Workforce Planning Manager


Location: London (hybrid working)
Role Type: Permanent, full-time (35 hours)
Salary: £63,000 - £68,000 per annum


The Role


We are supporting a large-scale events organisation in the search for an experienced Workforce Planning Manager. This is a pivotal role responsible for leading workforce strategy and operational delivery across a complex, high-volume event environment.
You will take ownership of workforce planning, scheduling, and headcount management across a workforce of permanent staff, casual workers, freelancers, and volunteers. Alongside this, you will oversee the operational delivery of workforce logistics, ensuring a seamless experience for all event personnel.


Key Responsibilities
*Lead end-to-end workforce planning across multiple workforce types, ensuring a clear view of demand, supply, and cost
*Deliver workforce forecasting and scenario modelling to support changing event requirements
*Partner with finance and operational teams to align workforce plans with budgets
*Analyse workforce data to identify risks, improve performance, and inform decision-making
*Define and track key workforce metrics such as fill rates, costs, and utilisation
*Own the workforce planning cycle, ensuring clear governance, timelines, and accountability
*Influence senior stakeholders to improve planning discipline and cost control
*Oversee workforce demand planning and scheduling strategy
*Define principles for shift planning, coverage, and workforce allocation
*Identify risks in workforce deployment and implement mitigation strategies
*Drive improvements in workforce fill and utilisation
*Ensure workforce readiness for live events, including contingency planning
*Oversee workforce logistics such as accommodation, transport, uniforms, and catering
*Support robust and efficient pay processes in partnership with finance
*Lead and develop a small team, setting clear priorities and service standards


Essential experience:
*Strong experience in workforce planning, operations, or large-scale resource management
*Experience within events, hospitality, or large-scale operational environments
*Highly analytical, with experience working with large datasets and generating insight
*Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
*Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
*Experience with workforce management systems (e.g. scheduling platforms)
*Budget management experience
*Experience leading teams and driving process improvement