Consultant, Program & Change Enablement

Nationwide•Columbus, OH

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is for a program & change management consultant to help leaders and teams prepare for important changes across Nationwide Financial. The consultant will sit close to the work, helping people understand what’s changing, why it matters and how to move forward with confidence. The focus is on people-centered solutions that cut across teams, affect how work gets done, and require clear, practical support to land well. The team delivers services based on Prosci's change management framework and ADKAR individual change model, and these tools are personalized for each business area. The role involves leading change management and communications, partnering with leaders and stakeholders, and contributing to the ongoing evolution of change management practices.

Requirements

Experience in change management, communications, or a related role where you help people understand and adopt change.
Comfortable writing and editing plain-language content (emails, talking points, guides) for different audiences.
Ability to work in complex, cross-team environments and build trust quickly with leaders and associates.
Focus on influencing and preparing people, not just tracking tasks and timelines.
Clear communication skills, ability to ask good questions, and translate feedback into simple strategies, plans, and recommendations.
Practical and pragmatic approach, with experience using proven change management frameworks and tailoring them to specific team or business needs.
Ten years of business experience with five years of experience in program and organizational change management, preferably in an Insurance or Financial services environment, delivering strategic programs and/or building organizational capability at the work group level.
Two years management experience is preferred.
Knowledge of strategic planning, program/project management, organizational development, and process management.
Ability to consult with program leaders and lead program teams including developing plans, objectives and resource requirements within budgetary limitations.
Negotiation and group facilitation skills.
Ability to evaluate and apply problem-solving methodology including needs assessment, data acquisition and root cause analysis, and interpretive/strategic planning analysis.
Verbal and written communication skills for contact with all levels of company personnel in direct and indirect reporting relationships, and other external parties.
Ability to direct and motivate associates in all aspects of work.
Ability to understand how the business is leveraging core competencies for growth and profitability; understands the value proposition to external customers.

Nice To Haves

Program/project experience is a plus, but not your only lens.
Undergraduate studies in business, applied management, or related field.
Related graduate work (Organizational Development, Organizational Performance Improvement, MBA) preferred.
Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Performance Technologist (CPT), or similar certification a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead change management & communications for key NF Shared Portfolio initiatives using the NF Shared Portfolio Change Enablement Playbook.
Create clear, audience-focused change communications, leader talking points, FAQs, and other supporting materials.
Design straightforward training and job aids (guides, checklists, reference materials) for associates to apply new processes and tools.
Track readiness and adoption, surface risks, and adjust plans based on feedback from business partners.
Partner directly with sponsors, product owners, delivery leads, and people leaders as a trusted advisor on preparing teams for change.
Spot and address issues that slow down adoption, such as unclear roles, competing priorities, gaps in communication, or change fatigue.
Help leaders communicate a consistent and honest story about the change and model desired behaviors.
Contribute to the ongoing evolution of the change management playbook, tools, and templates.
Help shape the ways change adoption is discussed and tracked, connecting OCM outcomes to measurable business results.
Share simple practices and coaching with program and business teams to empower them in their roles in change.
Manages program management and change management activities in alignment with Nationwide’s change strategy, methods, tools and program plans.
Creates project plans, implementation strategy and consults with business and program leaders to ensure plans meet business need.
Drives implementation of change enablement plans for successful completion of assigned projects.
Assists in building program and change enablement methods, frameworks, tools and learning modules to evolve the enterprise change portfolio management capability into well-managed Business Releases, or improve the delivery of strategic programs, or increase operations capacity for change, engagement and performance.
Consults with program leaders and executives from assigned program or business units to identify and addresses critical gaps that if not removed or reduced may prevent the sustainable adoption of change or the benefits realization of strategic investments including decision-making, risk and issue escalation, role clarity, change communication, business readiness, and other enabling competencies.
Partners with program leaders to identify opportunities to strengthen sponsorship and key constituent support to drive the change work with the assigned program or business unit.
Proactively supports and participates in program and change enablement Community of Practice networks to encourage capability uplift and proliferation of program and change competency and community.
Networks include individuals and groups inside and outside of the organization who can provide quick advice or solutions; influence internal and external leaders, and share program and change enabling methods, tools and expertise.
Responsible for developing in program and business unit leaders working knowledge and pragmatic application of program and change management methods and tools to deliver program results and business unit objectives.
Contributes to the integration of change management strategies within broader business model to build growth and profitability.
Contributes to the development of department and project budgets.
Assists and coaches the internal staff; provides functional advice or training to less experienced team members; facilitates planning activities.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.