Workplace Change Manager (Associate Director)

Joining the Workplace Change Management team Within the UK Consulting arm of CBRE sits our Workplace Change Management practice, an industry-leading team of 150+ professionals worldwide, united by a shared passion for workplace transformation. What makes us unique is our diversity: many of us have joined from a wide range of industries, including Change Management, HR (Employee engagement/ Learning and development/Organisational development), Psychology, Communications, Event Management and Marketing. We’re proud of our multicultural backgrounds, technical breadth, and inclusive culture. Together, we help clients navigate change, prepare their people for new ways of working, and inspire the adoption of new behaviours. Our team is growing, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds who share our enthusiasm for shaping the future of work. We believe that diverse experiences and perspectives are our greatest strength. Even if you haven’t been a “typical” Change Manager before, your passion for people, problem-solving abilities, and experience in guiding others through new initiatives could be exactly what we’re looking for. For this role, we are especially keen to hear from people with a background in HR, Learning and Development (L&D) or DE&I. About the Role The Workplace Change Manager will champion and support deep cultural shifts within a client organisation, delivering programs and frameworks that facilitate the adoption of new working practices in the office. They will ensure these practices are seamlessly embedded into people’s day-to-day work and aligned with the organisation’s values & strategic goals. This is primarily a ‘change manager’ role focused on the people side of change and guiding the implementation of new ways of working. Very often working in partnership with the client’s HR, CRE, IT and COMMS functions, they will be responsible for empowering the organisation to successfully deliver their workplace transformation, bringing the People, Physical Space and Digital component of the change together. The Workplace Change Manager will ultimately support our clients to create a Workplace offer which attracts and retains the best talents whilst allowing people to be at their most effective wherever they are working from. The role requires on site presence at client’s offices in London two to three days per week to support close collaboration with key stakeholders. The Workplace Change Manager will join a Practice composed of 30+ Workplace Change Managers based in London. They will report into a Senior -orkplace Change Manager who will offer guidance and development. The successful candidate will be expected to support the growth of the practice by winning new work, bringing new thinking and innovation to our offer, and leading members of the team. What You’ll Do The Workplace Change Manager will deliver a portfolio of workplace change projects, managing the full end to end workplace change lifecycle, working closely with clients to drive successful adoption of new working practices and support associated cultural change. This includes: Strategic Planning and Design

• Collaborate with clients to assess their needs.
• Conduct thorough change impact analyses, change readiness assessments, stakeholder mapping, and interviews to inform strategy development.
• Gather and analyse data to develop robust change strategies and engagement plans that cater to diverse audience needs.
• Design new frameworks and processes to effectively implement new ways of working. Program Leadership
• Build and nurture key relationships with stakeholders across all organisational levels, gaining their buy-in to the change and leveraging their support as necessary and appropriate.
• Provide trusted advisory support to clients on workplace change best practices, including hybrid working, relocation, workforce impacts, policy considerations, employee experience, and change readiness.
• Develop and execute internal communication strategies and detailed engagement plans.
• Lead and deliver engaging change programs and associated activities tailored to the specific type and level of change required. Engagement and Communication
• Recruit, lead, and inspire a network of Change Champions from across the client organisation.
• Engage with senior leadership to shift mindsets, coaching leaders and managers to champion the change effectively.
• Design and deliver a high level of engagement activities, including town hall presentations, briefings, workshops (face-to-face and virtual), focus groups, drop-in sessions, site visits, training, targeted events, exhibition spaces, and other innovative interventions.
• Draft internal communications, create digital signage, videos and collateral to generate buy-in and excitement. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptation
• Continually measure the impact and effectiveness of change engagement and communication activities.
• Gather quantitative and qualitative feedback throughout the program to inform adjustments.
• Adapt and refine the program delivery as necessary based on feedback and measured impact.
