Organisations are investing in people who enable change.
Driving this is a technology landscape that is evolving faster than ever. From AI-powered automation and cloud transformation to increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, organisations are not just investing in new technologies, they ‘re investing in people who help others adopt and use them effectively and responsibly.
At CVM People, we’re seeing an increase in focus on Adoption and Awareness focused hires, both in terms of initial discussions and shaping of hiring profiles and, in more mature clients, as permanent hires.
These roles are specifically designed to build educational awareness around best practices and embed adoption for rapidly evolving technology – chiefly AI and CyberSec – across the organisation.
Why are These Roles on the Rise?
1. Technology Alone Isn’t Enough
Organisations have long invested in tools- systems, platforms, security frameworks. But too often these investments fail to deliver their full value because users aren’t engaged, trained, or confident in adopting them.
Without structured education and adoption strategies, even technologies which seem intuitive at first glance are likely to be either unused or misused.
Adoption roles bridge that gap. They ensure that technology:
- Is understood
- Is used correctly
- Delivers measurable benefits
This is particularly crucial in areas such as cybersecurity, where user behaviour directly impacts organisational risk.
2. The Pace of Change is Relentless
New technologies, especially AI, are evolving far too rapidly for traditional corporate technology cycles. Organisations can no longer rely on annual training sessions or ad-hoc communications. They need experts who:
- Create clear, impactful education and training to demystify complex tools and processes
- Develop and communicate engaging content to enable continuous improvement.
- Equip teams to adapt and facilitate change in a way which centres and empowers users.
This demand is driving a rise in roles such as:
- Adoption and change managers
- Learning and development leads with tech specialisms
- AI education and ethics champions
- Cyber awareness and human risk managers
These professionals ensure teams are not just aware of new technology, they are empowered to use it safely and effectively.
3. Adoption is fundamental to unlocking ROI
Adoption and utilisation has been a consistent challenge for organisations across a range of technologies, still today there are clear signifiers of tool utilisation dropping year on year due to user skills and business understanding lagging behind what the technology offers.
To mitigate these issues, organisations are increasingly upweighting adoption focused success metrics into their overall measurement of project and technology success. Adoption and Awareness champions play a key role in this by:
- Defining success metrics
- Tracking adoption progress
- Providing insights that shape product improvements
- Reducing friction and increase productivity
This shift reflects a more mature view of technology deployments and overall investments, by taking a more holistic view of how success factors interact.
4. Cybersecurity Has Human Risk at Its Core
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern, it’s an enterprise risk driven by human behaviour.
Threat actors exploit people as much as systems. Training employees on phishing defence, secure password practices, and risk awareness can dramatically reduce organisational exposure.
A Senior Cyber Adoption and Awareness Manager doesn’t just roll out training, they build a culture where security is part of the rhythm of business, not an afterthought.
5. The AI Revolution Demands New Mindsets
AI adoption, from generative tools to decision-support systems, is happening at scale across sectors. But AI brings unique challenges:
- Ethical use
- Bias and fairness
- Transparency
- Trust and accountability
This has led to roles focused on AI education, governance, and responsible adoption – a trend we expect to continue as organisations integrate AI into core workflows.
How are Organisations Benefitting?
Investing in adoption and education roles delivers measurable advantages:
- Faster technology uptake
- Improved employee confidence
- Greater productivity
- Stronger security postures
- Better user experience
- Enhanced organisational agility
- Higher ROI on technology spend
These roles are no longer “nice to have” – they are strategic differentiators.
What This Means for Talent and Hiring
For recruiters and hiring managers, this trend is impacting the market in several ways:
Increasing realisation of the importance of these roles is opening new career pathways: Adoption, education, and awareness disciplines are becoming respected specialisms.
Skill sets are evolving – in response to these changing market requirements, new skill sets are emerging, blending communication, change management, technical understanding, and behavioural insight.
Demand is outpacing supply – Great candidates in these spaces are in high demand. And are hard to find.
At CVM People, our role is to help clients navigate this new hiring landscape – identifying talent who can drive not just technical implementation, but meaningful, measurable change.
Final Thoughts
The rise of adoption and education roles in tech reflects a fundamental truth, technology is only as valuable as the benefit it provides. If users aren’t engaged, don’t understand it, or feel disempowered, you’re fighting a losing battle.
Whether it’s embedding secure behaviour, enabling AI fluency, or guiding teams through digital transformation, these professionals are the connective tissue between innovation and impact.
As organisations continue to invest in technology, and the people who make it work, roles in Adoption and Awareness will be increasingly strategic, essential, and high impact.