Change Management Specialist (Limited-Term)

Change Management Specialist (Limited-Term)

Salary

$66,227.20 - $88,566.40 Annually

Location

2223 E. Wellington Ave. Suite #100 Santa Ana, CA

Job Type

Full-Time Limited Duration

Job Number

8543GE-0726-157(O)

Department

Orange County Employees Retirement System

Opening Date

07/27/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

CAREER DESCRIPTION

Change Management Specialist (Staff Specialist)

Open to the Public

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until the needs of OCERS have been met. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

Please note that this position will be filled as limited-term.

Limited-term positions are funded for a specific duration-this assignment is estimated to last approximately three (3) years. While limited in funding, incumbents appointed to limited-term roles receive the same benefits as regular employees and are considered County employees for purposes of internal transfers and promotional opportunities. All limited-term positions are subject to the same probationary period as regular-status positions within the same classification.

WHO WE ARE

Established in 1945, the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) provides retirement, death, disability, and cost-of-living benefits to retirees of the County of Orange and certain County districts. Serving approximately 55,000 members, OCERS is governed by a ten-member Board of Retirement that is responsible for managing a $30 billion-dollar pension fund.

Mission

OCERS mission is to provide secure retirement and disability benefits with the highest standards of excellence.

Vision

OCERS vision is to be a trusted partner providing premier pension administration, distinguished by consistent, quality member experiences and prudent financial stewardship.

Values

• Open and Transparent
• Commitment to Superior Service
• Engaged and Dedicated Workforce
• Reliable and Accurate
• Secure and Sustainable

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) is seeking an experienced and collaborative Change Management Specialist (Staff Specialist) to serve as the organizations lead Change Management professional. This position will play a critical role in supporting enterprise-wide business transformation initiatives, with a strong emphasis on technology implementations, organizational change, business process improvements, and employee adoption.

Working closely with executive leadership, the Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO), Information Technology, department leaders, and stakeholders across the organization, the incumbent will develop and implement comprehensive change management strategies that prepare employees and stakeholders for change, minimize organizational disruption, and maximize adoption of new systems, processes, and ways of working.

This position is ideal for an individual who is passionate about organizational transformation, excels at building relationships, and has experience leading change initiatives in complex organizations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience/Education

• Three years of professional-level experience performing organizational development, change management, project management, business process improvement, organizational communications, training, human resources, or closely related work that demonstrates the knowledge and abilities required for this position
• A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Organizational Development, Human Resources, Public Administration, Communications, Psychology, Information Systems, or a closely related field may substitute for one year of the required experience

Please click here for details on the Staff Specialist classification.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

The ideal candidate will possess experience leading organizational change efforts for large-scale business or technology initiatives and demonstrate success in partnering with executive leadership, project teams, and stakeholders throughout all phases of organizational transformation.

Experience in one or more of the following is highly desirable:

• Leading organizational change management for enterprise technology implementations
• Developing and executing change management strategies using established methodologies (Prosci, ADKAR, Kotter, or similar)
• Supporting ERP, pension administration, HRIS, CRM, or other enterprise system implementations
• Conducting organizational impact assessments and stakeholder analyses
• Developing executive communications, change communication plans, and employee engagement strategies
• Leading and facilitating workshops, leadership meetings, and stakeholder engagement sessions
• Managing organizational readiness and resistance management activities
• Coordinating change management activities within complex project environments
• Measuring organizational adoption and developing post-implementation sustainment strategies
• Professional Change Management certification (Prosci or equivalent) is desirable but not required

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The Change Management Specialist serves as OCERS lead Change Management professional and is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing enterprise change management strategies that support successful organizational transformation.

Typical duties include:

• Lead enterprise-wide change management efforts supporting technology implementations, business transformation initiatives, and organizational change
• Develop and implement comprehensive change management strategies aligned with project objectives and organizational priorities
• Partner with executive leadership, project managers, Information Technology staff, and business units to integrate change management throughout the project lifecycle
• Conduct organizational impact assessments to identify how proposed changes affect employees, stakeholders, business processes, technology, and operations
• Identify stakeholder groups, assess organizational readiness, and develop engagement strategies that promote awareness, understanding, and adoption
• Facilitate leadership alignment meetings, stakeholder workshops, focus groups, and change champion networks
• Develop communication strategies and messaging tailored to executives, managers, employees, technical staff, and other stakeholder groups
• Coordinate change communications with project milestones, system deployments, and organizational initiatives
• Coach leaders and supervisors on effectively leading organizational change, managing resistance, and reinforcing desired behaviors
• Collaborate with Learning and Organizational Development and subject matter experts to ensure training programs support successful adoption of new systems and business processes
• Identify organizational risks related to change and develop mitigation strategies to improve employee readiness and project success
• Define and monitor change management performance metrics, including adoption, utilization, proficiency, and stakeholder readiness
• Evaluate change effectiveness following implementation and recommend continuous improvement opportunities
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and organizational standards to strengthen OCERS change management maturity

CORE COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate will demonstrate strengths in the following areas:

Organizational Change Management

• Develops and executes effective change management strategies that prepare employees for organizational change while increasing stakeholder engagement and adoption.

Strategic Thinking

• Understands organizational priorities and aligns change initiatives with business goals, operational needs, and long-term organizational success.

Communication

• Communicates complex organizational and technical changes clearly and effectively to diverse audiences through written, verbal, and presentation formats.

Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Builds trust and credibility with executive leadership, managers, project teams, technical staff, and employees while fostering collaboration across departments.

