Lessons Manager Jobs in Fort Smith, AR (NOW HIRING)

Join our growing team and discover why Summit Utilities, Inc. continues to earn national and regional recognition as an employer of choice. Our recognitions include Best Places to Work in Maine (2019–2025); Best Places to Work in Arkansas (2020, 2023, 2025); Best Places to Work in Oklahoma (2022–2025); Best Places to Work in Missouri (2023 and 2026); Best Places to Work in Colorado (2025); Forbes America’s Best Small Employers (2023); and, most recently, Proud and Purposeful Employer (2026).

Summit is a growing natural gas utility that’s committed to delivering reliable energy to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers, and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Change Management Manager is responsible for leading organizational change activities that enable successful adoption of new processes, systems, technologies, and operating models. This role oversees the people side of change by shaping change strategy, building stakeholder alignment, ensuring effective communications and training, managing resistance, and measuring adoption. The Change Management Manager partners with sponsors, business leaders, and project teams to drive sustained behavior change and achieve intended business outcomes.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leading end-to-end project management activities—including planning, execution, monitoring, and closure—for medium to large sized software application projects, such as ERP implementations, CIS system integrations, data migrations, and custom developments.
• Managing project scope, schedule, resources, quality, risks, issues, communication, and stakeholder expectations.
• Coordinating diverse, cross-functional teams in IT, business, and 3rd parties—including vendors, consultants, and contractors in multiple locations, time zones, and offshore.
• Applying project management best practices, methodologies, and standards, such as PMBOK, Agile, or Scrum.
• Developing and executing IT cutover plans for project go-lives and aligning with dependent business cutover tasks. 
• Preparing relevant project documentation, such as project charters, project plans, project schedules, status reports, change requests, and lessons learned.
• Providing project leadership, guidance, and direction to project team members and stakeholders.
• Monitoring and controlling project performance, quality, and deliverables.
• Tracking, reporting, escalating, and resolving project issues and risks.
• Reporting project status and progress to senior management and sponsors.
• Assisting project teams in defining project scope, goals, requirements, approach, and deliverables supporting the business objectives.
• Working closely with business leads and business analysts in requirements gathering, User Acceptance Testing, and cutover planning.
• Working with business leads and the Training team in Change Management planning and communication. 
• Coordinating with Business and IT Leads to deliver smaller scope system enhancements and/or resolve system issues via Jira ticketing process. 
• Reviewing current project management procedures, identifying areas for improvement, and working with PMO leadership to implement changes.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Organizational Development, Communications, Psychology, Human Resources, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience leading organizational change management for cross-functional initiatives (process, technology, and/or operating model change).
• Demonstrated capability building change strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, communications, training approach, and resistance management.
• Strong facilitation, influencing, and executive communication skills; able to work effectively across functional boundaries.
• Change management certification (e.g., Prosci) and practical experience applying structured approaches (e.g., ADKAR).
• Experience supporting enterprise transformations (ERP, HRIS, CRM, digital workplace, or operating model change).
• Program/project management experience and/or certification (e.g., PMP) and comfort working in Agile or hybrid delivery environments.
• Experience developing change metrics and reporting dashboards (adoption, sentiment/readiness, training completion, performance indicators).
• Experience leading or mentoring other change practitioners (formal or informal people leadership).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES 

• Change impact and readiness assessment
• Stakeholder engagement and communication
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Training and enablement support
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Leadership and coaching influence
• CM and process changes adopted as standard work
• Clear ownership and accountability
• Sustained adoption over time

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice and support to our employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home. 

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status.