Assistant Director of IT Change Management

Assistant Director of IT Change Management (Hybrid; 2 – 5 Year Term)

*No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

What is Cornell University and what is Information Technology @ Cornell?

Cornell University, unique among peers, is the federal land-grant institution of New York State, a private endowed university, and a member of the Ivy League. Information technologies (IT) is a strategic enabler for many functions at Cornell. Staff working in IT are found in most colleges and units across Cornell. We are comprised of many organizations, but we work as one. By being where Cornell faculty, staff, and students are, we are better able to offer support—whether needed at your desktop or to solve a major business, academic or research objective—to everyone at Cornell. Check out this link to find out more about IT@Cornell. The Strategy and Innovation team supports the office of the Vice President and Chief Global Information Officer (CGIO) and Ithaca campus CIO in the development and execution of technology strategy.

The Opportunity

The Assistant Director of IT Change Management is responsible for people change management planning and readiness activities across a variety of IT projects and initiatives within the university. Reporting to the IT Director of Digital Innovation & Strategy with dotted lines to communications leads on the Ithaca campus and Weill Cornell Medicine, the Assistant Director of IT Change Management is a champion of change management and the culture of learning. They play a pivotal role in the successful, timely adoption and utilization of strategic changes introduced by large, complex IT programs to help realize short- and long-term benefits across the organization.

The initial focus of this role is a multi-year ERP and CRM modernization program that encompasses Cornell’s five, multi-locational, campuses with complex, decentralized and versatile operating models. The Assistant Director of IT Change Management works closely with multiple project teams, senior leaders, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders to ensure sound understanding of diverse user interests, varying micro cultures, and development of effective change networks and strategies leading to seamless adoption and effective use of the new systems and processes. They have a strong focus on the people side of change, helping to prepare, support, and enable individuals to transition to new processes, systems, and roles including identifying and addressing the impacts on job roles, organizational structures, and business processes.

The Assistant Director of IT Change Management cultivates a culture of change management for technology services and associated processes and serves as a resource for individuals seeking to develop or improve their skills in IT change management. 

The Assistant Director of IT Change Management is a holistic thinker and an empathic leader with a strong background in change management methodologies, excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence and engage stakeholders and teams at all levels. As a critical partner in program leadership, the individual works closely with project managers, business analysts, communication leads, other IT and business leaders to support service delivery-related readiness activities for organizations and departments that will be impacted. They ensure key IT initiatives are successfully executed and implemented to drive higher stakeholder engagement, faster adoption/buy-in and proficiency, and comfort with the new change whether it be a new business process or policy, or new/upgraded technology platform or application.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

What We Need

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree. Equivalent combination of education and experience can be considered if a degree is in progress.
• Seven (7)+ years of experience in organizational change management with a strong understanding of change management principles, methodologies, and tools and a proven track record of successful change initiatives.
• Proven ability to successfully manage, influence and drive consensus, compromise and commonal