What can you do with a change management degree?
Seth Godin famously said, “Change is not a threat, it’s an opportunity. Survival is not the goal, transformative success is.”
For change managers, this is never truer. In today’s fast-paced world, businesses that successfully navigate, embrace and manage change can survive and thrive amid evolving market dynamics, and there is a broad spectrum of change management jobs and roles designed to assist them in this.
A change management degree equips you with the essential skills and knowledge to steer your organisation through the inevitable waves of change. It helps you understand and master complex organisational transitions such as digital transformation or major restructuring, empowering you to lead innovative projects that propel your organisation forward in a competitive business landscape.
But what is change management and what work can you get with a change management degree? Let’s dive into the heart of this fascinating field and explore the doors mastering business change could open for you.
What is change management?
Change management is about navigating and steering an organisation through transformation in a structured, efficient manner. Its methodology ensures any changes—whether they are in processes, technologies or personnel—are implemented in a controlled and systematic way.
The goal is to minimise disruptions and help an organisation and its people make business transitions smoothly. This involves meticulous planning, clear communication, thorough training and ongoing support to ensure changes are implemented successfully and embraced by all.
By mastering change management principles, businesses can foster a culture of adaptability, ensuring they remain resilient and competitive amid evolving market dynamics.
But change management isn’t just about managing the technical side of transformation. It’s equally about understanding people. It’s no secret that change isn’t easy in any aspect of life, including business. Change management can simplify the process, whether driving innovation or adapting to market shifts.
Clear communication, strong leadership and a well-structured approach are essential for managing business transitions. Analysing and improving processes, adhering to health and safety protocols, and overseeing quality assurance programs are also crucial to constructing a resilient organisation ready to face new challenges and seize opportunities as they arise.
What you’ll learn in a change management degree
A change management degree arms you with in-demand strategic management, ethics, analysis, service management and organisational change proficiencies, making you a leader ready for change management jobs in any industry.
You will sharpen your business leadership talents with a course that focuses on real-world challenges. This prepares you to excel in any change management roles that require:
- Leading and managing complex organisational change
- Strategic analysis and decision-making
- Crafting communication strategies tailored for change management
- Translating these skills into effective change leadership in a corporate or government setting.
Key learning areas of this course include:
Agile project and change management
- Master the fundamentals of agile project management (APM) and Scrum methodology to optimise project delivery in dynamic settings.
- Learn to see change initiatives in new ways, fostering innovative thinking to lead agile teams with greater efficiency.
Organisational change management
- Develop and deepen your understanding of organisational design and the nature of change.
- Enhance your ability to diagnose and strategise for change at all levels of an organisation.
- Tackle complex change management issues responsibly, backing your strategies with academic research for professional credibility.
Technological change and innovation
- Explore the intersection of technological advances and organisational shifts.
- Master aligning and implementing new technologies to keep organisations competitive.
- Analyse case studies to craft strategies for technological change challenges.
Managing change and complexity
- Critique various change models and grasp the intricate human elements in organisational change.
- Learn from real successes and failures to better handle change within your organisation.
Armed with these skills, let’s explore the career paths in change management jobs that await you.
What careers can I have with a change management degree?
This degree doesn’t just open doors—it swings them wide open. Here’s a snapshot of the diverse roles that await you:
Change management consultant
Specialise in the strategy of change itself. Businesses will seek your help to navigate through the rough seas of change. As a consultant, you’ll leverage your knowledge to guide companies towards smooth and successful transformations.
Key capabilities required:
- Organisational psychology
- Business engagement
- Organisational design
- Management practices
- Organisational change
- Stakeholder communications
- Service design
- Workshop facilitation.
The average annual salary for change consultant roles in Australia ranges from $110,000 to $130,000.
Senior change manager
Step into a role that puts you at the helm of an organisation’s change management team, ensuring it handles strategic adaptations to new systems with finesse.
A change manager helps organisational initiatives achieve their objectives on time and within budget, focusing on the people side of change. Support and guide a workforce to adapt to business systems, technology, or procedural changes.
Key capabilities required:
- Management practices
- Communications
- Problem-solving
- Organisational design
- Time management.
The average annual salary for change manager jobs in Australia ranges from $135,000 to $155,000.
