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  3. Change Management Specialist

Change Management Specialist

NOC #11201

  • Environment Primarily indoor/office work
  • Education Post-secondary diploma
  • Average salary $77,000 to $111,000

Career profile

Change management specialists are important in helping organizations adapt to new ways of doing things, like using new technology or changing how they work. They make plans to ensure employees feel comfortable with these changes and can adjust to them smoothly.

A change management specialist is like a guide in a company. When a company decides to do things differently, they use special methods and tools to make sure employees can adapt to the changes and help the company reach its goals. Companies often hire these specialists to help teams working on different projects whose outcomes will have an impact on overall operations or the way they will do business.

Change management specialists work with different departments of the company such as human resources, information technology, and communications, as well as the groups that are affected by the changes. They create the plans for rolling out the changes and ensure the company is in a position to succeed as a result of the changes being implemented.

Exploration and production, Pipelines, Oil sands

In this occupation activities may include:

  • Assessing the potential impacts of a proposed change. This includes conducting impact and change readiness assessments, identifying key stakeholders within the organization, and creating a vision for change.
  • Advising and coaching project leads on utilization of change management techniques within their projects and project teams.
  • Facilitating stakeholder workshops on the change material as part of the rollout.
  • Assessing the overall adoption and sustainment of the change. This includes conducting surveys and assessments to determine the degree of adoption, and supporting leaders in helping to close the gaps.

Education

  • Typically a bachelor’s degree or college diploma in business administration, human resources, commuications, commerce or a related discipline is required.
  • Some employers require change management certification.

Certifications

  • There are several recognized Change Management certifications, and employers may prefer none, one, or more.
  • Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP®) from the Association of Change Management Professionals® (ACMP®)
  • Change Management Certification from APGM International
  • Change Management Certification in the ADKAR Model from Prosci
  • In addition, business improvement certifications in Lean Six Sigma (green or black belt preferably) may be preferred

Additional Requirements

  • Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements.
  • Travel likely required
  • Primarily indoor/office work
  • Work not physically demanding

You interact with many different people across the organization, so you need to have excellent communication skills. You are also a strong project manager and analytical thinker.

  • Education and Training
  • Information and Document Management
  • Understanding Risk
  • Public Speaking
  • Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
  • Managing Conflict
  • Persuasion
  • Planning and Organizing
  • Time Management
  • Collaborative