Senior Business Change Manager

The John Innes Centre (JIC) is one of the world’s leading research institutes in plant and microbial science. At the centre of its long-term strategy sits the Next Generation Infrastructure (NGI) Programme, a major publicly and privately funded capital and transformation programme with the Sainsbury Laboratory (TSL) that will redefine how world-class science is delivered at the Norwich Research Park.

NGI is an ambitious, multi-year £400m+ programme that brings together significant capital investment and complex organisational change. Its most substantial element is the development of a new laboratory and enabling infrastructure that will bring together researchers from JIC and TSL into a flexible, future-ready environment, purpose-built for collaboration, discovery and global scientific impact. Enabling projects are underway and, with the main laboratory project set to be delivered over the next five years, the programme will create facilities that support advanced research, training, teaching and learning, while acting as a national and international hub for plant and microbial science.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer as Senior Responsible Owner, and working closely with the NGI Programme Director and senior leadership team, the Senior Business Change Manager will play a critical leadership role within the programme, ensuring that large-scale investment in infrastructure and facilities delivers meaningful, sustained organisational transformation across JIC and its partners.

The role will be responsible for developing and delivering a coherent business change and adoption strategy, ensuring that change is aligned to programme delivery, organisational priorities and long-term outcomes. In this influential role, you will lead stakeholder engagement and impact assessment across the organisation and its partners, ensuring alignment and maintaining confidence through transformation. Reporting and governance are also key aspects of the role, working closely with the PMO to provide clear insight into organisational readiness, risks and benefits realisation.

The successful candidate will be an experienced and credible change leader with a proven track record of delivering large-scale, complex transformation programmes. You will bring expertise in organisational readiness, benefits realisation and stakeholder alignment, alongside experience of integrating change with programme governance and measurable outcomes. The individual will be highly effective at influencing senior leaders and navigating complex stakeholder environments, with the ability to build consensus and maintain trust through change. Experience within scientific, academic, clinical or similarly complex settings—and in programmes linked to infrastructure or estates transformation—will be highly valuable, although not essential.

This is a rare opportunity to play a key role in one of the most significant scientific infrastructure programmes in the UK, make a major impact in the region, and deliver a legacy that will underpin scientific excellence for decades to come.

Whilst on-campus presence is essential for stakeholder engagement, the role is offered on a flexible, hybrid work pattern approach. Further information about the NGI Programme, role and recruitment process can be viewed via the candidate brochure on the following link: Senior Business Change Manager

To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our retained search advisors at MRG:

Ben Duffill – [email protected]

Nick Coppard - [email protected]

Applications should consist of a CV and supporting statement and should be submitted via our website here. Should you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Kelley Brown ([email protected])