Business Change Manager

Business Change Manager- 3-year Fixed Term Contract

Are you ready to shape the future of world-class research? Join the University of Oxford—a globally renowned centre of excellence and innovation. Our research tackles some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from reducing carbon emissions to developing life-saving vaccines. As we transform the digital services that power this work, we’re looking for a skilled and energetic Business Change Manager to help drive this change.

At Oxford, you’ll be part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary community where your work contributes to real-world solutions and lasting global impact. If you're passionate about enabling research that changes lives, we want to hear from you.

The University of Oxford is a world leader in research, engagement and innovation. Our research portfolio covers an exceptionally broad range of disciplines and has a strong interdisciplinary character. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. We are currently the most successful UK university in securing funding for research. This role will be focussed on our ambitious Oxford Research Management System programme which aims to significantly improve the user experience and efficiency of the research management lifecycle from proposal development to project closure., reimagining ways of working and adopting technologies to support us. The programme will implement an integrated digital research management platform, and our focus is to ensure services, processes, culture and behaviours enable and embed the transformation. The successful candidate will be instrumental in helping to design and structure the change approach, bringing creativity and energy to challenges along the way. Experience of ambitious change in large, complex organisations would be highly valuable.

At the University of Oxford, you’ll contribute to ground-breaking research that tackles global challenges – from advancing sustainability to pioneering healthcare solutions – and join a diverse, inclusive community that champions your wellbeing, development, and aspirations. Apply now to become part of our extraordinary legacy.

What We Offer

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as:

• 38 days of annual leave to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.

• One of the most generous maternity and adoption leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay leave, followed by additional statutory and unpaid leave options.

• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.

• An excellent contributory pension scheme.

• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.

• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.

About the Role

• As a Business Change Manager, you will play a crucial role in ensuring that the transformation to the end-to-end delivery of funded research in Oxford, from proposal development to project closure, is understood, supported, and successfully embedded into the organisation. This is a complex, high-impact programme of work, and you will engage with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring they are prepared for and supported through the change. This includes managing the transition to new ways of working and ensuring that the benefits of change are clearly realised and sustained.

• You will work with a team of change and communication professionals, collaborating with researchers, professional support staff, and other delivery teams to ensure smooth change journeys. In this highly varied role, you’ll be responsible for assessing the scale of change, defining change management strategies, engaging across the University and working closely with training teams to deliver appropriate learning programmes. Ensuring the success of the University’s cultural, technology and process changes will require you to bring together a combination of strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• This role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference to how the University adapts to new ways of working and integrates new technology. If you are passionate about delivering impactful change and thrive in a collaborative, dynamic environment, we’d love to hear from you.

About You

We are seeking an experienced Business Change Manager with the following:

• A strong understanding of change management principles and processes, with experience delivering people-focussed business change organisation-wide.

• Proven experience managing complex projects and programmes, engaging a wide range of stakeholders and taking a strategic approach to deliver change that has real impact for people.

• A strong understanding of how to navigate a path for change within an environment of competing demands for stakeholder attention, creating connections and identifying opportunities for collaboration.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships at all levels.

• Experience in leading teams, managing staff, and motivating others to deliver high-quality outputs.

• Strong risk management and planning skills, with the ability to bring order to complex situations, and maintain focus on key objectives.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 noon on Monday 1 September 2025.

First **interviews **will take place week commencing 8 September, in person in Central Oxford.