effectiveness.
Partnering closely with the Director of People Programs and senior cross-functional leaders, you will own critical workstreams across M&A due diligence, integration, and enterprise transformation. You will bring structure to ambiguity, align stakeholders at all levels, and ensure seamless execution from strategy through delivery.
Key Responsibilities
M&A Strategy, Due Diligence & Integration
- Lead end-to-end People due diligence, assessing talent, org design, operating models, and risk to inform deal strategy.
- Build and continuously evolve a scalable M&A People Playbook, including integration frameworks, governance models, and execution standards.
- Own integration planning and execution across acquisitions, ensuring alignment with business objectives, timelines, and value creation goals.
- Partner across People COEs (HRBPs, TA, Total Rewards, People Ops, Analytics) to drive coordinated, enterprise-wide execution.
- Establish governance, decision-making frameworks, and communication strategies to ensure clarity and speed across stakeholders.
- Deliver a seamless employee transition experience, including onboarding, communications, and cultural integration.
- Identify and mitigate integration risks to protect business continuity, engagement, and retention
Enterprise Transformation & Change Leadership
- Lead large-scale People transformation initiatives tied to business evolution, operating model changes, and growth strategy.
- Design and implement structured change management strategies, including stakeholder alignment, communication, adoption planning, and success metrics.
- Drive manager and leader enablement through scalable toolkits, playbooks, and training to sustain change and lead through ambiguity.
- Facilitate culture integration by identifying gaps and implementing targeted programs that build alignment, trust, and shared ways of working.
- Develop and scale Day 1 readiness and onboarding experiences for acquired employees, continuously improving through data and feedback.
Program Leadership & Execution
- Own end-to-end delivery of complex, enterprise People programs, including roadmap development, milestones, and outcomes.
- Drive alignment across People, Finance, Legal, IT, and business leadership to ensure integrated execution.
- Establish KPIs, dashboards, and reporting to measure impact, adoption, and business outcomes.
- Lead multiple concurrent, high-priority workstreams with strong execution discipline and operational rigor.
- Serve as a central orchestrator across stakeholders, bringing clarity, accountability, and forward momentum.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in HR Program Management, People Operations, or related fields.
- Demonstrated experience leading M&A integrations and/or enterprise business transformation initiatives.
- Strong understanding of HR systems (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors) and program management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheet).
- Advanced analytical capabilities, including building KPIs, dashboards, and scalable processes using tools like Excel, Tableau, or Power BI.
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional programs and influence senior stakeholders.
- Experience operating effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous, and evolving environments.
Preferred Qualifications
- Deep expertise in People-related M&A strategy, integration, and transformation at scale.
- Strong change management background with measurable program outcomes.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
- Strategic mindset paired with strong execution and operational discipline.
- Ability to translate data into insights that inform decision-making and drive outcomes.
Location: United States (remote eligible)
Travel: Up to 25%
Job ID: 1413
Compensation: $128,445 – $167,497 base salary, plus bonus and equity
Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity. Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment.
At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.
We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions. Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls. Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.
US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.
If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!
IonQ is pioneering full-stack quantum computing using trapped-ion technology, with the ability to transform critical sectors such as medicine, finance, and artificial intelligence. Their innovations push the boundaries of classical computing, unlocking new possibilities for problem-solving and data analysis.
- Founded
- Founded 2015
- Employees
- 51-200 employees
- Industry
- Internet Software & Services