Construction Change Management Lead

When you care deeply about the work you do, it’s rewarding to see it through from concept to completion. We partner with clients to provide both program management and construction management to strategize, plan, and implement projects that drive organizations forward. From hospitals and airports to university campuses, mass transit systems, water treatment facilities, mines, and wind farms, we've successfully managed thousands of projects. Joining our team, turning visionary ideas into reality, will shape your future—and the future of your community. We are strategizing, planning, and implementing projects that help clients achieve their organization’s objectives. Join our award-winning program management team and bring transformational project solutions to life. Your Opportunity We are seeking a highly experienced Change Management Leader to join our established Program Management Team (PMT) within the Cincinnati, OH MSDGC Client Program Management Office. This position is ideally based in Cincinnati, OH; however, we are open to candidates located elsewhere who are willing to travel to Cincinnati on an ongoing basis (approximately 1–4 trips per month depending on client needs). This is an opportunity to play a critical leadership role within a large, integrated team delivering a regulatory-driven wastewater infrastructure program with a capital value exceeding $1.3B. The portfolio includes eight major projects, including landmark WWTP facility upgrades and a $150M stormwater tunnel project. These projects will be delivered using both conventional design-bid-build (DBB) and progressive design-build (PDB) methods. The program represents a 10-year phase of the City/County Consent Decree Wet Weather Improvement Program (WWIP), delivered within a dynamic, highly collaborative project environment. This role offers strong growth potential as the program advances. This is a unique opportunity to lead transformative infrastructure initiatives that shape communities while working alongside professionals committed to excellence, innovation, and sustainable development. Your Key Responsibilities Change Management & Governance: Lead the end-to-end change management process for construction contracts, including change identification, evaluation, approval, negotiation, and closeout Establish and enforce change control procedures aligned with contract terms and project governance requirements Maintain a centralized change log tracking potential changes, submitted change orders, approvals, and financial impacts Identify trends, root causes, and risk drivers related to change activity Contract Administration Interpret and administer construction contracts, including change clauses, claims provisions, and dispute resolution mechanisms Review contractor change requests for contractual entitlement, scope alignment, pricing accuracy, and schedule impact Support preparation and issuance of owner-initiated changes, clarifications, and field directives Ensure timely and compliant documentation of change orders, amendments, and contract modifications Commercial & Cost Impact Management Partner with project controls and cost teams to validate pricing, labor rates, material costs, markups, and time-related impacts Quantify cost and schedule impacts resulting from design changes, unforeseen conditions, or project delays Protect project budgets through proactive change forecasting, early mitigation strategies, and negotiation support Stakeholder & Contractor Management Act as the primary interface between project teams, contractors, designers, and legal/commercial stakeholders on all change-related matters Facilitate negotiations to resolve disputed changes and prevent escalation to claims when possible Provide clear communication and recommendations to project leadership regarding change exposure and risk Claims & Dispute Support Support evaluation, documentation, and resolution of construction claims and potential disputes Assist legal and commercial teams by providing change records, cost analysis, and contractual interpretation Ensure change documentation supports defensible positions in negotiations, audits, or dispute proceedings Reporting & Continuous Improvement Develop dashboards and reporting for change order metrics, financial exposure, and approval cycle times Recommend process improvements to reduce change frequency, improve turnaround time, and enhance cost predictability Contribute to lessons learned and best practices for future capital projects Key Skills & Competencies Strong contractual and commercial judgment Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills Analytical mindset with attention to detail Ability to manage multiple change activities in parallel under tight deadlines Clear written and verbal communication skills Measures of Success Timely and accurate processing of change orders Minimized cost and schedule overruns due to unmanaged changes Reduced disputes and claims through proactive change management High-quality documentation and audit-ready records Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related field 8+ years of experience in construction contract administration, change management, or commercial management Strong working knowledge of construction contracts (e.g., lump sum, GMP, unit price, T&M) Demonstrated experience evaluating and negotiating change orders on large or complex projects Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting major capital, infrastructure, industrial, or vertical construction programs Familiarity with standard contract forms (AIA, ConsensusDocs, FIDIC, NEC, or equivalent) Background in claims analysis or dispute resolution Professional certifications such as PMP, CCM, RICS, or equivalent This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee and other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice. About Stantec Stantec is a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible. #ProjectManagement #OperationalReadiness