CBRE UK
Workplace Change Manager - Associate Director
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About the Role
The Workplace Change Manager will champion and support deep cultural shifts within a client organisation, delivering programs and frameworks that facilitate the adoption of new working practices in the office. They will ensure these practices are seamlessly embedded into people's day-to-day work and aligned with the organisation's values & strategic goals.
This is a 'change manager' role focused on the people side of change and guiding the implementation of new ways of working. Very often working in partnership with the client's HR, CRE, IT and COMMS functions, they will be responsible for empowering the organisation to successfully deliver their workplace transformation, bringing the People, Physical Space and Digital component of the change together. The Workplace Change Manager will ultimately support our clients to create a Workplace offer which attracts and retains the best talents whilst allowing people to be at their most effective wherever they are working from.
The role will be primarily aligned to a flagship programme within a confidential financial professional services organisation. As part of a seven person change management team, the Workplace Change Manager will be expected to work on site two to three days per week to support close collaboration with client stakeholders.
The role offers flexibility in location and can be based in Birmingham, Leeds, or Sheffield.
What you will be doing:
As a Workplace Change Manager, you will join a dedicated team of seven delivering what is widely regarded as the highest profile workplace transformation programme. This is a flagship, city defining real estate and workplace change initiative: one that will reshape how thousands of people work, collaborate and experience their environment.
Working under the guidance of a senior Change and Programme Lead, you will play a central role in managing the people, process and behavioural impacts of a major workplace and location transition. You will be at the forefront of engagement with employees and stakeholders, helping them understand what is changing, when it is happening, and what it means for them.
You will lead the full end to end workplace change lifecycle, partnering closely with clients to drive adoption of new ways of working and support the cultural shifts required for long term success.
What You Will Need:
Important: The Workplace Change Manager will be required to liaise with clients, senior Leaders, stakeholders, change champions and managers. They need to be comfortable operating at all levels of the organisation. The ability to confidently and sensitively influence others to deliver a common goal will be paramount.
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Essential Skills / Knowledge
- Exceptional Communication Skills: excellent verbal and written communication, active listening, and the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences.
- Influencing & Motivational Skills: able to inspire, guide, motivate, and coach individuals and teams through transitions, fostering a sense of shared purpose.
- Collaborative Stakeholder Management: able to engage effectively with various stakeholders, gaining their trust and buy-in, managing expectations, and addressing potential resistance to change. Ability to partner with multiple stakeholders and quickly build relationships is crucial.
- Solution-Oriented Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills: able to identify issues, anticipate risks, develop creative solutions, and make informed decisions to overcome barriers.
- High Emotional Intelligence & Empathy: understanding and managing emotions, recognising the human side of change, ability to handle difficult conversations and deal with resistance around change whilst fostering a positive change environment.
- Adaptability & Resilience: the capacity to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, making adjustments as needed, and maintaining a positive outlook during times of transition.
- Project Management skills: Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects effectively.
- Understanding of Change Management Methodologies (e.g., ADKAR, Prosci, Lewin's Change Model) with ability to apply them.
- Commercial acumen.
Essential Experience
- Guiding People Through Change: direct experience leading workplace transformations and people-related change initiatives (e.g., adoption of new ways of working, cultural shifts…).
- Facilitation & Presentation Skills: delivering training, workshops, focus groups, or facilitating/presenting in front of large groups.
- Cross-functional Collaboration: working with and coordinating diverse teams across different departments and levels.
- Developing & Implementing Engagement Strategies: creating and executing communication, engagement, or training programs to support new initiatives.
- Data Analysis & Reporting: defining and measuring success metrics, monitoring progress, and reporting on the effectiveness of initiatives.
- Managing projects, including planning, managing scope and timeline during execution.
What You Will Do:
Strategic Planning and Design
- Collaborate with clients to assess their needs.
- Conduct thorough change impact analyses, change readiness assessments, stakeholder mapping, and interviews to inform strategy development.
- Gather and analyse data to develop robust change strategies and engagement plans that cater to diverse audience needs.
- Design new frameworks and processes to effectively implement new ways of working.
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Program Leadership
- Build and nurture key relationships with stakeholders across all organisational levels, gaining their buy-in to the change and leveraging their support as necessary and appropriate.
- Advise on best practices.
- Develop and execute internal communication strategies and detailed engagement plans.
- Lead and deliver engaging change programs and associated activities tailored to the specific type and level of change required.
Engagement and Communication
- Recruit, lead, and inspire a network of Change Champions from across the client organisation.
- Engage with senior leadership to shift mindsets, coaching leaders and managers to champion the change effectively.
- Design and deliver a high level of engagement activities, including town hall presentations, briefings, workshops (face-to-face and virtual), focus groups, drop-in sessions, site visits, training, targeted events, exhibition spaces, and other innovative interventions.
- Draft internal communications, create digital signage, videos and collateral to generate buy-in and excitement.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptation
- Continually measure the impact and effectiveness of change engagement and communication activities.
- Gather quantitative and qualitative feedback throughout the program to inform adjustments.
- Adapt and refine the program delivery as necessary based on feedback and measured impact.
- Conduct end-of-project analyses, delivering detailed reports with recommendations for sustained change.
Nice to have:
- Any Change management certifications (e.g., Prosci, ACMP's Certified Change Management Professional)
- Coaching skills
Why CBRE
When you join CBRE, you become part of the global leader in commercial real estate services and investment that helps businesses and people thrive. We are dynamic problem solvers and forward-thinking professionals who create significant impact. Our collaborative culture is built on our shared values - respect, integrity, service and excellence - and we value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds and skillsets of our people. At CBRE, you have the opportunity to chart your own course and realize your potential. We welcome all applicants.
Applicant AI Use Disclosure
We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.
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