Head of Change Management

Job Description

Head of Change

London (Hybrid Working)

£63,000 – £79,900 per annum

Full-time | FTC until end of July 2026

A leading London-based university is seeking an experienced Head of Change to lead the development and delivery of a robust change management capability across the organisation.

This role will play a critical leadership role in supporting a major Professional Services Target Operating Model transformation programme, ensuring that organisational change is effectively designed, communicated and embedded across the institution.

Working closely with senior stakeholders and programme teams, the post holder will lead the development of best-practice change frameworks, tools and approaches while providing expert oversight and assurance across strategic change initiatives.

Role Purpose

The Head of Change reports to the Director of Change and works in close partnership with the Head of PMO to shape, lead and continuously improve the organisation’s change management strategy and framework.

The role ensures that change management is fully integrated with project and programme delivery across the institution’s transformation portfolio.

The post holder will lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of end-to-end change management methodology, tools and templates, ensuring they are practical, accessible and consistently applied across programmes.

They will provide expert guidance, challenge and assurance across key initiatives to ensure successful adoption, effective impact management and delivery of business benefits.

Key Responsibilities

Change Strategy & Framework

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of the organisation’s change management strategy, framework and methodology.
• Ensure change management practices are embedded within the project and programme lifecycle.
• Develop practical tools, templates and guidance to support consistent delivery of change management activities.

Strategic Change Leadership

• Provide leadership and expert oversight across major organisational change initiatives.
• Ensure people, culture and behavioural impacts are considered throughout programme design and delivery.
• Support programme teams in managing change impacts, risks, dependencies and readiness.

Professional Services Target Operating Model Programme

• Provide change leadership and support for the Professional Services Target Operating Model transformation.
• Lead engagement, organisational design and change adoption activities across the programme.
• Ensure stakeholders are supported through the transition to new operating models, structures and ways of working.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnering

• Work closely with senior leaders, programme sponsors and operational teams to drive successful change outcomes.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders on change readiness, adoption and engagement strategies.
• Build strong collaborative relationships across delivery teams and business areas.

Change Assurance & Benefits Realisation

• Provide challenge and assurance to ensure change initiatives are well designed, effectively managed and deliver intended benefits.
• Monitor and assess organisational readiness, adoption and behavioural change.
• Provide insights and reporting on change progress, risks and outcomes.

Leadership & Capability Development

• Champion best practice in people-centred change management across the organisation.
• Support the development of organisational capability in change management.
• Provide guidance and mentoring to change practitioners and delivery teams.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant experience leading organisational change and transformation programmes within complex organisations.
• Proven experience developing and implementing change management frameworks, tools and methodologies.
• Experience supporting large-scale transformation programmes, ideally including operating model or organisational design change.
• Strong track record of working with senior stakeholders and executive leaders.

Desirable:

• Experience working within higher education or similarly complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Skills & Knowledge

• Strong expertise in change management methodologies and best practice.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Ability to translate complex transformation initiatives into clear change strategies and engagement plans.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess change readiness, impact and adoption.
• Experience integrating change management within programme and project delivery frameworks.

Personal Attributes

• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach.
• Ability to manage complexity and operate effectively across multiple programmes.

Why Join?

This role offers the opportunity to play a key leadership role in a major organisational transformation programme, shaping how change is delivered across a large and complex institution.

You will work with senior leaders across the organisation to ensure change is people-centred, sustainable and delivers real impact.

If you are an experienced change leader with a passion for delivering complex organisational transformation, we would welcome your application.