Senior Change Manager

Overview

In this role, you will own the change management strategy for UCL’s Research and Innovation portfolio, guiding end-to-end transformation and ensuring benefits land. You’ll coach senior leaders, work with RIGE, faculties and Professional Service teams, and shape adoption across the university. You’ll apply agile and waterfall methods to drive impactful change and grow organisational capability. This is a chance to influence strategic transformation at scale within a world‑class university.

Pay / Benefits

• 41 days of holiday
• Hybrid working (up to 60% remote)
• Defined benefit pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• On-site nursery
• Discounted gym membership

Responsibilities

• Own the change management strategy and plan across the Research and Innovation portfolio, aligned with programme planning
• Assess change impacts and use data to inform decisions and manage change load
• Advise on, shape and/or deliver change management across a range of programmes to improve service and effectiveness
• Coach sponsors and senior leaders to lead their teams through change, including workshops and readiness sessions
• Apply agile and waterfall change management tools and techniques (stakeholder mapping, impact assessments, adoption planning, benefits planning)
• Design compelling engagement and communication approaches to ease transitions and address resistance
• Grow change capability across UCL

Key requirements

• A recognised change qualification or certification (e.g., APMG or Prosci)
• Experience embedding change in a large, complex organisation using both agile and waterfall approaches
• Knowledge or understanding of research and innovation operations in higher education
• Expert change management skills: stakeholder management, impact/readiness assessment, transition delivery and measurable adoption
• Proven team leadership including matrix management and developing individuals
• Strong relationship-building, influencing and coaching at all levels, incl. senior sponsors
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for diverse audiences
• Strategic thinking at enterprise level with agility to lead through ambiguity
• Collaborative approach and inclusivity in ways of working

• Relationship-building
• Influencing and coaching
• Strategic thinking
• Stakeholder mapping
• Impact assessments
• Readiness assessment

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