Change advisor
Orchestrate, develop, implement and continually improve an organisation’s change framework, strategies and plans to maximise staff adoption and minimise resistance to new initiatives and transformations.
Key capabilities required:
- Analytical thinking
- Communications
- Change strategy
- Problem-solving
- Leadership
- Stakeholder engagement
- Adaptability
- Emotional intelligence.
The average annual salary for change advisor positions in Australia ranges from $100,000 to $120,000.
Human resources manager
As the bridge between the workforce and change, you’ll align personnel development with the organisation’s broader goals, making change personal and positive.
Key capabilities required:
- Employment law
- Industrial relations
- Workplace health and safety
- Negotiation skills
- Employee relations
- Communications.
The average annual salary for human resources manager jobs in Australia ranges from $115,000 to $135,000. This role’s projected growth over the next five years is strong at 16.3 per cent.
Change coach or trainer
Teach other professionals essential methods for coordinating and directing change. Share the wisdom you gain from your degree to nurture and influence the next generation of change leaders.
Key capabilities required:
- Excellent communication
- Teaching/ training skills
- Course design
- Workshop facilitation
- Research skills.
The average annual salary for trainer jobs in Australia ranges from $80,000 to $100,000, with projected job growth strong over the next five years at 11.3 per cent.
Project manager
Manage project lifecycles across multiple projects with an emphasis on change, adaptation and innovation. You ensure projects start strong, adapt to change and finish successfully.
Key capabilities required:
- Project planning and scoping
- Communications
- People and team skills
- Stakeholder management
- Project management
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Conflict resolution.
The average annual salary for project manager roles in Australia ranges from $125,000 to $145,000, with a projected job growth over the next five years of 9.3 per cent.
Operations and logistics manager
Keep the gears of business turning even as the market shifts. Streamline operations to survive change and capitalise on it. Operations managers are crucial in retail, insurance, finance, healthcare, education, government and manufacturing.
Key capabilities required:
- Strategising day-to-day operations
- Planning and leading operational changes
- Quality assurance control
- Managing technology operations
- Budgeting and cost optimisation
- Recruitment and training
- Improving processes and procedures
- Managing health and safety.
The average annual salary for operations manager jobs in Australia ranges from $105,000 to $125,000. Job growth projections over the next five years are at 9.6 per cent.
Change manager jobs are as varied as they are exciting. With a change management qualification in hand, you’re embarking on a career that shapes the future of organisations.
Should I study a change management degree?
Technological change is accelerating. Australian businesses must adapt quickly to remain relevant. Those with a track record for leading others through transition are becoming increasingly valuable to employers.
Here are some benefits of studying a change management degree:
- Broaden your horizons for innovation and leadership. The degree equips you with a versatile toolkit for innovation and leadership, crucial for those looking to broaden their professional horizons. It’s about understanding the intricacies of organisational dynamics and using this knowledge to foster growth and adaptability.
- Scale the corporate ladder. For those set on climbing the corporate ladder, a command of change management principles can be your secret weapon. It prepares you to be the kind of leader who anticipates and directs change, ensuring that when the market shifts, you’re not only ready—you’re leading the charge.
- Anticipate market shifts and manage, implement, and lead change. Small business owners and entrepreneurs will find that a change management degree offers insights into anticipating market trends and effectively implementing change strategies, which are essential for staying ahead in competitive environments.
A change management degree is about embracing a comprehensive approach to business leadership in a world that never stands still.
Get ready for an exciting career in change management
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often,” Winston Churchill said. Ready to take command of change?
You can enter a new world of exciting career options with VU Online. Our Graduate Certificate in Change Management can help you learn how to drive change and adapt to new business conditions.
You can also choose to upgrade to our Master of Business Administration with a specialisation in Change Management, allowing you to grasp the full spectrum of business and change dynamics and set yourself apart in the marketplace.
Our courses are delivered via VU Online’s award-winning postgraduate Block Model, meaning you focus on one unit at a time instead of four. You’ll join a vibrant community of like-minded professionals via our interactive online platform, sharing industry insights and engaging in collaborative learning sessions to help you conquer your next career step.
Study with VU Online and steer your career towards ongoing growth and professional success.
VU Online’s Graduate Certificate in Change Management and Master of Business Administration with a specialisation in Change Management can prepare you for success in a range of settings. Change won’t wait, so learn more about our change management degrees today.
