The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Senior People Change Coordinator / Lead Change Practitioner
3-5 years in a senior/lead roleSkills to master
- Mastering end-to-end change project delivery, leading complex workstreams, mentoring junior staff, and demonstrating strong stakeholder management at a project level.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering successful change projects with high adoption rates.
- Proactively identifying and mitigating resistance without constant supervision.
- Receiving strong positive feedback from project sponsors and senior stakeholders.
- Demonstrating an ability to influence without formal authority.
- Successfully coaching and developing junior team members.
- 2
HR Business Partner (with Change Focus)
5-8 years in a senior HRBP roleSkills to master
- Deep understanding of HR strategy, talent management, employee relations, and how these integrate with large-scale organisational change. Experience advising senior leaders on people issues.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully leading people-related initiatives within a business unit.
- Demonstrating a strong understanding of the commercial impact of HR decisions.
- Building trusted advisor relationships with senior business leaders.
- Experience navigating complex employee relations and organisational restructures.
- 3
Programme Manager (with People/Culture Focus)
3-6 years managing complex programmesSkills to master
- Expertise in large-scale programme delivery, managing budgets, timelines, and cross-functional teams, with a strong emphasis on the human element of programme success.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering complex programmes on time and within budget.
- Demonstrating strong leadership of diverse project teams.
- A clear track record of managing the 'people side' of programme delivery, not just the technical aspects.
- Strong risk management and problem-solving skills at a programme level.