Change Management Consultant

Job Detail

Position

Closing Date

Open until filled

Position Type

Full Time. Temporary, independent consultant (1099).

Position Location

Washington DC Metro area

Position Overview

An organizational change manager will play a key role in ensuring projects (change initiatives) meet objectives on time and on budget by increasing employee adoption and usage. This person will focus on the people side of change, including changes to business processes, systems and technology, job roles and organization structures. The primary responsibility will be creating and implementing change management strategies and plans that maximize employee adoption and usage and minimize resistance. The change manager will work to drive faster adoption, higher ultimate utilization of and proficiency with the changes that impact employees. These improvements will increase benefit realization, value creation, ROI and the achievement of results and outcomes.

While the change manager may or may not have supervisory responsibility, this person will have to work through many others in the organization to succeed. The change manager will act as a coach for senior leaders and executives in helping them fulfill the role of change sponsor. The change manager may also provide direct support and coaching to all levels of managers and supervisors as they help their direct reports through transitions. The change manager will also support project teams in integrating change management activities into their project plans.

The change manager will:

Apply a structured methodology and lead change management activities
Apply a change management process and tools to create a strategy to support adoption of the changes required by a project or initiative.
Support communication efforts
Support the design, development, delivery, and management of communications.
Assess the change impact
Conduct impact analyses, assess change readiness and identify key stakeholders.
Support training efforts
Provide input, document requirements and support the design and delivery of training programs.

Additional responsibilities may include:

Complete change management assessments
Identify, analyze, and prepare risk mitigation tactics
Identify and manage anticipated organizational culture dynamics
Consult and coach project teams
Create and/or inform actionable deliverables for several change management aspects: communications plan, change roadmap, training plan, resistance management plan, change maintenance
Create and/or inform actionable deliverables for several change management aspects: communications plan, change roadmap, training plan, resistance management plan, change maintenance
Coach managers and supervisors
Support organizational design and definition of roles and responsibilities
Support the integration of change management activities into overall project plan
Evaluate and ensure user readiness
In coordination with team members, support stakeholders
Define, track and measure success metrics and monitor change progress
Manage the change portfolio

Skills and Qualifications

A solid understanding of how people go through a change and the change process
Experience and knowledge of change management principles, methodologies and tools
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
Excellent active listening skills
Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences
Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships
Ability to influence others and move toward a common vision or goal
Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations
Resilient and tenacious with a propensity to persevere
Forward looking with a holistic approach
Organized with a natural inclination for planning strategy and tactics
Problem solving and root cause identification skills

Aptitudes / Education / Experience. The Chane Management Consultant must have proven the following types of aptitudes, education, and work experiences:

Undergraduate degree in related discipline from an accredited university; an advanced degree is preferred
Change management certification or designation desired
Three to five years of experience in Organizational Change Management
Proven knowledge of change management principles
Proven ability to implement interpersonal communications with clients, team members, and/or team lead
Able to work effectively at all levels in an organization
Must be a team player and able to work collaboratively with and through others
Acute business acumen and understanding of organizational issues and challenges
Familiarity with project management approaches, tools and phases of the project lifecycle
Experience with large-scale organizational change efforts
Advanced skills in MS Office Suite, with expertise in Excel to include the ability to develop formulas, charts, and spreadsheets that clearly present data to facilitate decision-making
Detail oriented
Ability to spot trends and ensure accuracy
Self-motivated to work productively and independently