Job ID #31776: Senior Change Specialist

Contribute to the City of Hamilton, one of Canada’s largest cities - home to a diverse and strong economy, an active and inclusive community, a robust cultural and dining scene, hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and natural beauty just minutes from the downtown core, and so much more. Join our diverse team of talented and ambitious staff who embody our values of sensational service, courageous change, steadfast integrity, collective ownership and being engaged empowered employees. Help us achieve our vision of being the best place to raise a child and age successfully. #BeTheReason

• Job ID #31776: Senior Change Specialist - Enterprise Portfolio Management and Transformation Office
• Union: Non-Union
• Job Description ID #: 7804
• Close date: Interested applicants please submit your application online at www.hamilton.ca/city-council/jobs-city by 4:00 p.m. on March 11, 2026. 
• Duration: up to 24 months
• Vacancy type: This posting is for an existing vacancy 
• Internal applicants should apply with your work e-mail address. External applicants are considered only after the internal posting process has been completed. Only applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted.

SUMMARY OF DUTIES

Reporting to the Director Enterprise Portfolio Management, the position will contribute to a dynamic team of professionals. The successful candidate will act as the Senior Change Specialist in support of project and portfolio activities city-wide supporting the Enterprise Portfolio Management and Transformation Office with the objective of developing and implementing change strategies that will positively affect the implementation of initiatives aimed at Building Back Better and Stronger and to improve the delivery of customer service to enhance public service to the community following the Cyber event.

Leads the development and execution of the City’s corporate change management plan and city-wide change strategy to enable a sustained culture shift toward continuous improvement and customer experience excellence. This role drives adoption and behavioural change across departments by building readiness, removing barriers, strengthening change leadership capability, and embedding change expectations into day-to-day operations and people practices.

The Senior Change Specialist provides strategic change management support for enterprise transformational initiatives, ensuring organizational readiness, adoption, and sustainability of change. Partnering with project sponsors and delivery teams, the role assesses impacts, mitigates resistance, and integrates change activities with project execution to enable consistent adoption of new systems, processes, and ways of working across the organization.

This role will provide leadership to subordinate staff and represents the Director on enterprise project teams as directed. The Senior Change Specialist will be accountable for ensuring that initiatives are delivered in accordance with City and Provincial guidelines through effective and efficient use of financial and staff resources. Using a "best practices" approach, develops and delivers quality services in a timely and cost-effective manner.

GENERAL DUTIES

Provides leadership and supports the development, implementation, and management of a city-wide change strategy by developing strategies and tactical plans and providing support and guidance to process owners and key stakeholders. 

Change Management and Communications

• Provide leadership and facilitate staff development in the utilization of change management strategies and tactics, problem solving approaches and priority setting tools for the execution of projects.
  
• Evaluate and apply a structured methodology and develop change management activities.
• Develop and apply a change management strategy and associated plan, such as ADKAR, Kotter or AIM, and tools to create a strategy to support adoption of the changes required by the Transform Office initiatives.
  
• Manage communication efforts for the Transformation Office in conjunction with Corporate Communications.
• Design, develop, and deliver communications strategy and plan in conjunction with Corporate Communications.
• Assess the change impact. Preparation of forecasts and evaluation of the actual impact of changes.
• Identification of potential risks for resistance as well as development of plans to mitigate.
• Conduct impact analyses, assess change readiness and identify key stakeholders.
• Work with training and operations to support training efforts.
• Conduct needs analysis, provide input, document requirements and support the design and delivery of training programs.
• Engage and collaborate within the Department and others in the organization to facilitate significant operational changes that have effective impact and are in alignment with Corporate standards.
• Make recommendations to the Director Enterprise Portfolio Management, on effectiveness of change management strategies and approaches implemented.
• Provide leadership and facilitate staff development in the utilization of problem solving and priority setting tools for the execution of projects.
• Plan and facilitate meetings, conduct interviews, and run working sessions.
• Develop strategic change management recommendations in response to identified process improvements, implementation and potential job assessment and redesign requirements.
• Work with teams to analyze, re-engineer and implement streamlined business processes to optimize workflow associated with change management.
• Prepare and present reports on efficiency and effectiveness activities and plans to project team and senior levels of staff.
• Ensure consistency through the implementation of consistent tools and methodologies while maintaining appropriate documentation which clearly illustrates project progress and success at completion.
• Coordinate and manage project activities effectively and ensure they are delivered on time, on budget, and to agreed quality standards.
• Participate in defining project scope and champion stakeholder needs; Develop comprehensive business requirements and establish key deliverables and success metrics.
• Regularly communicate/interface and build strong relationships with all appropriate stakeholders and project team members.
• Perform such other duties as may be assigned, which are directly related to the normal job function 

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through the completion of a degree or diploma in Business, Management or other related fields and with certification in Change Management. Candidates with equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
2. Experience in managing change management initiatives.
3. Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences.
4. Ability to influence others and move toward a common vision or goal. Able to work effectively at all levels in an organization.
5. Flexible and adaptable; able to work in ambiguous situations.
6. Resilient and tenacious with a propensity to persevere.
7. Organized with a natural inclination for planning strategy and tactics.
8. Acute business acumen and understanding of organizational issues and challenges.
9. Experience with large-scale organizational change efforts.
10. Solid project management change management skills with strong ability to design appropriate strategies to achieve desired results.
11. Excellent communication skills (both oral and written), with the ability to communicate with all levels of staff, stakeholders, and the general public.
12. Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
13. Strong leadership, coaching, and performance management skills with the ability to lead staff and teams.
14. A team player with excellent customer service and interpersonal skills, able to respect and deal with highly confidential and sensitive issues.
15. Solid understanding of project management approaches, tools, and phases of the project lifecycle.

THIS POSITION REQUIRES A VALID CLASS “G” DRIVER’S LICENCE AND PROOF THEREOF IS REQUIRED AFTER HIRE.

Disclaimer:

Be advised that Human Resources frequently audits resumes of internal/external applicants to ensure/validate information provided is consistent and trustworthy. Falsification of information provided at any time throughout the recruitment process may be grounds for disqualification, and for internal applicants, subject to discipline up to and including termination.

Terms:

The City is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes. Consistent with our Values and Corporate Culture Pillars, the City of Hamilton is committed to providing equitable treatment to all with respect to barrier-free employment and accommodation without discrimination. The City will provide accommodation for applicants in all aspects of the hiring process, up to the point of undue hardship.  If you have an accommodation need, please contact Human Resources as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.