Principal Change Management Specialist

Working in collaboration with the Executive Leadership Team, Integration Management Office (IMO), Employee Communications, and Learning & Organizational Development leaders, the Principal Change Management Specialist will initially lead critical merger integration efforts, driving organizational alignment, change readiness, risk identification, and adoption strategies to support employees and members through transition. This role is both a strategic advisor and an influencer who drives results and accelerates organizational effectiveness through change.

Responsibilities

• Review integrated Business and Technology plans as a single, combined view to ensure employee change readiness and alignment
• Identify gaps from a change perspective that impact both employees and members while partnering with senior leaders across the business to address these gaps
• Engage directly with integration workstreams to surface insights, share findings, and drive course correction where needed
• Build a cohesive change strategy that contemplates the appropriate type of change readiness needed along with the sequence and cadence of activities
• Take ownership to bring the right capabilities and stakeholders to the table (e.g., Communications, L&OD) to execute the plan and ensure alignment on actions required to mitigate risk
• Lead change management in the EPMO
• Build process improvement mentality into the business through targeted and well-applied use of LEAN, Agile, Six Sigma, PROSCI, and other change management and process improvement methodologies
• Apply a data-driven and analytical approach to improvement, including identifying metrics to measure success of change initiatives, and overseeing the implementation of a KPI dashboard
• Build, evangelize, and constantly improve a comprehensive and well-loved change management framework and all the tools and resources that go with it
• Research emerging industry trends, new technologies, concepts, and techniques to update current approaches and keep us at the forefront
• Prepare budgetary recommendations and effectively manage allocated resources, always seeking greater efficiencies, but never at the cost of effectiveness
• Leverage change champions to assist with this work
• Manage large, complex projects with significant capital spend, executive visibility, cross-functional dependencies, regulatory considerations, vendor involvement, and enterprise business impact
• Identify cross-functional dependency risks, sequencing gaps, decision delays, ownership issues, funding constraints, vendor challenges, and resource conflicts that may impact portfolio execution
• Support M&A integration execution by ensuring decisions are made with appropriate consideration of conversion readiness, operational impact, technology dependencies, financial exposure, regulatory evidence, and member experience
• Lead end-to-end project management and change management for multi-disciplinary programs
• Establish project governance: charters, business cases, stakeholder maps, change impact assessments, timelines, and RAID logs

Requirements

• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Organization Development, MBA, Organization or Industrial Psychology, or other related fields preferred
• Minimum 8 years of experience in a senior leadership role for mid to large-size organization (1000+ employees) with specific knowledge and/or expertise in leading large scale enterprise change, with a measurable record of improved organizational effectiveness
• Experience in the financial services industry with expert understanding of financial products, functions, and processes is preferred
• Demonstrated ability to influence and build strong relationships with leaders at all levels and partners across the organization, especially Executives
• Ability to think strategically, and demonstrated track record of developing and implementing an end-to-end change management strategy aligned to the advancement of the business objectives
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
• Change management certification such as PROSCI, Kotter, Lean, Six Sigma, Agile or other accredited certifications not required, but highly desired

Location: Hillsboro, OR 97124 | Marlborough, MA 01752 (HYBRID)

Pay

Target Compensation in Hillsboro, OR & Marlborough, MA: $146,500 - $176,000 annually

Benefits

• Traditional medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Generous 401(k) match
• Paid Time Off: You'll accrue up to 15 days in your first year. In addition, you'll receive 40 hours of sick time and 3 personal days, which refresh annually
• Paid federal holidays
• Special employee pricing on lending products such as mortgage, auto, and personal loans (eligibility subject to standard account requirements and underwriting criteria)

About Us

What makes First Tech different? Every great journey begins with a bold idea—and ours is no different. First Tech and DCU were founded on the belief that financial solutions should put people first. That belief has fueled decades of innovation and service, rooted in the tech sector and expanding to support members from all walks of life.