Transformation Change Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne

Salary: £47,389.00 - £56,535.00 per annum

Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Closing Date: 10 May 2026

We have an exciting opportunity within the Transformation team for an experienced Change Manager, to join us for a 2‑year fixed‑term contract. In your role as Change Manager you will lead and embed sustainable change across the university by enabling staff, students, and stakeholders to successfully adopt new systems, structures, and ways of working that align with the institution’s strategic goals.

As a key member of the Newcastle University Transformation team, you will work collaboratively with project managers and workstream leads to ensure change management and stakeholder readiness is embedded into the overarching delivery plan.

In order to be successful you should have significant experience within a change management role, with evidence of how you have successfully delivered projects to time within a higher education setting or similar multi‑faced organisation, and how you have utilised project methodologies to ensure success. Demonstrable experience of driving and managing complex strategic, organisational and culture change with a focus on working with staff and teams to gain acceptance of change is key. Your relationship and stakeholder management skills will be vital to ensure project success, along with a strength in interpersonal communication, negotiation and influencing abilities.

Purpose Of The Role

To lead and embed sustainable change across the university by enabling staff, students, and stakeholders to successfully adopt new systems, structures, and ways of working that align with the institution’s strategic goals.

Key Outcomes And Accountabilities

• Change Strategy Implementation: Collaborate with Project Managers and Workstream Leads to ensure change management and stakeholder readiness is embedded into the overarching delivery plan. Create and implement change management strategies that result in the successful adoption of new processes, systems, or behaviours across academic and professional service areas.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Readiness: Achieve high levels of stakeholder engagement and readiness through targeted communications, training, and involvement activities. Foster a culture of change capability and continuous improvement across the university through the sharing of key successes and best practice.
• Change Impact and Risk Mitigation: Identify and mitigate change-related risks through comprehensive impact assessments and stakeholder analyses. Ensure that changes are embedded and sustained beyond project delivery.

Success Profile

Essential Experience & Skills:

• Demonstrated success in leading change initiatives in complex environments, preferably within higher education.
• Expertise in change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci, Kotter) and tools.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a proven ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience in designing and delivering change communications, training, and engagement strategies.
• Ability to work collaboratively across academic and professional service teams.

Desirable Experience & Skills:

• Change management certification (e.g., Prosci, APMG).
• Experience in digital transformation, student experience enhancement, or curriculum reform.
• Understanding of governance and decision‑making in higher education.

Attributes:

• Outcome-focused, adaptable, and proactive.
• Credible leader with strong influencing skills, even without direct line authority.
• Professional, quality‑driven, and collaborative.

Newcastle University is a global university where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution. We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, as success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.

At Newcastle University we hold a Gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme. In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.

To apply please upload your CV, along with a cover letter, evidencing how your skills and experiences align with the success profile as outlined in the job description. For an informal discussion about this opportunity please contact our Transformation Programme Director, Clair.Elliott@newcastle.ac.uk, or Transformation Workstream Lead Laura.Thomson@newcastle.ac.uk.