UCL is one of the world's leading universities, consistently ranked among the global top 10. Home to more than 50,000 students and 16,000 staff from over 150 countries, we are united by a commitment to academic excellence, innovation and positive societal impact.
Within UCL, the Strategic Change function plays a critical role in delivering transformational initiatives across the Vice-President (Operations) portfolio. Our work ensures that change is aligned to institutional priorities, effectively delivered and embedded across the university, enabling UCL to achieve its strategic ambitions while enhancing the experience of both staff and students.
As we continue to evolve and modernise our services, we are looking for an experienced Change Manager to help shape, lead and embed meaningful change across a diverse and complex organisation.
About the role
This is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity supporting the delivery of UCL's HR, Finance and Research & Innovation (HRFRI) Programme, a high-priority initiative within UCL's Services Simplification portfolio.
As Change Manager, you will play a key role in delivering this strategically important transformation programme, which encompasses system, process, policy and organisational change and will have a significant impact across faculties and professional services functions.
Working across a complex stakeholder landscape, you will lead the design and delivery of change management activities that support the programme's objectives. You will assess and manage change impacts across faculties and functions, ensuring risks are identified and mitigated while maintaining organisational readiness. Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and programme teams, you will drive communication and engagement activity, helping colleagues understand, embrace and embed new ways of working.
You will be responsible for delivering the programme's change approach throughout its lifecycle, from impact assessments and readiness planning through to transition and implementation. This includes conducting change readiness assessments, developing and delivering transition activities, supporting teams through organisational change and ensuring that new ways of working are successfully embedded. You will monitor adoption through defined success measures, using insights and data to evaluate progress, refine approaches and maximise the benefits realised from change.
Alongside your work on the HRFRI Programme, you will contribute to the wider Strategic Change function, championing best practice in change management, building organisational capability and supporting the successful delivery of transformation across UCL.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in a major institutional change programme, working with senior stakeholders across the university and helping to shape how services are delivered in the future.
About you
You will be an experienced change professional with a strong track record of delivering successful organisational and/or digital change within a large and complex organisation. Comfortable operating across multiple programmes and stakeholder groups, you will have a deep understanding of change management principles and be confident applying approaches that support adoption, minimise disruption and maximise benefits realisation.
You will bring excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence, coach and engage colleagues at all levels. Your communication style will be adaptable and persuasive, enabling you to build trust quickly and guide teams through periods of uncertainty and change.
Experience working within both agile and waterfall delivery environments is essential, as is the ability to assess organisational readiness, develop practical change plans and use data and insight to inform decision-making. A recognised change management qualification such as Prosci or APMG would be advantageous, as would experience within higher education or the wider public sector.
Most importantly, you will be collaborative, resilient and proactive, with a passion for helping organisations and people successfully navigate change. You will thrive in a complex environment, enjoy building strong partnerships and be motivated by the opportunity to contribute to transformational change at one of the world's leading universities.
What we offer
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.
These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
