Change Manager

Must be local to Buffalo, NY and work onsite 4 days a week. Overview The Change Management Leader develops and delivers organizational change management strategies and execution plans for medium-sized projects with moderate to large organizational impacts. This role focuses on the people side of change, including changes to business processes, technology, systems, job roles, and organizational structures. The Change Management Leader partners with project teams, business leaders, and stakeholders to accelerate employee adoption, minimize resistance, and ensure long-term sustainability of change initiatives. Additionally, this role supports enterprise change management capabilities by advancing methodologies, tools, and best practices across the organization. Primary Responsibilities Develop and execute structured change management strategies, plans, and tools that support the successful adoption and value realization of medium-to-large, complex initiatives. Serve as the primary change management liaison for project sponsors, project managers, project teams, and key stakeholders, providing guidance to improve change effectiveness. Manage multiple change initiatives simultaneously, overseeing project schedules, budgets, resources, and integration of change management activities into overall project plans. Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including senior leadership and external partners, to drive alignment and support for organizational change. Conduct stakeholder assessments, change impact analyses, organizational readiness assessments, and other evaluations to identify risks and opportunities. Identify sources of resistance and develop mitigation strategies that improve organizational readiness and support successful adoption. Coach and advise senior leaders on effective change leadership practices and employee engagement strategies. Develop, manage, and deliver communications that support change initiatives in partnership with corporate communications and business unit communications teams. Partner with Learning & Development teams to define training requirements and support the design and delivery of learning programs and resources. Establish business readiness criteria and success metrics; monitor adoption, gather feedback through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other methods, and report progress. Develop and implement transition and sustainability plans to reinforce long-term adoption of organizational changes. Quickly adapt to new projects, business functions, and stakeholders, even when subject matter expertise must be developed rapidly. Ensure compliance with organizational risk management policies, regulatory standards, and internal controls, escalating risks or issues as appropriate. Support timely implementation of internal and external audit findings and regulatory requirements. Perform other related duties as assigned. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Business, Organizational Development, Human Resources, Communications, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience leading organizational change management initiatives for medium-to-large, cross-functional projects. Strong understanding of change management methodologies, frameworks, and best practices (such as Prosci, ADKAR, or similar). Experience conducting change impact assessments, stakeholder analyses, and organizational readiness evaluations. Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and executive coaching skills. Proven ability to influence stakeholders and build strong working relationships across all organizational levels. Experience developing executive communications, employee communications, and change adoption strategies. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration/project management tools. Preferred Qualifications Change management certification (Prosci, CCMP, or equivalent). Experience supporting enterprise-wide technology, digital transformation, or operational transformation initiatives. Experience working within highly regulated industries such as banking, financial services, healthcare, or insurance. Knowledge of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid environments). #J-18808-Ljbffr