Organizational Change Management Lead - OCM Lead

Job Title: Organizational Change Management Lead
Location: Candidate must be in Oregon or Washington
Remote: Yes, with occasional travel to client site
Period: 03/03/2025 – 04/25/2025 (with strong likelihood of extension)
Hours/Week: 40 hours
Rate: $100 – $120/hour based on experience
Contract Type: W-2 or 1099

Scope of Services:

The Organizational Change Management Lead will support a utilities client in integrating people, processes, and technology during a critical transformation initiative. This role will involve conducting an initial assessment of the organization’s current state, identifying gaps in processes and technology, and developing a comprehensive implementation plan for future state transformation. The OCM Lead will be responsible for strategically leading the change management process to drive success, aligning stakeholder engagement, and delivering recommendations for sustained impact. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in managing organizational change, improving business processes, and aligning people and technology to achieve business goals.

Role, Responsibilities & Deliverables:

• Initial Assessment & Gap Analysis: Conduct an in-depth evaluation of the current state, identifying gaps in business processes, technology, and workforce capabilities. Develop an actionable plan to address these gaps and improve the alignment between people, processes, and technology.
• Change Management Strategy: Develop a comprehensive change management strategy, defining the vision, objectives, and key success factors for driving successful transformation in the organization.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with stakeholders across various departments (HR, IT, Operations, etc.), and provide leadership to foster buy-in and commitment to the changes. Collaborate with leaders to ensure alignment on strategic direction and deliverables.
• Implementation Plan: Develop a detailed implementation plan to operationalize the change management strategy, with clear milestones, timelines, and responsibilities. Ensure that the plan includes processes for effective communication, training, and ongoing support.
• Risk Mitigation & Strategy Refinement: Identify potential risks and challenges during the implementation of the transformation, and develop strategies to mitigate them. Adjust the change management approach based on feedback and lessons learned to ensure continued progress.
• Training & Development: Support the development and execution of training programs to ensure employees are equipped to effectively manage new systems and processes. Provide guidance on training needs, materials, and schedules.
• Reporting & Communication: Provide regular updates to senior leadership on project progress, identifying any issues and recommending solutions. Ensure that all communications regarding the transformation are clear, timely, and targeted to the right stakeholders.
• Final Recommendations & Transition Plan: At the end of the engagement, provide a comprehensive final report summarizing activities, deliverables, and recommendations for future phases or sustained impact.

Required Experience:

• Change Management Expertise: 8 years of experience leading organizational change initiatives, with a focus on people, processes, and technology alignment.
• Utilities Industry Experience: Experience in the utilities industry, particularly within electric energy, is strongly preferred.
• Process Improvement: Proven ability to assess current state processes, identify inefficiencies, and develop improvements that align with business goals.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Experience in building and managing relationships with senior leaders, cross-functional teams, and other key stakeholders.
• Project Management: Solid experience in managing and delivering complex transformation initiatives, including defining project scope, managing timelines, and delivering results.
• Consulting Skills: Demonstrated ability to provide consultative expertise to clients, delivering tailored solutions that meet specific business needs.
• Technology Integration: Familiarity with integrating change management strategies within large-scale technology implementations.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to diverse audiences.

Key Skills:

• Leadership: Ability to lead, motivate, and influence cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
• Strategic Thinking: Strong ability to think strategically and execute on plans that drive business transformation and performance improvement.
• Change Management Methodology: Deep knowledge of change management frameworks such as PROSCI, ADKAR, and others, and the ability to apply them in practical, real-world scenarios.
• Risk Management: Ability to identify risks, analyze them, and develop strategies to mitigate them to ensure the success of the project.
• Consulting: Ability to engage clients effectively, providing strategic advice and solutions that align with their business needs.
• Adaptability: Ability to navigate changing priorities and challenges, and remain focused on achieving key outcomes.

Education & Certifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Organizational Development, Human Resources, or related field.
• Certifications: PROSCI Change Management Certification (required); Project Management Professional (PMP) or Agile Certification is a plus.
• Additional Qualifications: Experience with Lean Six Sigma, ITIL, or similar frameworks is beneficial.