Leadership and Influence

• Influences without direct authority by coaching leaders, facilitating consensus, managing resistance, and promoting accountability throughout organizational change efforts.

Project Collaboration

• Works effectively within cross-functional project teams to integrate change management activities into project planning, implementation, and sustainment.

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

• Evaluates organizational challenges, anticipates risks, analyzes impacts, and develops practical solutions that support successful project outcomes.

Adaptability

• Maintains effectiveness in dynamic environments while managing multiple priorities and responding to changing organizational needs.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS

Knowledge of

• Organizational Change Management principles, methodologies, and best practices
• Enterprise project management concepts and project lifecycles
• Organizational development and business process improvement techniques
• Stakeholder engagement and organizational readiness assessments
• Communication planning and employee engagement strategies
• Adult learning principles and training coordination
• Business process analysis and organizational impacts associated with technology implementations
• Performance measurement and change adoption metrics

Ability to

• Lead complex organizational change initiatives across multiple departments
• Build collaborative relationships with executives, managers, project teams, and stakeholders
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, presentations, and stakeholder discussions
• Develop clear, concise, and effective written communications
• Analyze organizational impacts and develop practical mitigation strategies
• Influence stakeholders without direct supervisory authority
• Manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines
• Exercise sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion
• Work independently while contributing effectively within cross-functional teams

WHY JOIN OCERS?

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of OCERS by leading organizational change efforts that directly support enterprise modernization and improved service delivery. As the organizations dedicated Change Management professional, you will partner with leaders across the agency to help employees successfully navigate transformational initiatives while building a sustainable culture of change readiness and continuous improvement.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Physical and Mental Requirements

• Ability to speak, hear, and communicate clearly and understandably in English in person, in front of a group, and over the telephone
• Manual dexterity sufficient to use hands, arms and shoulders repetitively to operate a telephone, keyboard, to write, file, staple, and use a calculator
• Mental stamina to interact professionally with peers, members and Participating Employers
• Vision sufficient to read fine print and a computer monitor
• Independent body mobility, agility, and stamina to stand, walk, stoop, bend, twist and operate standard office environment
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time
• Body strength sufficient to lift up to 10 pounds and carry files

Environmental Conditions

• Ability to interact with a wide range of individuals including supervisors, managers and Participating Employers in a variety of situations

RECRUITMENT PROCEDURE

Application Screening | (Refer/Non-Refer)

OCERS Human Resources Department will screen all application materials to identify qualified candidates. Applications submitted without a completed supplemental information form will be disqualified from further consideration. After screening, the more qualified candidates will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process and notified via e-mail of all further procedures applicable to their application status.

Spark Hire Interview

Referred candidates will be required to complete a one-way pre-screening interview on the Spark Hire video interview platform. In this process, candidates will record their responses to a set of structured questions. Subject matter experts will then evaluate these video interviews to determine if candidates qualify for the next phase of the selection process.

Qualifications Appraisal Panel | Oral Interview

Candidates will be interviewed and rated by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidates rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidates qualifications for the job.

Based on OCERS needs and the number of applications received, the selection procedures listed above may be modified, and all affected candidates will be notified.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocers.org." If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Please note, the information provided in your application may be shared internally within OCERS to evaluate your qualifications for potential opportunities in other teams or departments.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

EEO INFORMATION

OCERS, as an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Please note that Extra Help employees are not eligible for the benefits listed.

Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.

http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information

01

You are required to provide full and complete responses to the supplemental questions. The information you provide will be used as a rating device, so please be descriptive in your response. Incomplete information will result in a lower rating. Supplemental questions are designed to help you present your qualifications for this position and will be rated based on the information that you supply. Please provide concise, descriptive and detailed information and highlight all of the areas in which you have developed expertise, matching your professional experience with the specific qualifications and abilities for each question. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing the supplemental questions. By selecting yes below, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this application requirement.

• Yes
• No

02

I understand that this position is a limited-term assignment, currently estimated to last approximately three (3) years, and that the duration is dependent on available funding. I acknowledge that, while this appointment includes the same benefits as regular County positions, continued employment in this assignment is not guaranteed beyond the limited-term funding period.

• Yes
• No

03

OCERS is establishing a dedicated change management capability. Describe how you would build and mature a change management program within an organization that has limited formal change management practices. What would you prioritize during your first year?

04

Change initiatives often involve technical concepts that are difficult for non-technical staff to understand. Describe an example where you successfully translated a complex change into clear messaging that employees could understand and support.

05

How have you assessed and incorporated organizational culture into a change management strategy? Provide a specific example.

06

Beyond adoption metrics, how have you demonstrated the business value of change management to executives and sponsors? Provide a specific example.

07

Briefly describe a change you helped move forward in a role where you may not have had authority over the people who had to change. Explain your relationship to them, and why did they follow your lead?

08

People process change differently - some need data, some need to see it work, some need to feel heard first. Give a brief example of a time you adjusted your approach for different audiences in the same initiative.

09

As a public agency committed to transparency and ethical conduct, OCERS requires candidates to disclose any outside business activities. Are you currently engaged in any outside business activities? (Select one)

• Yes
• No

10

If you answered "Yes" to the above question, please provide a brief description of the outside business activity, including the nature of the business and your role or involvement.

11

I certify that all statements made in this Supplemental Questionnaire are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false statement(s) of materials facts or omissions may subject me to disqualification.

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer County of Orange

Address 400 W CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

Santa Ana, California, 92701

Phone 714-834-2555

Website https://hrs.oc.gov