Job Description:

Openings: 1

Description:

Position Summary: The change manager (CM) plays a key role in ensuring projects (change initiatives) meet objectives by increasing employee adoption and usage. This person will focus on the people side of change, including changes to business processes and job roles to prepare them for recovering from a cyber event. The primary responsibility will be implementing change management strategies and plans that maximize employee adoption while minimizing resistance to the change and disruption to business operations. The CM will work to drive faster adoption, higher ultimate utilization of and proficiency with the changes that impact employees. These improvements will increase benefit realization, value creation, ROI and the achievement of results and outcomes. This person will have to work through many others in the organization to succeed and may act as a coach to help various stakeholders fulfill the role of change sponsor. The CM may also provide direct support and coaching to all levels of managers and supervisors as they help their direct reports through transitions. The CM will also support project teams in integrating change management activities into their project plans. 
Principal Accountabilities: 
1. Lead change management implementation activities or change management work stream for change initiatives (may be one or multiple) 

2. Apply a structured change management process and tools to implement change management strategy and plans 

3. Assist in developing change management strategy and gain appropriate buy-in and sign-off 

4. Lead the design, development, delivery and management of stakeholder management plans, communication plans, resistance management plans, engagement plans 

5. Lead design, development, delivery and management of other change efforts as required based on project including job role mapping, change impacts, training strategy, and executive engagement 

6. Conduct change assessments as required to define and document change impacts 

7. Develop, analyze, and report on change readiness assessments 

8. Identify and document key stakeholders, conduct regular assessment, and report out of stakeholder status by stakeholder groups 

9. Provide input and support for the design and delivery of training programs 

10. Develop and manage risk mitigation tactics 

11. Consult and coach project teams 

12. Develop and manage activities to engage senior leaders 

13. Coach managers and supervisors 

14. Establish and coordinate change champion networks as required 

15. Coordinate efforts with other change management resources as required 

16. Partner with Corporate Communications, HR, Workforce Readiness, and other enterprise organizations as required 

17. Work with PMO to integrate change management activities into project plan as required 

18. Track and report change management issues and risks 

19. Define and measure project specific change management success metrics and monitor change progress 

20. Active participation in AEP’s Change Management Community of Practice 



Minimum Requirements: 
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Organization Behavior, Organization Development, Communications or related field. 

•Advanced degree a plus 

Experience: Eight (8) or more years of change management experience; Experience as change manager on department or business unit level projects or leading change management workstream for change initiatives required. 

License: Change management certification or designation preferred, such as Prosci 

Additional Information: 
Additional skills and qualifications: 
• A solid understanding of how people go through a change and the change process 
• Experience and knowledge of change management principles, methodologies and tools 
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal 
• Excellent active listening skills 
• Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences 
• Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships 
• Ability to influence others and move toward a common vision or goal 
• Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations 
• Resilient and tenacious with a propensity to persevere 
• Forward looking with a holistic approach 
• Organized with a natural inclination for planning strategy and tactics 
• Problem solving and root cause identification skills 
• Able to work effectively at all levels in an organization 
• Must be a team player and able to work collaboratively with and through others 
• Acute business acumen and understanding of organizational issues and challenges 
• Familiarity with project management approaches, tools and phases of the project lifecycle