Workplace Change Manager (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, Communications, HR (Employee engagement/ Learning and development/Organisational development), Event Management, Marketing, and Psychology. 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. If you are passionate about workplace transformation and have experience leading people through change, we would love to hear from you. About the Role This is a people focussed ‘Change Manager’ role guiding the implementation of new ways of working. Working in partnership with the wider programme team (including the client’s HR, CRE, IT, Moves and Communications functions), the successful candidate 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 talent whilst allowing people to be at their most effective wherever they are working from. The role will be primarily aligned to a flagship programme within a confidential financial professional services organisation based in Canary Wharf, London. As part of a seven person change management team, the Workplace Change Manager will be expected to work on site a minimum of three days per week to support close collaboration with client stakeholders. Specifically, this role will lead the colleague engagement and move readiness workplace activation workstream for a landmark workplace transformation programme. Working at the intersection of employee experience, engagement and change management, the successful candidate will design, lead and deliver interventions that help colleagues understand, experience and adopt new ways of working. The role combines strategic change management with hands-on delivery and will suit someone who enjoys translating complex workplace programmes into engaging colleague experiences. This includes the design and delivery of engagement campaigns, showcase spaces, workplace tours, leadership experiences, change champion networks and move activation activities that build confidence and readiness ahead of workplace transitions. The programme is entering a critical delivery phase as workplace transitions move from planning into execution. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in preparing colleagues for relocation, designing and delivering colleague engagement experiences, and creating memorable transition moments that build confidence and excitement for the future workplace. The role does not end at the point of transition. A key measure of success will be how effectively the change has landed, and the extent to which new workplace behaviours are adopted and sustained following relocation. Post-move, the successful candidate will work closely with colleagues, leaders and change champions to gather feedback and lessons learned, helping people build confidence in their new environment, make effective use of the workplace and successfully embed new ways of working over time. What You’ll Do As a Director of Change Engagement, you will join a dedicated team of seven delivering what is widely regarded as the highest profile workplace transformation programme in London today. This is a flagship, city defining real estate and workplace change initiative: one that will reshape how thousands of people work, collaborate and experience their environment. Working under the guidance of a senior Change and Programme Lead, you will play a central role in managing the people, process and behavioural impacts of a major workplace and location transition. You will be at the forefront of engagement with employees and stakeholders, helping them understand what is changing, when it is happening, and what it means for them. This includes: Strategic Planning and Change Design

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the client, shaping workplace transformation and employee experience strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Conduct thorough change impact assessments, readiness assessments, stakeholder analysis, and discovery activities to inform strategy development.
• Develop evidence-based change and engagement plans, frameworks, tools and interventions that support the adoption of new ways of working. Program & Stakeholder Leadership
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with stakeholders across all organisational levels, gaining their buy-in to the change and leveraging their support as necessary and appropriate.
• Lead the delivery of targeted change interventions tailored to the scale, complexity and culture of the organisation.
• Act as a trusted advisor on workplace adoption, employee experience and change management best practice. Colleague Engagement, Communications & Workplace Activation
• Lead the design and delivery of engagement activities that bring the future workplace experience to life.
• Develop and deliver colleague engagement initiatives including but not limited to: workplace showcases, immersive tours, change champion programs, pop-up events, workshops.
• Create impactful move-readiness and Day 1 experiences that build confidence and support successful workplace transitions.
• Develop communications and engagement materials that generate awareness, excitement and readiness for change.
• Partner with workplace, moves, facilities, technology and communications teams to deliver a seamless employee experience before, during and after transition Adoption, Measurement & Continuous Improvement
• Measure the effectiveness of engagement, communication and adoption activities through qualitative and quantitative feedback.
• Monitor adoption of new workplace behaviours, identifying opportunities for additional support and intervention.
• Refine approaches based on feedback, program insights and measured outcomes.
• Conduct post-transition reviews and recommend actions to sustain change and maximise benefits realisation. Client & Account Leadership
• Build trusted relationships with client stakeholders and the programme team across multiple functions.
• Act as a senior CBRE representative on colleague engagement, workplace activation and workplace adoption.
• Identify opportunities to enhance programme outcomes and bring additional value to the client.
• Support account growth activities, contributing to proposals, business development opportunities and strategic client conversations where appropriate.
• Support programme financial management, including resource planning, forecasting and monthly billing processes. People & Practice Leadership
• Lead, develop and mentor Change Management colleagues, building capability across the change management practice.
• Provide day-to-day line management, coaching and performance development for team members.
• Drive continuous improvement through the development of methodologies, tools, frameworks and best practice.
• Contribute to recruitment, talent development and succession planning initiatives.
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative team culture. Important: The Workplace Change Manager will be required to liaise with clients, senior leaders, line managers, change champions as well as the wider and extensive programme team. They need to be comfortable operating at all levels of the organisation. The ability to confidently and sensitively influence others to deliver a common goal will be paramount. 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.
• Business Development and Commercial Leadership: proven ability to develop client relationships, identify growth opportunities and contribute to revenue generation.
• Experience-led mindset: Able to think creatively about how people experience change, designing engaging interventions that build confidence, excitement and readiness.
• Financial Acumen: understanding of project commercials, forecasting, budgeting and profitability management. Essential Experience
• Leading Workplace Change: significant experience leading workplace transformation programmes and people-focused change initiatives, including preparing colleagues for new ways of working, supporting successful adoption, measuring change outcomes and embedding sustainable behavioural change.
• 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:
• Any Change management certifications (e.g., Prosci, ACMP's Certified Change Management Professional)
• Coaching qualifications 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.