Change Management Specialist

SMUD is seeking an experienced Change Practitioner with deep knowledge and experience in Organizational Development and Effectiveness to partner with leadership to drive and support continuous improvement through effective change management. Navigating through today's dynamic utility business means facilitating change and development as we adapt to a hybrid culture, increase our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and cultivate innovation to achieve our ambitious zero carbon goal while maintaining our high level of safety, reasonable rates, service, and reliability. This position will help SMUD preserve its collaborative and inclusive employee culture as we undergo significant technology transformations.

Recent projects include managing change for the adoption of new core competencies for the enterprise, and a new application for scheduling complex maintenance work in our energy delivery business area.

Please note:

This role will be a hybrid role that may require being on-campus at SMUD from time to time. Currently the role is required on-campus one designated day every week, and specific leadership or project meetings held in person.

Purpose

As a member of the Workforce, Diversity & Enterprise Partnerships, the Business Transformation Specialist delivers culture and/or technology change management and organizational solutions and development strategies that empower all employees to actively support change initiatives with a strong focus on minimizing impact to business performance while increasing benefits realization, ROI and results for SMUD.

Nature and Scope

This is the subject matter expert in organizational change and business transformation; works independently on projects of major complexity; exercises independent judgment and discretion; may serve in a lead role and assist in planning, coordinating, prioritizing, monitoring and evaluating the work results in assigned area and in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating and developing lower-level personnel.

Duties and Responsibilities

- Partners with leadership, business relationship managers, subject matter experts and consultants to create strategic roadmaps and identify key organizational enablers in support of specific business transformation efforts.

- Designs, implements and measures end to end customized change management solutions, including HRIS technologies, taking into account organizational context, business needs, and industry specific requirements.

- Supports enterprise and business unit transformation/change initiatives using change management frameworks ensuring minimal impact to business performance and maximum speed to business benefit realization.

- Develops knowledge and understanding of key business functions and the challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed to implement technology and/or culture changes; applies a structured framework to assess the need for change, change impact; size the change and proposes the right level of project management, change management and other services.

- Engages with stakeholders across all levels of SMUD to ensure business readiness to adapt to evolving technology, processes, and organizational structures.

- Promotes progressive advancement of the desired culture for the enterprise and supports change management by providing advice and guidance to the business unit; facilitates internal collaboration across all subject matter experts.

- Champions new and existing technologies, enhancements, and initiatives and ensures a strong partnership and mutually beneficial acceptance of and accountability for both workforce and business unit needs.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

- Coaches leadership and change stakeholders in the development of problem solving, organization change, team building, and conflict resolution skills by modeling a positive, constructive attitude for change; teaching methods to manage resistance to change in process re-engineering and change management projects conducted with diverse work groups throughout SMUD; and by directly advocating the benefits of business process and organization change.

- Monitors, guides, reviews, and conducts work activities associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plan/contract.

- Assists in ensuring operational elements that affect financial and resource forecasts are on track; including but not limited to: accuracy of project plans for the duration of the project, customer satisfaction, and accurate revenue recognition (time sheets, billing documents, etc) as needed.

- Assists in planning, developing, and/or implementing operating performance standards

- Measurement tools utilizing business intelligence data, reports, dashboards, etc.

- Develops and implements employee communication and training strategies for the business unit to support ongoing initiatives, programs, and processes.

- Partners with Business Relationship Managers, Project Management offices, IT partners to effectively integrate technology and change management deliverables into project planning, budgeting, project management processes; facilitates planning and discussion with senior and executive leadership as necessary.

- Supports post-go live value realization through monitoring, evaluating and reporting on workforce program productivity, effectiveness, efficiency and suggests improvements where necessary.

- Performs related duties as required.

Required Education

BA/BS degree from an accredited college or university majoring in Business Administration, Organization Effectiveness, Information Technology or other related discipline or related field or equivalent experience (if no relevant degree, nine (9+) or more years of experience required).

Required Experience Qualifications

Five (5+) or more years of progressively responsible experience influencing executives and senior leaders in the areas of business transformation, change management, planning and/or process design and implementation and/or continuous improvement. Working knowledge and/or experience leading an organization through large scale technology (ERP or technology-enabled transformation programs) and non-technology change. Proven experience in project/program management and business transformation.

Knowledge Of

Principles and practices of organization development, including individual and organizational change management; knowledge and understanding of how organizations and people go through change; principles and practices of relationship building, influence and communication; business operational knowledge including the application and administration of policies, rules, regulations and operating procedures, as well as business planning; application of operational excellence, process improvement, process modeling, project management and strategic planning best practices; fundamentals of HCM and human resources practices; principles and practices of safety management training; collaborative work practices, effective communication, facilitation and coaching techniques, project management methods, principles, and practices.

Desirable Qualifications

- Seven plus years of progressive experience in a primary change management role supporting business, ERP or technology-enabled transformation programs.

- Progressive experience in using lean/six sigma methodologies to drive significant cost reduction and waste elimination.

- Proven experience delivering significant business benefits during successful SAP or other technology and/or business transformation implementations.

- Experience designing and implementing programs and strategies to support employee engagement and/or organizational culture.

- PMP certification, Lean Six Sigma or Lean Sensei experience; belt certification (Black or Green).

- PROSCI certification.

Required Licenses/Certificates

Change Management Certification - CCMP or similar

Remote Work

This position may be eligible for SMUD's remote work employee benefit, the schedule of which will be determined by the successful candidate and the Hiring Manager. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to remote work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.

We recommend you create a SMUD Candidate account through our SMUD Careers page, upload your resume and cover letter to be considered for this and other open position.