Senior Change Manager

Senior Change Manager

Information Technology Services | Palmerston North

12-month Fixed Term Position 37.50hrs p/wk

Lead change across major university transformation initiatives

Massey University is looking for an experienced Senior Change Manager to help shape and deliver change across a range of strategic initiatives.

About the role

Working at the heart of enterprise transformation, you will lead change initiatives that support strategic improvements across the University. Partnering with leaders, staff and key stakeholders, you will drive engagement, build organisational readiness, and support the successful adoption of new approaches that strengthen capability and advance Massey's strategic objectives.

As Senior Change Manager, you will be responsible for planning, coordinating and delivering change strategies across a portfolio of complex and strategically significant initiatives.

Working as an integral member of project teams, you will collaborate with Senior Project Managers, Sponsors, governance groups, business stakeholders and the Digital Enablement team to embed effective change practices throughout the project lifecycle. Your focus will be on helping people navigate change, managing impacts and risks, and ensuring sustainable outcomes are successfully implemented across the University.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Developing and delivering practical change management strategies and plans
• Leading stakeholder engagement and communication activities
• Conducting change impact and organisational readiness assessments
• Identifying change risks, adoption challenges and appropriate mitigations
• Supporting Sponsors, leaders and managers to build awareness, engagement and commitment
• Leading business readiness, transition and adoption activities
• Coordinating training, learning and end-user support
• Establishing and monitoring readiness, engagement and adoption measures
• Providing evidence-based advice and recommendations to project and governance leaders
• Supporting benefits realisation, post-implementation reviews and the sustainable embedding of change

About you

You will be a confident and pragmatic change leader who can work effectively in complex environments with multiple stakeholder groups and competing priorities. You will bring strong relationship management, facilitation and communication skills, together with the ability to influence senior leaders and build organisational commitment.

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• At least five years' experience in an IT or IT-related role, with a strong background in developing and implementing effective business change
• Proven success leading organisational change within complex enterprise technology or business transformation programmes
• Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, communications and organisational readiness
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and build commitment to change
• Experience measuring and reporting change adoption and business readiness outcomes
• A tertiary qualification in an IT or business management discipline, or equivalent extensive industry experience
• A recognised change management certification at practitioner or manager level, such as Prosci, ChangeFirst or an equivalent methodology

Experience within higher education, government or other complex organisations would be advantageous, as would experience supporting enterprise platforms such as HRIS, student management, scheduling or SaaS solutions.

Why Massey?

Massey University is committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university and to creating an environment grounded in respect, trust, collaboration and care. Our people work across disciplines and locations to support world-class research, teaching and learning, while responding to the changing needs of the University and the communities we serve.

This is an opportunity to play a leading role in transformation initiatives that will influence how the University operates and supports its students and staff. You will join the Digital Enablement practice within Information Technology Services, working alongside specialists in change management, stakeholder engagement, communications, training and business improvement.

In addition to a competitive salary, Massey also offers:

• Up to 6.75% employer contribution to the UniSaver Superannuation Scheme for eligible employees
• Five university holidays per year in addition to your annual leave
• Subsidised Southern Cross Healthcare plan for you and your family
• Special staff rates available for campus gym membership
• Staff purchasing privileges and discounts at many commercial and retail businesses across NZ
• Access to a wonderful on-Campus crèche /day care facilities for dependents of staff on our Manawatū campus
• Staff fee concession for study with Massey and 30% discount on fees for immediate family of staff undertaking undergraduate study (conditions apply)

Ready to make an impact?

If you are passionate about helping people navigate complex change and want to contribute to transformation across one of Aotearoa New Zealand's leading universities, we would welcome your application.

Applications close: Wednesday 21 October 2026, 11.00pm