(Senior) Consultant Organisational Change Management - Job Opportunity at Arcondis

Basel, Switzerland
Full-time
Senior
Posted: May 25, 2025
On-site
CHF 90,000 - CHF 130,000 annually. This estimate reflects the senior-level position in Switzerland's premium consulting market, factoring in the specialized life sciences focus, multi-location presence, and the significant experience requirements. Swiss consulting salaries typically command 20-30% premiums over other European markets, and change management specialists with life sciences expertise are particularly valued.

Key Responsibilities

Lead strategic organizational transformation initiatives that directly impact business performance and competitive positioning across life sciences organizations
Drive end-to-end change management delivery including stakeholder engagement, resistance mitigation, and cultural transformation to ensure sustainable business outcomes
Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies and sponsor roadmaps that align leadership vision with operational execution
Manage complex project portfolios and stakeholder ecosystems to deliver measurable organizational improvements within defined timelines
Design and implement training programs and capability development initiatives that build organizational resilience and adaptability
Provide executive coaching and leadership development to guide senior management through transformational changes
Build and maintain strategic client relationships while contributing to business development and market expansion efforts
Mentor junior consultants and drive knowledge transfer to build organizational consulting capabilities

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in business administration, economics, life science or any other related field

Experience

At least 5 years of experience in change management, organizational development and/or cultural change projects (preferably in life sciences and consulting)

Required Skills

Good knowledge of OCM techniques, methodologies and tools, e.g. Kotter, PCI, Prosci Good knowledge of project management (processes, methodologies, and tools) Solution-oriented, innovator, and forward thinker Good conceptual, and analytical skills Excellent written and oral communication skills Highly self-motivated, independent, and outcome driven Strong facilitator, with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills Skilled at developing and delivering customer presentations and communications Willingness to travel
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The life sciences industry is experiencing unprecedented transformation driven by digital health technologies, regulatory changes, and post-pandemic operational restructuring, creating massive demand for specialized change management expertise to navigate complex organizational transitions while maintaining compliance and operational excellence. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are increasingly adopting agile operating models and cross-functional team structures to accelerate drug development timelines, requiring sophisticated change management approaches to manage cultural shifts from traditional hierarchical structures to collaborative innovation ecosystems. The integration of artificial intelligence and automation in life sciences operations is driving fundamental workforce transformation, necessitating expert change management to reskill employees, redesign processes, and manage the human aspects of technological adoption across research, manufacturing, and commercial functions.

Role Significance

Typically leads project teams of 3-8 professionals including junior consultants, client stakeholders, and cross-functional team members, while collaborating within a broader consulting practice of 15-25 change management specialists across multiple office locations.
This is a senior individual contributor role with significant client-facing responsibilities and mentoring obligations, positioned as a subject matter expert who operates with considerable autonomy while contributing to business development. The role carries substantial influence over client outcomes and junior consultant development.

Key Projects

Enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives for pharmaceutical companies implementing new ERP systems, data management platforms, and automated manufacturing processes Merger and acquisition integration projects managing cultural alignment, organizational restructuring, and operational harmonization between combining life sciences entities Regulatory compliance transformation projects helping organizations adapt to new FDA, EMA, or other regulatory requirements while maintaining operational efficiency Agile transformation initiatives converting traditional pharmaceutical R&D organizations to cross-functional, sprint-based development methodologies

Success Factors

Deep understanding of life sciences regulatory environment and operational complexities, enabling credible consultation with senior executives and effective navigation of compliance requirements during organizational changes Proven ability to build trust and influence at C-suite level while managing complex stakeholder ecosystems that span scientific, commercial, and operational functions within highly matrixed organizations Expertise in translating strategic vision into tactical implementation plans that account for both technical system changes and human behavioral factors Strong business development acumen combined with delivery excellence to drive client satisfaction, project profitability, and practice growth in a competitive consulting market

Market Demand

Very High. The convergence of regulatory pressures, digital transformation, and post-pandemic operational changes in life sciences has created exceptional demand for experienced change management consultants who can navigate complex organizational transformations while ensuring business continuity and compliance.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Prosci, Kotter, and PCI change management methodologies are industry-standard frameworks that provide structured approaches to managing organizational transformation, with Prosci certification particularly valued in corporate environments for its research-based approach to change management. These methodologies are essential for credibility with clients and systematic project delivery. Project management expertise is fundamental for managing complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives within the highly regulated life sciences environment where timeline adherence, budget control, and risk management are critical for both business success and regulatory compliance. Communication and facilitation skills are paramount given the need to influence senior executives, manage resistance from diverse stakeholder groups, and translate complex strategic concepts into actionable plans that resonate across scientific, commercial, and operational functions.

Beneficial Skills

Digital transformation expertise including understanding of cloud platforms, data analytics, and artificial intelligence applications in life sciences would significantly enhance value proposition as pharmaceutical companies increasingly focus on technology-enabled transformation Regulatory affairs knowledge and understanding of FDA, EMA, and other regulatory frameworks would provide additional credibility and enable more effective change management in compliance-critical environments Agile and design thinking methodologies are increasingly valuable as life sciences companies adopt more iterative, customer-centric approaches to drug development and commercial operations

Unique Aspects

The combination of change management expertise with life sciences industry specialization creates a highly differentiated skill set that commands premium market positioning and provides significant career portability across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consulting sectors
Multi-location project delivery model offers exposure to diverse regulatory environments, cultural contexts, and business practices across European and North American pharmaceutical markets
The role's emphasis on both delivery excellence and business development provides comprehensive consulting experience that accelerates career progression toward partnership or executive roles
Integration of mentoring responsibilities with client delivery creates opportunities to build leadership capabilities while contributing to organizational knowledge management and talent development

Career Growth

Career progression to principal level typically occurs within 3-5 years for high performers, with transition to executive internal roles or independent practice possible within 5-7 years given the specialized expertise and client relationship development.

Potential Next Roles

Principal Consultant or Practice Lead roles managing larger client portfolios and driving practice development within management consulting firms Internal transformation leadership positions such as Chief Transformation Officer or VP of Organizational Development within pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies Independent consulting practice specializing in life sciences change management with potential for acquisition by larger consulting firms

Company Overview

Arcondis

Arcondis operates as a specialized management consulting firm focused exclusively on the life sciences sector, providing strategic advisory services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies. The firm combines deep industry expertise with management consulting methodologies to address complex challenges across the drug development lifecycle, regulatory affairs, and commercial operations.

Arcondis positions itself as a boutique consulting firm with deep life sciences specialization, competing with larger generalist firms like McKinsey and BCG as well as specialized competitors like ZS Associates and IQVIA. The firm's multi-location presence across Basel, Frankfurt, Boston, and Kosice indicates strong European operations with North American expansion and cost-effective delivery capabilities.
Basel location places the role at the heart of European pharmaceutical industry, with proximity to major companies like Novartis and Roche, while the multi-location model enables serving global pharmaceutical clients with local market expertise and cultural understanding across key regulatory regions.
The consulting environment emphasizes client service excellence, professional development through mentoring, and collaborative knowledge sharing across offices. The travel requirements and client-facing nature suggest a dynamic, results-oriented culture with emphasis on building long-term client relationships and continuous learning.
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