Executive Director - Change Management - People Consulting

GDS People Consulting Change Management Executive Director

Position Summary

The Executive Director People Consulting (Change Management) is a strategic leadership role responsible for building and leading the Change Management capability within EY GDS People Consulting. The role focuses on driving large-scale global transformation programs, developing organizational design and change strategies, and ensuring high-quality delivery for clients across multiple geographies and industries. The Executive Director will collaborate with global EY offices, member firms, and clients to deliver innovative, AI-enabled solutions and support the growth of the People Consulting team.

Strategic Leadership:

• Define and execute the vision for Change Management within People Consulting.
• Build and lead a team of change and organization design specialists.
• Identify and develop new capabilities based on global market trends.
• Partner with EY Member Firms to deliver transformation programs.

Go-To-Market:

• Engage in business development and build a robust project pipeline.
• Define value propositions and service offerings for Change Management.
• Represent EY GDS at industry events and forums as a thought leader.

Service Delivery:

• Lead the execution of change management strategies for large, complex transformation programs.
• Ensure high-quality deliverables, leveraging AI and digital solutions.
• Manage project economics, risks, escalations, and budgets.

Stakeholder Management:

• Build strong relationships with global and regional stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Act as a coach and mentor, driving performance and learning initiatives.

Essential Functions of the Job

• Lead and grow the change management capability within the practice, including building and managing a team of change and organization design specialists.
• Liaise with EY member firms to engage in change management and organization design projects, building a robust project pipeline.
• Identify and develop new team capabilities based on market trends across various regions.
• Drive the delivery and execution of change management strategies for large, global transformation programs in partnership with global EY offices.
• Serve as a subject matter expert, providing advice and guidance while working effectively as part of a large, distributed program team.
• Ensure high-quality project deliverables, leveraging AI components to enhance client experience.
• Manage engagement risk, project economics, escalations, and ensure effective planning and budgeting.
• Act as a counselor and coach by setting goals, conducting performance reviews, and supporting ongoing learning and development for the team.

Analytical/Decision Making Responsibilities

• Make key decisions on practice growth, investment in new capabilities, and people development.
• Define location strategy, operating models, pricing, and talent acquisition for the Change Management practice.
• Identify root causes of complex organizational challenges and develop practical, innovative solutions.
• Facilitate workshops and brainstorming sessions to encourage creative problem-solving.
• Maintain a sharp focus on cost competitiveness and delivery excellence.

Knowledge and Skills Requirements

• Deep expertise in Change Management, HR Transformation, Digital Strategy, and ERP Transformation.
• Familiarity with HCM cloud platforms (Oracle, SAP) and digital change solutions (automation, analytics, gamification).
• Certifications such as PROSCI, APMG, or equivalent preferred.
• Proven ability to sell and deliver large-scale transformation projects across industries.
• Experience in instructional design, learning enablement, and upskilling/reskilling interventions.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Cross-cultural awareness and experience working in global, distributed teams.

Job Requirements

Education & Experience:

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent with specialization in Human Resources (India or abroad).
• 18+ years of relevant experience in Change Management and HR Transformation.
• Hands-on experience in executing large, complex organizational change or transformation projects.
• Experience managing large teams and delivering work across the full project lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully within a matrixed, global organization.