Director, Change Management (Chicago)

Job Title

Director, Change Management

Job Description Summary

The Director of Change Management is a senior strategic leader responsible for guiding enterprise-wide transformation and ensuring successful adoption of key initiatives across a complex, matrixed commercial real estate account. With a dual focus on change leadership and strategic communications, this role advises executives, interprets business needs, and crafts compelling, human-centered change strategies that drive alignment, engagement, and lasting results. This role partners closely with leadership, regional directors, and cross-functional service lines to embed scalable change practices into the business.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Change Strategy & Execution

• Lead the account change management strategy, aligning change initiatives with account transformation goals and stakeholder needs.
• Act as a trusted advisor to leadership on change readiness, organizational impact, and stakeholder engagement.
• Design and implement integrated change plans that include stakeholder mapping, training, communications, business readiness, and resistance mitigation.
• Build and maintain a centralized change methodology, tools, and playbooks to support consistent delivery across programs.
• Champion a culture of agility, innovation, and accountability by embedding structured change enablement into day-to-day operations.
• Mentor key leads and program managers that deliver change, to sustain change momentum across the account.

Business Interpretation & Advisory

• Translate business strategy, operational goals, and client needs into actionable change initiatives.
• Analyze change impact, identify adoption risks, and align transition plans with real-world operating conditions.
• Influence decision-making across global and regional teams using data, storytelling, and strategic insight.

Communications & Storytelling

• Oversee internal communications strategy and execution across multiple platforms and stakeholder groups.
• Develop compelling narratives that clarify change, promote transparency, and connect initiatives to business value.
• Lead the planning and delivery of communication campaigns, engagement tactics, and executive presentations that support adoption and experience.
• Ensure timely, brand-aligned, and scalable communications across all programs.

Collaboration & Governance

• Serve as a cross-functional connector, aligning change efforts across service lines and regions.
• Promote consistency in employee experience and delivery before, during, and after change.
• Support program governance by ensuring change considerations are embedded in all planning and reporting processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelorâs degree in Business Management, Organizational Change, Communications, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in change management, strategic communications, or account management roles within large-scale organizations and/or clients.
• Strong understanding of commercial real estate operations and service lines such as IFM, Projects, Space, and Sustainability.
• Training in change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci, ADKAR, Kotter) preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to craft narratives for senior audiences.
• Strong analytical and coaching skills with the ability to drive clarity in ambiguity.
• Proven success influencing stakeholders, leading decentralized teams, and executing within matrixed environments.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Influence & Relationship Building
• Communication & Storytelling
• Change Agility & Organizational Savvy
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Operational Rigor & Governance
• Cultural Awareness & Inclusion

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements. The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidateâs experience and qualifications. The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role. The compensation for the position is: $157,250.00 - $185,000.00 Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or emailÂ. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: âœCushman & Wakefieldâ

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