Change Management Specialist

Summit Utilities Inc.; Fayetteville (AR); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Utilities, Inc. is seeking a Change Management Specialist (SGL 16) to plan, implement, and support organizational change initiatives across our Arkansas and Maine operations.

The role prioritizes people-side change, employee adoption, and minimizing resistance during new processes and systems. The position offers a hybrid work arrangement in Fayetteville, Little Rock, Fort Smith, or other listed locations, with remote options for Texas candidates and the ability to support broader

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, operations, or related field.
• 2 years of experience in Change Management, process improvement, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Strong understanding of process mapping, standard work, and improvement methodologies.
• Ability to work effectively across functional boundaries.
• Experience supporting CI, Lean, or Kaizen initiatives.
• Certifications in Lean and Org Change Management.
• Familiarity with MOC, operational governance, or regulated environments.
• Experience partnering with PMO, IT, or transformation teams.
• Background in utilities, or operations heavy environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement change management strategies and plans that maximize employee adoption and minimize resistance to change.
• Partner with project managers and business leaders to integrate change management activities into project plans.
• Conduct change impact assessments, readiness assessments, and stakeholder analyses.
• Identify risks, resistance points, and performance gaps; develop mitigation strategies to address them.
• Design, develop, and deliver communication plans, training materials, and engagement activities.
• Support leaders and managers through coaching and guidance to help reinforce change.
• Track and measure change adoption, utilization, and effectiveness using defined metrics.
• Prepare status reports, presentations, and updates for stakeholders and leadership.
• Tracking, reporting, escalating, and resolving project issues and risks.
• Reporting project status and progress to senior management and sponsors.
• Assisting project teams in defining project scope, goals, requirements, approach, and deliverables supporting the business objectives.
• Working closely with business leads and business analysts in requirements gathering, User Acceptance Testing, and cutover planning.
• Working with business leads and the Training team in Change Management planning and communication.
• Coordinating with Business and IT Leads to deliver smaller scope system enhancements and/or resolve system issues via Jira ticketing process.
• Reviewing current project management procedures, identifying areas for improvement, and working with PMO leadership to implement changes.

Skills

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Training & enablement

Leadership

Coaching

Risk identification

Process mapping

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, operations, or related field

Certifications in Lean and Org Change Management

Tools

Jira

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Change Management Specialist

Full-Time FAYETTEVILLE, AR, US

Join our growing team and discover why Summit Utilities, Inc. continues to earn national and regional recognition as an employer of choice. Our recognitions include Best Places to Work in Maine (2019–2025); Best Places to Work in Arkansas (2020, 2023, 2025); Best Places to Work in Oklahoma (2022–2025); Best Places to Work in Missouri (2023 and 2026); Best Places to Work in Colorado (2025); Forbes America’s Best Small Employers (2023); and, most recently, Proud and Purposeful Employer (2026).

Summit is a growing natural gas utility that’s committed to delivering reliable energy to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers, and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.

We are pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for a Change Management Specialist (SGL 16) to join our team. This position is available on ahybrid basis in Little Rock, Fort Smith, or Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Portland, Maine. We will also consider candidates in Texas who are able to work remotely.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Change Management Specialist is responsible for planning, implementing, and supporting organizational change initiatives to ensure successful adoption of new processes, systems, technologies, and organizational structures. This role focuses on the people side of change by minimizing resistance, increasing engagement, and helping employees’ transition effectively during periods of change.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement change management strategies and plans that maximize employee adoption and minimize resistance to change.
• Partner with project managers and business leaders to integrate change management activities into project plans.
• Conduct change impact assessments, readiness assessments, and stakeholder analyses.
• Identify risks, resistance points, and performance gaps; develop mitigation strategies to address them.
• Design, develop, and deliver communication plans, training materials, and engagement activities.
• Support leaders and managers through coaching and guidance to help reinforce change.
• Track and measure change adoption, utilization, and effectiveness using defined metrics.
• Prepare status reports, presentations, and updates for stakeholders and leadership.
• Tracking, reporting, escalating, and resolving project issues and risks.
• Reporting project status and progress to senior management and sponsors.
• Assisting project teams in defining project scope, goals, requirements, approach, and deliverables supporting the business objectives.
• Working closely with business leads and business analysts in requirements gathering, User Acceptance Testing, and cutover planning.
• Working with business leads and the Training team in Change Management planning and communication.
• Coordinating with Business and IT Leads to deliver smaller scope system enhancements and/or resolve system issues via Jira ticketing process.
• Reviewing current project management procedures, identifying areas for improvement, and working with PMO leadership to implement changes.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, operations, or related field
• 2 years of experience in Change Management, process improvement, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
• Strong understanding of process mapping, standard work, and improvement methodologies
• Ability to work effectively across functional boundaries
• Experience supporting CI, Lean, or Kaizen initiatives
• Certifications in Lean and Org Change Management
• Familiarity with MOC, operational governance, or regulated environments
• Experience partnering with PMO, IT, or transformation teams
• Background in utilities, or operations heavy‑ environments

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Change impact and readiness assessment
• Stakeholder engagement and communication
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Training and enablement support
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Leadership and Coaching influence

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice and support to our employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home.

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status.