At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global workforce planning and data analytics to drive business transformation.
- Company: Avantor, a leader in life sciences and advanced technology industries.
- Benefits: Join a diverse team with opportunities for career growth and impactful work.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape global talent strategy and make a real difference in healthcare and technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in workforce planning and analytics, with strong analytical and stakeholder management skills.
The Opportunity:
About Avantor
Avantor is a leading global provider of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries, working side-by-side with customers at every step of the scientific journey to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology - serving more than 300,000 customer locations across the Globe. As a company undergoing significant business transformation, Avantor is investing in the data capabilities and operational discipline needed to drive sustainable growth. This UK/Ireland-based role offers the opportunity to shape global workforce strategy.
About the Role
As Senior Manager, Workforce Planning & Data Analytics, you will build and lead the enterprise workforce planning capability, ensuring Avantor's global talent strategy is anchored in rigorous data and aligned to its business transformation agenda. You will translate complex workforce dynamics across our business segments into actionable insight for senior leaders worldwide. Operating from the UK or Ireland, you will work across time zones and business units, acting as a strategic partner to global HR, Finance, and segment leadership - bringing the analytical rigour and commercial acumen needed to support a company of Avantor's scale and ambition.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Avantor's global workforce planning cycle, building supply/demand models across business segments, functions, and geographies.
- Partner with segment Presidents, HRBPs, and Finance to translate business transformation and growth goals into structured headcount and capability plans.
- Develop scenario models to support restructuring, transformation, and strategic redeployment decisions - providing analytical rigour to senior business cases.
- Build the workforce planning methodology, including frameworks, cadence, and governance aligned to the Avantor operating model.
- Monitor the global life sciences labour market trends to inform talent strategy and competitive positioning.
People Analytics & Reporting
- Own Avantor's people analytics function - including dashboards, predictive models, and self-service reporting for HR and business leaders.
- Deliver high-quality, executive-ready workforce insight covering attrition risk, DEI progress, productivity, skills gaps, and organisational effectiveness.
- Partner with HR Technology and IT to build scalable data pipelines from Avantor's HRIS (Workday) and adjacent systems.
Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Act as a trusted advisor to Finance on FTE budgeting, headcount governance, and cost transformation tracking.
- Present workforce analytics findings in compelling, business-focused narratives to C-suite and segment leadership across multiple time zones.
- Champion a culture of data-led decision-making across the global HR function.
Process & Governance
- Establish and maintain data governance standards for all people data, ensuring accuracy and full compliance within legislation and multi-jurisdictional requirements across Avantor's global footprint.
- Continuously improve planning methodologies, tooling, and ways of working in line with the Avantor Business System continuous improvement approach.
- Support headcount transparency and governance during periods of organisational restructuring and transformation.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Proven experience in workforce planning, people analytics, or HR data roles, with 3-5+ years at manager level within a large, complex, global organisation.
- Advanced analytical skills - proficiency in Power BI/Tableau, Excel, and workforce planning tools.
- Experience in using Workday and Workday Adaptive Experience supporting business transformation, restructuring, or cost optimisation programmes through workforce data.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to connect people data to P&L outcomes and strategic priorities.
- Outstanding stakeholder management skills, including confident engagement with C-suite audiences across multiple geographies.
- Solid understanding of UK and/or Irish employment law, data privacy legislation (UK GDPR / EU GDPR), and workforce reporting obligations.
Desirable
- Life sciences, biopharma, or advanced technology sector experience.
- Experience working with Workday or a comparable enterprise HRIS.
- Familiarity with external labour market data providers (e.g. Mercer, LinkedIn Talent Insights).
- Experience working across US-headquartered matrix organisation with European centres of excellence.
- Relevant data or analytics certification.
What Success Looks Like (First 12 Months)
- A credible, embedded global workforce planning cycle aligned to Avantor's annual operating plan and multi-year transformation roadmap.
- Executive dashboards driving monthly people strategy conversations at segment and enterprise level.
- Headcount forecasting accuracy materially improved, supporting Finance reconciliation and cost transformation tracking.
Senior Manager, Workforce Planning & Data Analytics in London employer: Avantor
Avantor is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of Cambridge, where innovation thrives. Employees benefit from a competitive salary, a strong focus on professional development, and the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research while ensuring compliance with Health and Safety standards. With a culture that values attention to detail and teamwork, Avantor fosters a supportive atmosphere for growth and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, Workforce Planning & Data Analytics in London
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
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Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Avantor!
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Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Avantor.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, Workforce Planning & Data Analytics in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Avantor. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Avantor and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Avantor. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Avantor's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Avantor
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Avantor.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Avantor will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Avantor and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
