Manager Strategy & Operations Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

TitleSenior Manager, Strategy and M&A

Department Strategy & Corporate Development

Location Niwot/Hybrid

Reports To Director of Strategy and M&A

About Us

Established in 1972, Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) is a global leader in micro-contamination monitoring, improving the performance of clean manufacturing in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries. We are headquartered in Niwot, Colorado, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, and we serve the world's leading manufacturers through advanced monitoring, measurement, and contamination control technologies.

PMS is part of Spectris, a global precision measurement company whose businesses include Malvern Panalytical, Particle Measuring Systems, Servomex, and HBK. Following Spectris' acquisition by funds advised by KKR, a leading global investment firm, PMS is entering an exciting new chapter focused on disciplined growth, operational excellence, and continued investment in innovation.

We value entrepreneurialism, innovation, and individual accountability, and we are proud of the difference our technology makes for the world's leading manufacturers.

Your Impact

We are seeking a Senior Manager, Strategy and M&A to serve as the execution engine behind PMS's growth strategy, both organic and inorganic, in a KKR-backed Spectris environment. Reporting to the Director of Strategy & M&A and partnering with the Innovation & Strategy leadership team, this role is responsible for coordinating and executing the strategic initiatives while ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business management needs This role supports PMS's value-creation initiatives, including pricing, New Value Introduction (NVI) excellence, portfolio and End-of-Life (EOL) decisions, 80/20 focus, and SG&A efficiency, alongside the M&A execution. This is a highly visible role for an organized, analytical, and execution-oriented candidate who excels at bringing structure to complex initiatives, ensuring follow-through of a strong project leader.

The Role

The Senior Manager partners closely with the Director of Strategy & M&A and the Innovation & Strategy leadership team to execute enterprise value creation initiatives across both organic growth and acquisitions. The role carries two primary areas:

• Strategy & organic growth: coordinate execution of value-creation workstreams (pricing, NVI excellence, portfolio and EOL decisions, 80/20 focus, and SG&A efficiency)

• M&A & corporate development: support target screening, financial modeling, valuation, diligence coordination, the preparation of investment and Board materials, and post-close integration.

Job Responsibilities

Supporting Strategy & Organic Growth

• Coordinate and Support Pricing, New Value Introduction (NVI), and SG&A workstreams, by coordinating activities across Product Line Management on Product Lifecycle (PLC) and End-of-Life (EOL)teams.

• Conduct market, competitive, and portfolio analyses to support strategic decision making.

• Prepare business cases, scenario models, presentations and supporting material for leadership review.

• Establish consistent standards, templates, and decision frameworks so growth initiatives are evaluated and executed to a repeatable, data-driven playbook.

• Track and report progress and value realization for each workstream against plan, partnering with Finance to validate impact delivered.

M&A & Corporate Development

• Help build and actively maintain a prioritized M&A pipeline aligned with strategic and financial return criteria.

• Support the end-to-end deal process: target screening and strategic rationale, financial modeling and valuation, returns analysis, and coordination of cross-functional due diligence.

• Coordinate internal and external diligence teams (advisors, counsel, functional leads), managing data rooms, request lists, trackers, and findings logs.

• Support deal structuring and negotiation by preparing analyses, scenario models, and summary materials.

• Support transactions against risk-adjusted return thresholds and align with EBITDA growth and multiple-expansion objectives.

Program & Project Management (across strategy and M&A)

• Coordinate and maintain the operating cadence for both organic growth initiatives and the deal pipeline, including governance forums, decision gates, steering-committee rhythm, and standardized reporting for leadership and the deal sponsor.

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, charters, timelines, milestones, RACI matrices, and deliverable trackers across the full lifecycle of each initiative, from concept through execution and value capture.

• Support and maintain consistent project management standards, methodologies, templates, and documentation practices so every workstream and transaction runs to a repeatable playbook.

• Maintain risk, issue, and dependency registers; identify execution risks early and drive mitigation and escalation before value is impacted.

• Prepare and maintain leadership dashboards and scorecards that report initiative health, milestone status, value and synergy realization, and performance against plan and investment thesis.

• Coordinate resource planning across workstreams in partnership with functional leaders.

Integration Planning & Value Capture

• Support pre-close integration planning to ensure clear value-creation objectives, synergy targets, and execution roadmaps are in place before Day 1.

• Partner with functional leaders (Finance, Operations, Commercial, R&D, Quality, IT, HR) to define integration priorities, owners, timelines, and interdependencies.

• Coordinate the integration management office (IMO) for active deals: coordinate functional workstreams, sequence dependencies, manage critical paths, and drive timely resolution of risks and issues.

• Coordinate Day 1 readiness and early post-close execution to minimize disruption and accelerate value capture.

• Track and report integration progress and synergy realization against the deal model, partnering with Finance to validate value delivered.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Partner across Marketing, Product Line Management, R&D, Finance, and Operations to clarify ownership, reduce friction points, and improve cross-functional execution.

• Prepare investment memos, Board materials, business cases, and strategic updates for executive leadership, the deal sponsor, and KKR.

• Communicate complex strategic, financial, and operational issues with clarity to senior stakeholders and workstream teams.

• Continuously evaluate processes and recommend improvements in efficiency, quality, and execution discipline.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Responsibilities may evolve over time, and other related duties may be assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the company.

Key Attributes for Success

• Highly organized and execution-oriented, with the discipline to drive multiple workstreams to closure.

• Commercially-minded and analytical, comfortable moving between strategy, financial models, and operational detail.

• A natural coordinator who builds structure, clarifies ownership, and holds cross-functional teams accountable without direct authority.

• Strong communicator with executives, functional leaders, and external advisors.

• High integrity and sound judgment managing confidential information.

• Calm and effective under tight timelines, ambiguity, and limited resources.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree

• 4+ years of experience spanning corporate strategy, corporate development, management consulting, M&A, investment banking, private equity, value creation / portfolio operations, and/or program and project management.

• Demonstrated experience supporting M&A transactions, including diligence coordination and valuation.

• Proven track record in managing complex, cross-functional projects or integration programs to plan.

• Financial modeling and analytical skills, with a focus on returns, EBITDA impact, and integration economics.

• Excellent project management capabilities, including planning, governance, risk management, and stakeholder reporting.

• Comfortable operating with limited resources, tight timelines, and high accountability.

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or relevant advanced degree

• Exposure to organic growth or value-creation levers such as pricing, portfolio / product lifecycle management, 80/20, or commercial excellence is strongly preferred.

• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification a plus.

• Experience in industrial technology, life sciences, semiconductor, or regulated manufacturing environments preferred.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• This role primarily operates in an office/lab/manufacturing environment. Must be able to sit, stand, and use a computer for extended periods of time

• Occasional lifting of up to 20 lbs. may be required

• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary range: $118300 - 177450 depending on experience

• Performance bonus eligible

  • Our compensation philosophy: we offer competitive pay based on market data, including local, national, and industry benchmarks. For new hires, offers are generally within the established min- to mid-point of the range for the role, with flexibility to recognize experience, skills, and education. Our approach ensures fair pay internally while remaining competitive externally and allows room for growth.

• Comprehensive benefits package:

  • Health coverage: medical, dental, vision, fsa, onsite clinic (CO employees), life insurance

  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match

  • Vacation, holiday, and leave policies

  • Tuition reimbursement, Employee recognition programs, Employee assistance programs

Particle Measuring Systems is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and are committed to building an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive.

#LI-JC1