Change Lead – Windows 11 Deployment (3-month Contract)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Change Lead to support an active Windows 11 Upgrade deployment for a large enterprise environment. This role is being added mid-deployment as the current Change Lead transitions into the Deployment Lead role due to project resource changes.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day execution of the change management workstream for the Windows 11 Upgrade project.
• Review and understand existing change strategy, plans, stakeholder materials, training content, communications, and deployment schedules.
• Execute the established change plan across remaining deployment activities and user groups.
• Partner closely with the Deployment Lead, internal Change Analyst, project leadership, and project sponsors to align change activities with deployment timing and business readiness needs.
• Identify change risks, communication gaps, adoption barriers, and readiness concerns, and support mitigation actions.
• Manage and execute the communications plan for remaining deployment waves.
• Draft, revise, and distribute communications for impacted employees, managers, business leaders, and support teams.
• Update messaging in response to user feedback, deployment issues, schedule changes, or mitigation needs.
• Ensure communications clearly explain deployment timing, user impacts, required actions, support resources, and post-deployment expectations.
• Coordinate communication approvals, timing, stakeholder alignment, and distribution.
• Oversee remaining training and readiness activities tied to the Windows 11 deployment.
• Review and refine job aids, FAQs, quick reference guides, support instructions, and other end-user materials.
• Create or revise materials as needed based on feedback, issue trends, or field/user adoption needs.
• Support any smaller change management approach needed for MDT-related impacts to field employees.
• Partner with IT, deployment, support, and business stakeholders to ensure users are prepared for upcoming changes.
• Engage project stakeholders and impacted business groups to confirm readiness and identify concerns.
• Serve as a key point of contact for change-related questions, feedback, communication needs, and adoption concerns.
• Work with project sponsors and leadership to ensure messaging remains aligned with project priorities.
• Gather and synthesize feedback from users, support teams, and stakeholders to improve communications and readiness support.
• Translate technical updates into clear, business-friendly messaging for non-technical audiences.
• Align change activities with deployment waves, milestones, and user impact windows.
• Support pre-deployment, go-live, and post-deployment communications.
• Track change-related issues, questions, risks, and adoption barriers.
• Coordinate with the Deployment Lead and project team to adjust communications or support materials when issues arise.
• Provide updates to project leadership and the broader project team on communications, training readiness, stakeholder feedback, and change risks.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in change management, organizational change management, communications, training, business readiness, or related project roles.
• Experience supporting technology deployment, end-user technology adoption, infrastructure, workplace technology, or enterprise IT projects.
• Strong experience executing communication plans and supporting deployment-based change activities.
• Experience creating and revising employee-facing communications, FAQs, job aids, training materials, and stakeholder updates.
• Ability to quickly step into an active project and execute against an existing change plan.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to translate technical information into clear, business-friendly messaging.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, deployment waves, and stakeholder needs.
• Able to work effectively in a hybrid environment with onsite presence Tuesday through Thursday in Columbus, OH.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Windows 11, Windows 10, Microsoft 365, device refresh, desktop deployment, infrastructure, or end-user computing projects.
• Experience supporting phased deployments or large user populations.
• Experience supporting field employee, operational workforce, or distributed end-user groups.
• Familiarity with Prosci, ADKAR, or other structured change management methodologies.
• Experience partnering with IT deployment teams, service desk teams, business leaders, and end users.
• Experience in utilities, energy, or other regulated environments is a plus.