ROLE TYPE: Fixed Term Contract (12 months)
LOCATION: York, Leeds, Manchester
Change at Northern isn’t change for change’s sake. It’s about making rail work better for the people who run it and the communities who rely on it. As a Business Change Manager, you’d sit right at the heart of that mission – helping big programmes land well, feel human, and deliver real benefits.
You’d be part of our Programme Directorate, working across a portfolio of projects with a particular focus on IT facilitated transformation that shape how Northern operates. Your role is to connect the dots between project teams and the people who live with the change day to day, making sure new ways of working are understood, adopted, and embedded. When change is done well, it sticks – and that’s where you come in.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Leading the change management approach for programmes and projects that affect how Northern works.
* Acting as the bridge between delivery teams and the wider business, making sure people and processes are ready for what’s coming.
* Assessing the impact of change and planning practical, people-focused responses.
* Managing the change workstream day to day – from plans and risks to reporting and escalation.
* Shaping benefits management so improvements are defined, owned, measured, and realised.
* Designing training strategies and making sure colleagues have what they need to succeed in new ways of working.
* Planning and delivering clear, engaging communications alongside our internal communications team.
* Supporting business readiness and transition, so changes land smoothly without disrupting services.
* Helping teams embed change for the long term, with meaningful measures of success.
About You
Change is your craft, and people are at the centre of how you practice it.
Qualifications
You’ll bring:
* Solid experience in change management, including tools, methodologies, and real-world delivery.
* Ideally experience in IT Facilitated transformation experience for performance improvement.
* The ability to analyse operating models and understand how changes affect people, processes, systems, and structure.
* Confidence working through ambiguity and balancing competing priorities.
* Strong communication and engagement skills – you can explain the why as well as the what.
* A pragmatic mindset that applies best practice where it adds value, not just because it exists.
* Change management certification is desirable (e.g. CCMP, Prosci).
* Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Practitioner, Prince 2 Practitioner or similar qualifications is desirable.
Experience of large-scale organisational change is important. Knowledge of the rail industry is useful but not essential – we’re more interested in how you approach change than where you’ve applied it before. Formal change or programme management qualifications are welcome, but not a barrier if your experience tells the story.
What’s in it for you?
Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
Electric Car Scheme: Lease a brand new electric or plugin hybrid car.
Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.
A place for everyone
We’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.
We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.
We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.
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