Job Description
Introduction of role:
The Change Management Senior Specialist is a vital role in the Change Management Office of the Global Business Solutions (GBS) Enterprise Services team. As our company navigates the complexities of a rapidly-evolving business environment, this expert role ensures that our internal client organizations not only adapt to these changes but do so in a way that is strategic, organized, and minimally disruptive to our operations.
This role will work closely with various stakeholders, departments, and leaders across our organization to drive change initiatives, enhance business processes, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. By aligning change strategies with the overarching goals of projects and / or programs supported by this role, the Change Management Senior Specialist plays an instrumental role in shaping our organization's future and ensuring our sustained success in a global marketplace.
Main responsibilities:
The main responsibilities of the Change Management Senior Specialist include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Develop and implement change management strategies: Formulate strategies and establish a roadmap that ensures successful adoption of change initiatives. This includes conducting readiness assessments and stakeholder analysis.
- Design and manage communication initiatives: Lead the planning, development, and execution of communication strategies regarding change initiatives, ensuring that all affected parties are informed, engaged, and prepared for upcoming changes.
- Conduct impact analyses and assess change readiness: Analyze potential impacts of the proposed changes, assess how ready the organization and its people are for the change, and devise strategies to manage any areas of resistance.
- Develop training and support for management: Provide necessary training, coaching, and resources to managers and supervisors, helping them guide their teams through the transition effectively. This can include the effective collaboration with third-party training providers.
- Stakeholder management: Engage with key stakeholders to understand their views and manage their expectations, ensuring they are prepared for the change and their concerns and issues are addressed.
- Collaborate with project teams: Coordinate closely with project managers to integrate change management activities into existing project plans, ensuring all activities align with the larger project goals.
- Monitor and evaluate the change: Evaluate the effectiveness of change initiatives, use data to report outcomes, and make necessary adjustments to the strategy to ensure alignment with the business objectives.
Required qualifications:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience leading organizational change management (OCM) initiatives in a corporate environment (project management experience is a strong asset)
- Up-to-date professional change management certifications through recognized bodies (e.g. ACMP, Prosci)
- Experience with applying specific change management models and frameworks, such as the Prosci ADKAR model or the ACMP Standard
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, Communications, Political Science or a related field
- Excellent understanding of change management principles, methodologies, and tools
- Proficiency in project management approaches, tools, and phases of the project lifecycle
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience with communications (e.g. Poppulo) and visual design tools (e.g. Canva) are a strong advantage.
- Master’s degree in Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, Political Science, Communications, or a related field
- Familiarity with project management software (e.g. Jira, Microsoft Project)
Required skills:
- Excellent communication skills in English: The capacity to convey information clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences, using both written and verbal communication.
- Diplomatic assertiveness: The ability to assert oneself in a respectful and diplomatic manner, particularly when addressing resistance or pushback to change.
- Networking and influencing: The ability to build strong relationships across hierarchies and effectively influence others.
- Empathetic leadership: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others, particularly when dealing with resistance to change. Evoking inspiration and motivation in others, leading them through periods of change.
- AI literacy and digital adaptability: aptitude in using generative AI technology and enterprise AI tools to accelerate the delivery of change management assets (e.g. drafting comms, synthesizing feedback data).
- Creativity: The ability to think outside the box and develop innovative solutions to manage and implement change.
- Problem-solving skills: The ability to identify issues and create effective solutions in a timely manner.
- Storytelling and visualization: The ability to articulate business content in an engaging and comprehensible manner. Excellent presentation skills and proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint are must-haves to be successful in this role.
Additional location(s) Compensation Information:
Required Skills:
Business Decisions, Business Support, Change Management, Communication Management, Customer Technical Support, Data Analysis, Detail-Oriented, Driving Continuous Improvement, Financial Operations, Impact Analysis, Leading Project Teams, Lean Six Sigma Continuous Improvement, Management Development, Organizational Change Management, Process Standardization, Project Management Methodology (PMM), Project Management Tools, Stakeholder Analysis, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Technical Project Management, Vendor Management
Preferred Skills:
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Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
11/4/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
