Change Lead - GCP Migration

Why we're hiring:

The Change Lead will drive the people side of WPPs three-year Enterprise Technology transformationenabling the business to simplify, win and grow via a unified, intelligent and secure technology ecosystem by orchestrating adoption and change across priority workstreams and markets.

Partnering with initiative leads and the Strategy & Portfolio Office, the role designs and executes integrated change strategiesstakeholder engagement, communications, learning and adoption insightsthat put colleagues and customers at the centre, are evidence based and learning focused, and translate roadmap milestones into sustained behavioural change and measurable value realisation from agentic/AI and data, work management, finance and people platforms, infrastructure optimisation, and controls & security.

The Change Lead will sequence and scale interventions year-by-year, ensuring readiness for each change, building leadership advocacy, and reducing change friction across both Cross WPP and agency specific initiatives so outcomes land first time right and benefits are captured in line with the group plan.

WPP is embarking on a major three-year Transformation to simplify, modernise, and unify its technology platforms across the group. This change is critical to:

• Enable cost-effective transformation and operational efficiency
• Accelerate adoption of AI, data, and digital platforms
• Ensure consistent delivery of value and benefits across all agencies and markets
• Minimise disruption and maximise engagement during large-scale change

A dedicated Change Lead is needed to orchestrate the people side of this transformation, ensuring that new ways of working are adopted, benefits are realised, and change fatigue is minimised.

WPPs GCP Migration programme is migrating key workloads and infrastructure from Microsoft Azure and on-premises environments to Google Cloud Platform (GCP) as part of a $400 million, five-year strategic partnership with Google. This move aims to accelerate modernisation, improve operational efficiency, and unlock advanced AI and data capabilities across the group.

What you'll be doing:

• Support the development of change management and adoption plan for transformation projects within the programme

• Take a lead in the day-to-day delivery and execution of change and adoption plans, including development of communications collateral

• Support the use of core change management frameworks and tools, such as ADKAR, change impact assessment and stakeholder analysis, to deeply understand the programme, the changes and how we can best support our people

• Identify & engage stakeholders and end users with clear communications that are outcome-focused and aligned to their needs

• Support the development of end-user materials and reference guides

• Ensure key change, communication and learning risks/issues are logged as part of the governance process and manage escalations from respective business units

• Provide change and adoption support to aligned Technology Operations initiatives where required, ensuring coherence across interdependent programmes.

• Be an advocate of the cultural shifts we are seeking to create, role modelling servant leadership, collaboration, creativity and a love for experimentation and learning

• Bring an external perspective and thought leadership to the Centre of Excellence, leveraging a variety of experience in the context of change and adoption to inform our ways of working, standards and tools

What you'll need:

• Good understanding of how people navigate through change, with proven change management skills, experience and an ability to adapt to change in a complex and at times an ambiguous environment

• Human-centered change management skills

• Communications experience across a complex global organisation

• Hands-on, self-starter with exceptional organisational skills with acute attention to detail

• Experience working with external consultancies or 3rd party implementation partners

• An energetic and resilient communicator who isnt afraid to share new, bold ideas

• Strong consultative skills including ability to anticipate, analyse and advise on issues

• Effective leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to engage individuals at all levels of the organisation

• Excellent communication skills including verbal and written communication, presentation and facilitation

• Strong organisational and analytical skills including systems thinking and problem solving

• Experience with technology systems and implementations is preferred

• Adaptability and flexibility in handling multiple planned and unplanned responsibilities, as well as competing priorities

• The ability to collaborate well in team environment, manage conflict, support team success, and contribute to a positive team dynamic

• Good interpersonal skills, relationship building and active listening

• Ability to be flexible with working hours to accommodate working within a global team in multiple time zones, as and when required.

Who you are:

You're open:We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.

You're optimistic:We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.

You're extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

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