25 Jul 2026
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
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SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Who we are
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.
Purpose of Job
SMBC Bank International Plc (SMBC BI) requires a Change Manager to execute EMEA-wide strategies supporting the rollout and adoption of key initiatives across the bank. This is a senior role, requiring a confident individual with strong stakeholder management capabilities, able to operate effectively at all levels of the organisation.
The Change Manager will be assigned to a critical large programme, where they are responsible for:
a) Defining and delivering the overall change strategy
b) Driving business outcomes, adoption, and benefit realisation
c) Managing direct reports where required, depending on the scale and needs of the programme
d) Embedding change implementation from the outset, ensuring a structured, scalable, and consistent approach is in place from programme initiation
They will act as a change manager delivering on the programme’s business outcomes and benefits and advise on best practices and market trends to enhance SMBC BI’s change journey. This role would benefit from someone with strong experience in leading change within complex environments, capable of shaping and structuring the approach early to maximise adoption and reduce delivery risk.
The Change Manager will ensure that all change is delivered with appropriate governance, transparency, and oversight, including:
a) Clear rationale and structured decision-making
b) Robust tracking of progress and controls
c) Comprehensive documentation and evidence to withstand internal and external regulatory review
Background
TCMG provides the SMBC enterprise professional project, programme and portfolio management (P3M) resource and expertise to the organisation. It was established in Nov 2019 as an independent, centralized business function operating at a strategic level to provide enterprise-wide oversight and management of change.
The oversight function includes governance, guidance, best practices, mentoring and up-skilling project managers from other departments and BAU staff.
Implementation of a standard enterprise-wide project framework including tools, templates and standardized processes. The aim is that TCMG ensures strategic alignment between business objectives and projects executed.
TCMG is also a resource centre/ centre of excellence. It is comprised of professionally qualified project, programme and change managers, business analysts and junior analysts. These are divided into multi-disciplinary teams with reporting line to a Team Lead.
While working on projects or programmes individual staff retain their report line but for the purposes of the project have a dotted line to the Project or Programme manager and/or Sponsor. The teams handle the bank’s most complex programmes and projects that require strong regional or global co-ordination, are often regulatory deadline driven or key for business strategy, require close cooperation with multiple departments, offices and other regions and have significant budgets.
TCMG remit includes management of the enterprise project portfolio. This is a growing function within the team and provides:
Central coordination of change delivery.
Efficient use of resources, identification of conflicts, constraints and transparent reporting of data for the portfolio
Identification of trends or themes impacting delivery progress
Role Detail
The Change Manager sits within TCMG, to enable greater benefits realisation through a structured and consistent approach to change management.
The Change Manager is responsible for setting the standard on change management approach and executing within project delivery teams, while overseeing the holistic change impact.
Range of number of potential direct reports – circa 1-2 (depending on the project)
Operates across multiple EMEA countries, these may have differing standards and so require innovative implementation solutions which adds to the complexity of the project.
Interfaces with C-level project sponsors and SteerCo/s compromised of multiple GMs. Must meet and brief C-level Sponsor on a regular basis and educate on the complexities of the change, any regulation and help influence decision making.
May work more than one complex change project at a time bringing added pressure due to competing regulatory deadlines and organisation priorities.
Accountabilities and Responsibilities
Define the change management strategic approach for assigned programme of work
Design and manage the business change management plans, activities, and deliverables to meet the desired objectives for each project or process
Develop and deliver key business change activities such as: impact assessment, risk mitigation plans, stakeholder engagement, communications, business readiness activities, training, go live and activities and post go live continuous improvement
Establish, manage, lead and support a change community (key stakeholders, change champions and super user groups) through regular meetings and communication channels, utilizing surveys or similar to monitor awareness, readiness and adoption at the appropriate stages of the change being implemented
Advise and support the business on how to best navigate change and communicate strategically
Identify training requirements and identify improvement opportunities.
Coach stakeholders and sponsors on their role in leading and embedding change.
Work with project teams to integrate change management activities into the overall project plan and support extended network of change resources
Identify potential risks and anticipated blockers to change at a program/project level, and develop specific plans to mitigate or address the concerns
Define measures of success and capture metrics to monitor change effectiveness
Ensure projects achieve their business outcomes by increasing adoption and minimizing resistance by the target audience
Drive consistency and rigour in change management through developing, deploying embedding the change management framework and associated tools/templates
Knowledge, Skills, Experience & Qualifications
Education & Qualifications
Industry recognised modern change management qualification essential
Experience & Knowledge
Proven experience and expertise of Business Change Management, preferably gained in the financial sector.
Experience orchestrating change impact assessments, business readiness activities, benefit realisation, stakeholder engagement, training and communication plans
Demonstrable experience related to change management on large scale projects or programmes where a change management approach has been designed, implemented, and monitored throughout the lifecycle of the change in place
Experience in training strategy, planning, design, creation and delivery, and knowledge of training methodologies, techniques and approaches for business learning.
5+ Years change management experience related to technology-enabled change
Experience of applying recognised Change Management practices within large programmes
Solid understanding of how people respond to and successfully adapt to change
Change Management, Stakeholder Management, Influencing, Communication, Negotiation, Strategy and Planning, Critical Thinking, Coaching and Leadership, Agile.
Key Competencies: Communication, Coaching, Delivery Focus, Customer Focus, Influencing, Collaboration, Critical Thinking & Analysis, Stakeholder management, Continuous Improvement
Challenges
To successfully implement change, this role is required to motivate individuals from within an organisation that is highly focussed on business as usual, to become a team and deliver an additional workload.
Gaining project resources is frequently a challenge and often requires tenacity and creative problem solving.
The organisation has a culture of long-standing tradition and can be change adverse
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
Hybrid and flexible working
Competitive paid leave days
Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.
We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.
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About SMBC
A trusted partner for the long term
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers - to be a trusted partner for the long-term - and our universal banking platform in EMEA, we deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers, including corporate, structured and trade finance, leveraged finance, loan market and treasury products. We can also provide investment banking and advisory services and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets.
about what we do and who we are at https://www.smbcgroup.com/emea/careers
