Strategic Change Manager

NATS Ltd; Whiteley; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NATS Ltd seeks a Strategic Change Manager to deliver change management across complex programmes, guiding people readiness, adoption and benefit realisation. You will advise change leaders and project teams, applying NATS’s approach while tailoring to each initiative.

The role requires strong communication, stakeholder management and expert use of change methodologies, with agile and respectful collaboration across functions to minimise resistance and maximise outcomes.

Qualifications

• Considerable experience as a Business Change Manager or similar role.
• Strong understanding and applied skill in using change management methodologies, tools and techniques.
• Certification in Change Management (e.g. APMG, PCI or Prosci).
• Excellent understanding of project and programme management.

Responsibilities

• Change Needs Analysis: diagnose the need for change management support with leaders and teams.
• Change Management Planning & Delivery: define work package, estimate resources and align with delivery plan and benefits.
• Stakeholder Engagement: identify and manage stakeholders and build commitment.
• Change Communication: develop narratives and plans to keep stakeholders informed and reduce resistance.
• Change Impact Assessment: identify impact and mitigations with SMEs and trainers.
• Training: prepare employees for change to reduce adoption delays.
• Risk Management: identify people risks and mitigations; provide updates to PM.
• Business Readiness: assess people readiness against criteria and report findings.
• Evaluation & Continuous Improvement: assess quality of change management and lead improvements.
• Capability Development: strengthen change capabilities through coaching and facilitation.
• Post Implementation: contribute to reviews and handover of responsibilities.
• Functional Leadership Cover: support and deputise for Senior Strategic Change Manager.

Skills

Change management

Stakeholder management

Project management

Communication skills

Facilitation

Coaching

Emotional intelligence

Leadership

Education

Change Management Certification (APMG/Prosci/PCI)

Tools

Change management tools

Job description

NATS is the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, handling over 2.4 million flights each year. We provide air traffic control services from two control centres and at airports around the UK. We also provide a wide range of commercial products and solutions internationally. Our people are at the heart of our purpose to advance aviation and keep the skies safe.

Closing Date: 29/10/2026

Job Purpose/Overview

TheStrategicChange Managerisresponsiblefordelivering change management activitiesforcomplex,criticalor multipleprogrammes or projectsfacilitatingpeoplereadiness,transitionandsuccessfuladoptionforimpacted business areas.

This role acts asthe subject matter expert advising change leaders,programmeand project teams on how to manage the people side of changeminimisingresistance, identifying and mitigating risks,andreducingtheprobabilityofadoption related delay to benefitsrealisation.

TheStrategic Change manager applies NATS’s approach to change management whilst adapting to the unique conditions ofeachchangeinitiative's delivery, monitoring,evaluatingand reporting on theprogress of the change and providing actionable feedback to stakeholders.

Other Duties Include

• Change Needs Analysis: Workclosely with change leaders,projectsandprogrammecolleagues to diagnose the need for change management support,assessingthe complexity,urgencyand scope of requirementofchange initiatives.
• Change Management Planning & Delivery:Define the change management work package and deliverables, estimating resources and managing any delivery constraints.Develop and implementchange managementplansforensuringclearaccountabilitiesandthat theplan isaligned with the project /programmedelivery planandthebenefitsrealisationplan.
• Stakeholder Engagement:Facilitate the identification and management of stakeholders. Ensure their participation in the project/change initiative’s stakeholder engagement plan; offer recommendations that address their needs and concerns and ultimately build commitment.
• Change Communication: Workcloselywithcommunications, benefits and requirementscolleagues to develop the overarchingchange narrative andcommunications planto keep stakeholders suitably informed reducing resistance and fostering collaboration.
• Change Impact AssessmentWork withtechnical subject matter experts, business analystsandtraining colleagues toidentify theimpact of change,develop and implement effectivemitigationsand development activities to supportsmoothtransition andadoption.
• Training: Work with specialist training colleagues to prepare employees for thechangereducing delay to full adoption, business performance and benefits.
• Risk Management:Identifypeople related risks andappropriate mitigationsfor theprogrammeand/or projects. Participate in risk reviews and provide regular updatesto the project /programmemanagerensuringappropriate reportingmechanisms are in place.
• Business Readiness:Managethe assessment ofpeople readiness against an agreed set ofcriteria. Report on thepeople readinessstatusto the projectmanager, project readiness boardsandthesponsormakingrecommendationswhich will prepare the business/operation to successfully implement and sustain change.
• Evaluation & Continuous Improvement:Continually assessthequalityof change managementacross projectsidentifyingand addressingareas for improvementwhich may ariseas a result offormalassurance or informal review. Lead continuous improvement activity as needed to support thedevelopmentof change maturity.Keep up to date with professionaldevelopmentsand apply this knowledge to improve the effectiveness of change management deliveryand the maturation oforganisationalcapability.
• Capability Development: Guideleaders,teamsand less experienced colleaguesinstrengthening theirchange capabilities andbuildresilience through training, mentoring,facilitationand coaching.
• Post Implementation: Contributeto PostImplementationReviewsevaluatingthe successofchangeinitiatives, capturinglessons learnedand ensuring appropriate handover of change management responsibilities for reinforcing the change and ensuring lasting benefitsto impacted areas.
• Functional Leadership Cover:Provide support to, and when required,deputisein full or part for theSeniorStrategic Change Manager.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Considerableexperience as a Business Change Manager, or similar role
• Strong understanding and applied skill in using change management methodologies, tools and techniques.
• Certification in Change Management (e.g. APMG, PCI or Prosci)
• Excellent understanding of project and programme management.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels of the organisation, in person and remotely.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify and mitigate risks and issues.
• Advanced skills in facilitation, workshop design, and delivery
• Strong emotional intelligence, excellent coaching skills and self-awareness.
• Experience of working in regulated and unionised environments would be advantageous.
• Proactive, results and outcome driven; able to work effectively under pressure individually and as part of a team.
• Good management and leadership skills, with the ability to lead and motivate without direct line management authority.
• Passionate and patient in developing talent and capability

Autonomy

• Operate within a broad context set by the Senior Strategic Change Manager.
• Complexity:Navigate organisational change impactingtechnology,processand people.
• Works closely with: change sponsors and leaders,colleagues inportfolio,programmeand project management,requirements and benefits management,assurance,communications, training,change hub managers,operationaland technical colleaguesand business benefit owners. Additionally, external partners and suppliers (e.g.consultants, software suppliers and integrators).

Additional Vacancy Information

We have adopted agile working to provide greater flexibility and increased choice over working arrangements, with the opportunity for this role to work in our modern office facilities as well as remotely. We also welcome discussions on flexible and part-time working arrangements.Find out more here .

If you share our passion to advance aviation and keep the skies safe – we would like to hear from you whatever your age, sex, race, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, visible or invisible disability. Individuals that bring different perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds help us be at the forefront of our industry.

We are proud to offer a fantastic total reward package to help you thrive both personally and professionally - for more information on what NATS can offer you please visit - Why NATS? - NATS

Please note: All staff at NATS are subject to UK Security Vetting and Clearance (SC) and must maintain valid clearance throughout employment. We are unable to progress applications where an applicant does not meet eligibility requirements for clearance. For further guidance, please click here - Security Clearance - NATS.

Department: Improvement & Business Change