Change Management Specialist

Under the general supervision of the Manager for Communication and Training, and in consultation with the Information Technology Solutions (ITS) leadership team, this position will assist in administering organizational change management (OCM) efforts in support of campus technology initiatives. Primary responsibilities include applying change management methodology and best practices to support the successful adoption of new and evolving technology systems across campus. The position will build and maintain relationships with campus stakeholders, and will help ensure change initiatives are effective by understanding the needs of each affected campus audience and tailoring engagement, communication, and training approaches accordingly. The position will also advise and support project sponsors and people managers in effectively championing change within their respective areas. The position will contribute to activities that include stakeholder and change impact analysis, change readiness assessment, change management plan development and implementation, communication and training material development, adoption tracking, and other tasks required to achieve successful, sustained adoption of technology change across the university. As part of this work, the Change Management Specialist will work closely with the Communication Specialist, Visual Communication Specialist, Technical Training Lead, and Documentation Coordinator to develop and implement robust communication and training plans, as well as perform other tasks that help ITS achieve its strategic plan. This position is classified as predominantly remote with occasional visits to campus as needed. Working hours will be based on Pacific Standard Time (PST). The full salary range for the Change Management Specialist is $75,900 - $137,300 annually. However, the pay scale for this position is up to $81,000 annually. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, licensure and certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs. Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a UCR staff position. Currently, UCR is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff. As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.\n \nWorks with management, project leads, department colleagues, and stakeholders to create, develop, and implement long- and short-term change management strategies and communications plans that support technology initiatives from planning through adoption.Ensures production of high-quality change management deliverables (communications, knowledge materials, engagement plans) that effectively support stakeholder adoption within project budget and time constraints.Manages comprehensive change communications programs, including written, visual, digital, and electronic communications.Advises and consults with departmental/college administration and campus stakeholders on all aspects of change management and communications \u2014 including stakeholder engagement strategy, resistance management, policy interpretation, and problem resolution.Identifies specific change management and communications improvements needed to support successful adoption of organizational and technology changes, and develops the content and process for those improvements.Works with training and technical teams to design, communicate, and deliver training and onboarding materials that build stakeholder knowledge and ability to adopt new systems and processes.Tracks and reports on adoption, utilization, and reinforcement metrics (surveys, usage data, feedback loops) following implementation, and recommends adjustments to improve communications and sustain change over time.Coordinates change management activities across multiple concurrent technology initiatives, partnering with project leads, department colleagues, and technical teams to align timelines, dependencies, and stakeholder engagement plans.Builds and maintains relationships with stakeholders across campus to successfully conduct change readiness, stakeholder, and change impact assessments. Uses these assessments to identify areas of risk and resistance ahead of technology transitions and develops mitigation strategies accordingly.\n \nKnowledge, skills, and ability to advise and consult with management and change sponsors to ensure delivery of the desired message to target and/or broad audiences, and to support sponsors in effectively fulfilling their role in leading change.Knowledge of institutional protocols and channels for communication internally and externally.Solid written, verbal, interpersonal communication, active listening, and political acumen skills, including the proven ability to build trust and influence stakeholders through periods of change.Knowledge and understanding of communication production tools and applications \u2014 including communication and collaboration platforms, design software, video production software, web content management systems, and digital/social media platforms \u2014 sufficient to personally produce communications and knowledge materials (or to effectively direct staff who do), ensuring outputs are polished, accessible, and fit for their intended channel and audience.Knowledge of all aspects of communications and change management, including strategic planning for various media and stakeholder engagement channels, and the most effective approaches for supporting adoption of change.Solid skills and ability to create, develop, and implement comprehensive long- and short-term change management and communications plans, including the ability to apply a structured change management methodology to sequence stakeholder engagement, communication, and training.Knowledge of the organization, its achievements, mission, vision, goals, policies, practices, infrastructure, and a strong knowledge of current affairs, and issues in higher education and/or information technology.Knowledge, skills, and ability to conduct stakeholder analysis and change impact assessments to identify affected groups, likely resistance, and readiness gaps, and develop plans to address them.Knowledge, skills, and ability to help design and/or deliver training and instructional content that builds stakeholders' knowledge and ability to adopt new systems, processes, and/or tools.Knowledge, skills, and ability to track and interpret adoption and utilization data or stakeholder feedback to measure change effectiveness and recommend course corrections.Demonstrated ability to influence others and build and sustain productive working relationships with stakeholders across an organization, including those outside one's immediate reporting line.Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to assess a situation, identify relevant factors, and recommend a course of action within established practices.Ability to translate technical or complex information into clear, plain-language content for non-technical audiences.Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, exercising sound judgment within defined guidelines.Knowledge of Prosci ADKAR change management methodology.Familiarity with UC policies related to communications, accessibility (WCAG), and records retention.\n \nKnowledge, skills, and ability to advise and consult with management and change sponsors to ensure delivery of the desired message to target and/or broad audiences, and to support sponsors in effectively fulfilling their role in leading change. Knowledge of institutional protocols and channels for communication internally and externally. Solid written, verbal, interpersonal communication, active listening, and political acumen skills, including the proven ability to build trust and influence stakeholders through periods of change. Knowledge and understanding of communication production tools and applications \u2014 including communication and collaboration platforms, design software, video production software, web content management systems, and digital/social media platforms \u2014 sufficient to personally produce communications and knowledge materials (or to effectively direct staff who do), ensuring outputs are polished, accessible, and fit for their intended channel and audience. Knowledge of all aspects of communications and change management, including strategic planning for various media and stakeholder engagement channels, and the most effective approaches for supporting adoption of change. Knowledge of the organization, its achievements, mission, vision, goals, policies, practices, infrastructure, and a strong knowledge of current affairs, and issues in higher education and/or information technology. Knowledge, skills, and ability to conduct stakeholder analysis and change impact assessments to identify affected groups, likely resistance, and readiness gaps, and develop plans to address them. Knowledge, skills, and ability to help design and/or deliver training and instructional content that builds stakeholders' knowledge and ability to adopt new systems, processes, and/or tools. Knowledge, skills, and ability to track and interpret adoption and utilization data or stakeholder feedback to measure change effectiveness and recommend course corrections. Demonstrated ability to influence others and build and sustain productive working relationships with stakeholders across an organization, including those outside one's immediate reporting line. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to assess a situation, identify relevant factors, and recommend a course of action within established practices. Ability to translate technical or complex information into clear, plain-language content for non-technical audiences. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, exercising sound judgment within defined guidelines. Solid skills and ability to create, develop, and implement comprehensive long- and short-term change management and communications plans, including the ability to apply a structured change management methodology to sequence stakeholder engagement, communication, and training.Knowledge of Prosci ADKAR change management methodology. Familiarity with UC policies related to communications, accessibility (WCAG), and records retention.