Senior Change Manager

University of Newcastle; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Newcastle is seeking a Senior Change Manager to lead and influence strategic change initiatives. The role requires strong expertise in change management and excellent stakeholder engagement skills to enhance digital transformation. This full-time position offers competitive remuneration and is based onsite at Callaghan NSW.

Benefits

Competitive remuneration

Flexible working arrangements

17% superannuation and salary packaging

Generous personal and parental leave

Discounts on health insurance and gym memberships

Wellbeing programs

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading large-scale change initiatives.
• Strong capability in stakeholder engagement and collaboration.
• Excellent communication skills in a complex environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic change management initiatives across the organization.
• Provide expert advice to senior leaders on change readiness and adoption.
• Design communication and training strategies for new systems.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Digital transformation

Strategic communication

Education

Relevant qualifications in Change Management or a related field

Job description

• Lead transformative, high-profile digital programs that shape the future of the University.
• Work in a forward-looking technology environment committed to innovation and customer success.
• Influence and build change capability across a large and diverse organisation.
• Onsite role based at Callaghan NSW

Are you an influential change leader who thrives in complexity? Do you want to help shape the future of a University committed to excellence, innovation and equity? We are seeking experienced Senior Change Managers to lead strategic, enterprise-wide change initiatives that support the University of Newcastle’s Looking Ahead Strategic Plan

The role

The Senior Change Manager plays a key leadership role in planning, delivering and governing change across major digital and organisational initiatives. You will provide expert guidance to executive sponsors, senior leaders and project teams, ensuring change strategies are aligned with organisational priorities and that the benefits of digital transformation are fully realised.

Working within Digital Technology Solutions (DTS) you will drive adoption of new systems, services and practices, uplift change capability across the division, and embed the University’s Customer Success and change frameworks.

This is a high-impact role where your leadership will directly influence organisational readiness, staff experience, adoption outcomes and the success of major digital programs.

What you’ll do

• Lead the development and support the delivery of strategic change management approaches across complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Provide high-level advice to executive sponsors and senior leaders on change impacts, readiness, risks and adoption pathways.
• Design and deliver communications, engagement and training strategies that build awareness, capability and long-term adoption of new services and technologies.
• Conduct change and user impact assessments, readiness analyses and benefits realisation reviews, recommending actions to improve outcomes.
• Influence decision-making and prioritisation within DTS through expert insights and evidence-based recommendations.
• Oversee decommissioning activities and transition processes as legacy systems are replaced.
• Mentor and coach DTS staff and project teams to uplift organisational change capability.
• Contribute to continuous improvement, communities of practice and the evolution of the University’s change methodology.
• Foster strong relationships across DTS, Colleges and Divisions to support communication flow and effective engagement.

This full time position is fixed term until December 2027 at a HEW 9 Higher Education Worker Level and will be based onsite at the Callaghan Campus

About you

You are a confident and strategic change leader who brings deep experience in enterprise transformation, digital change, stakeholder engagement and benefits realisation. You thrive in environments with multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and high expectations. You are an excellent communicator—clear, influential, and strategic—with the ability to guide senior decision-makers while supporting teams on the ground to navigate change successfully.

About our University

The University of Newcastle stands as a global leader distinguished by a commitment to equity and excellence. Our vision is to be a world-leading University for our regions and creating a better future for our regions and the globe. Underpinned by this vision and our values of excellence, equity, engagement and sustainability, the University of Newcastle’s Looking Ahead Strategic Plan 2020-2025 outlines the University’s commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience and serving our communities.

For more information click here – Our Uni.

What we offer

In addition to working for a university that is breaking boundaries, discovering new ways of thinking and cementing a place as a global leader, we offer a range of benefits to our employees to ensure you balance your commitments, stay healthy and work effectively.

These include:

• Competitive remuneration for this position .commensurate with skills and experience +superannuation in addition to excellent employment conditions in line with University of Newcastle professional staff conditions.
• Flexible working arrangements (in line with the University’s Flexible Work Policy
• 17% super and salary packaging
• Additional University Holiday days, generous personal leave and parental leave, annual leave loading and additional purchased leave scheme
• Discounts in private health insurance, gym memberships, software, travel and more
• Wellbeing programs

Your next steps

Please visit here for a guide on how to apply for a role.

If viewing this on a job board other than the University's please click ‘Apply’ to reach the University's website, where a copy of the Position Description can be accessed. Please download a copy before commencing your application.

Your application must include:

• Your resume
• A cover letter outlining your motivation to apply for this opportunity
• A statement addressing the Essential Criteria listed in the job description demonstrating your qualifications and experience with examples.

To ensure that your application receives full consideration, it's important to structure and address the selection criteria outlined in the application process. This helps us better understand your experience and suitability for the role. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to reviewing your application.

Please upload your Cover Letter and response to the requested Criteria as one PDF document.

Your Cover Letter and Response to the Essential Criteria should not exceed 4 pages (approximately 2,000 words).

Applications for this position will only be accepted from those with Australian residency or a valid work permit. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

For specific position enquiries, please contact Narelle Kidner, Senior Manager, Customer Success(02) 4055 3087 or via email [e-mail]

Having Difficulties? Please reach out to us: [e-mail]

Closing date: Tuesday 9th December 2025 @ 11:59pm AEST

We are excited to be Looking Ahead with you