Senior Project & Change Management Specialist

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The Senior Project and Change Management Specialist plays the key role of supporting and optimizing the project management and change management capabilities within American Equity to ensure successful

project delivery and employee adoption. The role serves as a strategic consults across the organization to prepare the business for change, develop communication and training, and maintain PMO/Technology resources that enable consistent methodologies and effective implementation. The role serves as a consultant for project management and change management needs across the organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leads the development and execution of impactful project management and change management strategies, applying advance expertise to support business goals and objectives, and leadership development initiatives.
• Independently manages and leads complex projects, ensures projects managed are executed on time, in budget, in scope and according to quality and change management standards.
• Completes change management assessments, raise dependency and impact risks as well as potential change resistence and root causes as necessary.
• Creates and maintains detailed project and change plans to identify and sequence activities/deliverables needed to successfully complete projects.
• Provides regularly managed projects status updates and recommendations to key stakeholders. Track and report issues, ownership and accountability of those issues.

• Prepares and equips employees to adopt changes to business processes, systems and technology, job roles, and organizational structures through targeted change management activities.

• Requests communication and training resources based on project and change needs. Define needs, prepare project communication briefs and track/consult on that work.
• Works with Product Delivery Managers and other business leaders to assist with prioritization of projects with the business in alignment with corporate strategic objectives.
• Works with business partners to drive business case creation, leveraging change management methodology approaches to provide special expertise in adoption impact and business readiness.
• Collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders, business segments, and corporate functions to communicate key implementation dates and business impacts.

• Ensures PMO and Technology SharePoint and intranet resources remain current, accurate, and useful to stakeholders by continuously evaluating and updating content.

• Connect with other project managers, business stakeholders, technical partners, Product Delivery Managers and Product Owners as required for project communication and transparency.
• Measures project and change success by tracking and reporting adoption and business impact metrics.
• Drives change methodologies for effective communication across various work environments.
• Supports AE's project and change management training and resources, including content creation and maintenance for our PMO and Technology SharePoint sites and intranet pages.
• Identifies opportunities to improve existing project management and change management frameworks and processes.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Reports: none

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree plus six (6) or more years of proven experience as a Project Manager or Change Manager, or similar role, with a track record of successfully implementing project and change communication, training and employee adoption initiatives.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:

• Project Management certification preferred
• Change Management certification desired (ProSci preferred)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Organized and able to produce high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences as well as effectively engage and influence employees at all levels of the organization toward a common vision or goal.
• Familiarity with project management approaches, frameworks, tools and phases of the project lifecycle.
• Understanding of change management principles, methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Proficient in crafting and creating communication and training across multiple channels.
• Ability to establish and maintain strong relationships with peers and senior leaders.
• Excellent active listening skills.
• Collaborative and proactive approach, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Passion for creating a positive work environment, building project management and change management competencies, and promoting change readiness amongst employees.
• Ability to create, implement and lead programs.
• Proven copywriting/proofreading skills and outstanding attention to detail.

This description covers the major purpose and essential functions of the job. It is not intended to give all details or a step-by-step account of the way each task is to be performed. Employees may receive other job-related instructions and be required to perform other job-related work requested by their manager. All requirements are subject to possible modification to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.