• Conduct end-of-project analyses, delivering detailed reports with recommendations for sustained change. In addition to client delivery, you will contribute to the growth and success of the Workplace Change Management Practice as well as wider CBRE through internal leadership, business development, and capability building: Business Development
• Lead business development activities by partnering with clients to understand business needs, shaping strategic solutions, developing compelling proposals and pricing strategies, and supporting negotiations to secure new and expanded client engagements. Practice Development & Innovation
• Drive the continuous development of CBRE’s change management capability by bringing the latest thinking, market insights, and innovative approaches into the team.
• Identify opportunities to enhance our services, products, and solutions, ensuring our offering remains relevant, differentiated, and aligned to evolving client needs.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, helping the team build capability in emerging trends, technologies, and ways of working, including the effective application of AI.
• Support the growth of the practice through knowledge sharing, thought leadership, solution development, and the advancement of our methodologies, tools, and intellectual property. People Management
• Provide day-to-day leadership and people management for direct report(s), including workload planning, performance management, regular coaching, wellbeing support, and professional development. Important: The Workplace Change Manager will engage with clients, senior leaders, stakeholders, change champions and managers, and must be confident operating at all levels of the organisation. At this level, the role is expected to lead and, where appropriate, manage small teams or workstreams, demonstrating the ability to guide, support and align others toward a common objective. Strong influencing skills, delivered with both confidence and sensitivity, are essential to drive successful outcomes. Essential Skills / Knowledge
• Exceptional Communication Skills: excellent verbal and written communication, active listening, and the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences.
• Influencing & Motivational Skills: able to inspire, guide, motivate, and coach individuals and teams through transitions, fostering a sense of shared purpose.
• Collaborative Stakeholder Management: able to engage effectively with various stakeholders, gaining their trust and buy-in, managing expectations, and addressing potential resistance to change. Ability to partner with multiple stakeholders and quickly build relationships is crucial.
• Solution-Oriented Problem-Solving & Analytical Skills: able to identify issues, anticipate risks, develop creative solutions, and make informed decisions to overcome barriers.
• High Emotional Intelligence & Empathy: understanding and managing emotions, recognising the human side of change, ability to handle difficult conversations and deal with resistance around change whilst fostering a positive change environment.
• Adaptability & Resilience: the capacity to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity, making adjustments as needed, and maintaining a positive outlook during times of transition.
• Project Management skills: Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects effectively.
• Understanding of Change Management Methodologies (e.g., ADKAR, Prosci, Lewin's Change Model) with ability to apply them.
• Commercial Acumen: able to understand commercial drivers, make informed decisions, identify opportunities, and deliver value for both clients and the business. Essential Experience
• Guiding People Through Change: direct experience leading workplace transformations and people-related change initiatives (e.g., adoption of new ways of working, cultural shifts…).
• Facilitation & Presentation Skills: delivering training, workshops, focus groups, or facilitating/presenting in front of large groups.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: working with and coordinating diverse teams across different departments and levels.
• Developing & Implementing Engagement Strategies: creating and executing communication, engagement, or training programs to support new initiatives.
• Data Analysis & Reporting : defining and measuring success metrics, monitoring progress, and reporting on the effectiveness of initiatives.
• Managing projects: including planning, managing scope and timeline during execution. Nice to have:
• Previous experience in an HR/L&D/DE&I business partnering role.
• Any Change management certifications (e.g., Prosci, ACMP's Certified Change Management Professional)
• Working knowledge of Psychometric tools (e.g. MBTI, CliftonStrengths) and similar behavioural frameworks
• People leadership and coaching experience/ line management responsibilities
• Exposure to business development activities, including proposal writing and participation in client pitches Why CBRE When you join CBRE, you become part of the global leader in commercial real estate services and investment that helps businesses and people thrive. We are dynamic problem solvers and forward-thinking professionals who create significant impact. Our collaborative culture is built on our shared values — respect, integrity, service and excellence — and we value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds and skillsets of our people. At CBRE, you have the opportunity to chart your own course and realize your potential. We welcome all applicants. Applicant AI Use Disclosure We value human interaction to understand each candidate's unique experience, skills and aspirations. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to make hiring decisions, and we ask that candidates disclose any use of AI in the application and interview process.