People Consulting – Associate Director

Ernst & Young Global Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global consulting firm in Johannesburg is seeking an Associate Director for their People Consulting team. This role involves leading complex Change Management initiatives and transformation programs that foster sustainable business results. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and communication skills, with a proven track record in Change Management, ideally with 8-10 years of experience. Competitive compensation and dynamic work environments are offered, along with opportunities for professional growth.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in Change Management.
• Previous consulting experience preferred.
• Experience in leading and implementing Change Management programmes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a Change Management strategy.
• Lead Change Management initiatives across the organisation.
• Oversee a team of Change Management professionals.
• Conduct impact analyses and manage key stakeholders.
• Design and execute communication and engagement plans.
• Monitor the adoption of changes and report metrics to leadership.

Skills

Change Management

Leadership

Communication Skills

Analytical Thinking

Stakeholder Management

Education

Relevant postgraduate qualification

Tools

Change Management Certification (e.g., Prosci)

Job description

Job title

People Consulting – Associate Director

Job Location

Gauteng, Johannesburg

Deadline

December 25, 2025

Quick Links

• Jobs by Location
• Job by industries

Job description

• People Consulting shapes and delivers the part of business strategy that depends on people. As a People Consulting professional, you will have the opportunity to work with global clients to understand and address some of their largest and most complex people-related challenges, and ultimately improve and drive sustainable business results. We focus on engagements that relate to the Human Capital value chain in totality, including, but not limited to, Organisation Design, Change Management, Talent Management, Learning, Transactions and Reward.
• In joining EY, you will gain access to valuable experiences and a wealth of knowledge and thought leadership by working across capabilities, service offerings, sectors and geographies. Whenever you join, and no matter how long your stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime.

Job summary

• As a member of the People Consulting team, focused on designing and implementing large-scale, complex, global transformation programmes across various sectors, you will join a talented group of professionals that help support and improve businesses through their various types of transformation.

Key responsibilities

• As a Senior Manager specialising in Change Management, you will be a key resource on business transformation projects for our clients. From a technical perspective, you will be responsible for the following :
• Developing and implementing a Change Management strategy that supports the organisation's vision and business objectives
• Leading Change Management initiatives across the organisation, including technology rollouts, process improvements, organisational restructuring, cultural change, etc.
• Overseeing a team of Change Management professionals, providing guidance, training and performance management
• Conducting impact analyses, assessing change readiness, and identifying and actively managing key stakeholders
• Designing and executing communication and engagement plans to ensure all affected parties are aware of the changes and understand their roles within the transition
• Creating training programmes and materials to facilitate effective knowledge transfer and skill development for changes
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including IT, HR, project management, and departmental leaders, to align Change Management activities with business goals
• Monitoring the adoption of changes and gauging the effectiveness of Change Management activities, making adjustments as necessary
• Managing resistance to change through proactive engagement, negotiation and conflict resolution
• Establishing metrics and KPIs to measure the success of Change Management efforts and report regularly to senior leadership
• Acting as a Strategic Advisor to the client, integrating knowledge and insights from all areas of the business and streams of the transformation project to deliver an all-encompassing and seamless change experience for stakeholders
• Developing and coaching leaders of the organisation to be true Change Leaders who drive the change through all levels of the business
• In this role, you should be able to deliver quality client service, analyse complex problems and deliver insightful solutions, while also managing resources to deliver on the project objectives. You will also be expected to have advanced written and verbal communication skills, excellent attention to detail, be able to engage in critical thinking, take initiative, and be able to quickly integrate into new teams and rapidly establish relationships both internally and externally. More specifically, the successful candidate should :
• Demonstrate technical competence in Change Management and take a practical / business-driven approach to solving complex client challenges
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams and engagements
• Stay up-to-date with key technical and functional skills, as well as industry trends
• Go the extra mile to deliver high-quality deliverables
• Be able to influence and persuade clients and stakeholders to gain support for any major change initiatives and / or decisions
• Demonstrate leadership abilities and be able to coach and manage members of the team
• Encourage and facilitate collaboration amongst team members, and promote an inclusive working environment
• Be able to identify and help manage any potential issues and risks during a client assignment
• Lead business development and client pursuit activities
• Identify and flag any follow-on engagement opportunities
• Support and lead certain engagement activities from planning through to implementation
• Be able to remain calm and composed in stressful situations
• Be proactive and take initiative
• Be comfortable dealing with ambiguity, embrace uncertainty and adapt swiftly to changing situations
• Be able to work in a fast-paced environment

To qualify, candidates must have :

• Relevant postgraduate qualification
• Certification in Change Management methodology (e.g. Prosci) is advantageous
• Relevant professional experience, for example, previous Consulting experience and/or experience in successfully leading and implementing Change Management programmes for large-scale transformation projects
• At least 8 to 10 years’ experience in Change Management
• Human Resources jobs