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 Change Support Coordinator (Internal)
3-5 years as an L3Skills to master
- Mastering end-to-end workstream ownership, contributing to strategic planning, and informally mentoring junior team members. You'd be showing clear signs of readiness to lead.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering complex change workstreams with minimal supervision.
- Proactively identifying and mitigating project risks.
- Receiving positive feedback on your ability to influence stakeholders and drive outcomes.
- Demonstrating strong analytical skills in impact assessments and readiness reports.
- 2
Project Manager (with Change Focus)
8-10 years in project managementSkills to master
- Strong project planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement skills, with a demonstrable interest and experience in the 'people side' of project delivery. You'd need to formalise your change management knowledge.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully delivered several complex projects with high user adoption.
- Actively managed resistance and communication challenges within projects.
- Completed formal change management training or certification.
- Can articulate the strategic importance of change management beyond project delivery.
- 3
HR Business Partner / Organisational Development Specialist
8-12 years in HR/ODSkills to master
- Deep understanding of organisational dynamics, talent management, and employee relations. You'd need to develop more structured change methodology and project execution skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Led significant organisational design or cultural transformation initiatives.
- Proven ability to influence senior leadership on people-related strategies.
- Strong analytical skills for workforce planning and impact assessments.
- Demonstrated passion for driving successful adoption of new ways of working.