At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic workforce planning to shape the future of British Airways.
- Company: Join British Airways, a pioneering airline with over 100 years of history.
- Benefits: Enjoy staff travel perks, competitive salary, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to innovation and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by influencing workforce strategy and organisational effectiveness.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic workforce planning and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
A career without limits
As the nation's flag carrier, we take great pride in connecting Britain with the world and the world with Britain.
It's something we've been doing for over 100 years, ever since we launched the world's first international scheduled air service between London and Paris.
This originality has been in our blood since day one. It's the spirit we share with the people that fly with us, our partners, and our colleagues.
So, whether you are a reassuring voice on the end of a phone, a smile at the door, under a wing keeping the turbines spinning or landing us gently in far-flung places, a job at British Airways is yours to make.
We know great things can happen when you're inspired to think big and bring your ambition to work every day, which is why, at British Airways the sky is never the limit.
The role
Join us as we build Strategic Workforce Planning at British Airways.
As one of the first dedicated Strategic Workforce Planning Managers at British Airways, reporting to the Head of People Effectiveness, you'll help build a critical organisational capability that will shape how we deliver our future business strategy.
Rather than focusing on operational resource planning or short-term workforce forecasting, you'll work with senior leaders to understand what our future workforce needs to look like, identifying the capabilities, skills and workforce interventions required to deliver our ambitions over the next 3-5 years and beyond - identifying opportunities for optimisation and effectiveness.
Working at the intersection of business strategy, people strategy, data and organisational effectiveness, you'll help answer some of the most important questions facing our business: what workforce will we need in the future, where are our biggest risks and opportunities, and how do we ensure we're building an organisation that's ready for what's next?
Strategic Workforce Planning Manager - Permanent / Fixed Term Opportunities
About you
You're a strategic thinker who enjoys solving complex organisational challenges and turning ambiguity into clear, actionable plans.
You understand that workforce planning isn't simply about predicting headcount-it's about helping businesses make informed decisions about the workforce they'll need to deliver their objectives.
You're naturally curious, commercially minded and able to balance long-term thinking with practical delivery.
You thrive when working across diverse stakeholder groups, bringing together different perspectives, data sources and expertise to develop solutions that create meaningful business value.
You're confident influencing at senior levels, constructively challenging assumptions and helping leaders navigate difficult workforce decisions.
You combine strong analytical capability with excellent communication skills, translating complex data and workforce insights into compelling narratives, clear recommendations and practical action.
Most importantly, you're motivated by making a genuine difference-helping shape a workforce that is capable, resilient and ready for the future.
What you'll do
- Lead Strategic Workforce Planning activity across assigned business areas, translating business strategy into practical workforce plans over a 3-5 year horizon.
- Work closely with Strategic HR Business Partners and business leaders to identify future workforce, capability and critical role requirements.
- Deliver workforce demand, supply and capability analysis, identifying risks, gaps and opportunities.
- Lead workforce scenario planning and modelling, helping leaders understand the implications of strategic, operational, demographic and technological change.
- Challenge workforce assumptions and identify opportunities to improve workforce efficiency, productivity and deployment.
- Leverage workforce data, external market intelligence and emerging trends to provide meaningful insight and recommendations.
- Act as a trusted advisor on workforce and organisational implications of business strategy and transformation activity.
- Build workforce plans, with the right business ownership across reskilling, redeployment, automation, strategic hiring, talent development and organisational change interventions.
- Ensure workforce plans are embedded within business planning processes, with clear ownership, governance and measurable outcomes.
- Collaborate across People, Finance, Data & AI and Transformation teams to drive joined-up decision making and sustainable business impact.
- Continuously improve Strategic Workforce Planning methodologies, tools and approaches, helping establish best practice across British Airways.
- What you'll bring
- Significant experience in Strategic Workforce Planning within a large, complex organisation.
- Experience translating business strategy into workforce plans, recommendations and tangible business outcomes.
- Strong analytical capability, with confidence interpreting workforce data and using insight to influence decision‑making.
- Experience of workforce modelling, scenario planning and organisational analysis.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with credibility at senior levels.
- The ability to simplify complex information and communicate compelling workforce stories that drive action.
- A commercial mindset, focused on delivering practical solutions that create business value.
- Experience working across multiple functions and disciplines to solve organisational challenges.
- Professional Strategic Workforce Planning training, accreditation or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience of Oracle Fusion and workforce planning technology would be advantageous.
What we offer
We believe that all the people who work with us should feel valued for the part they play. It's one of the reasons our rewards go far beyond a competitive salary.
From the day you join us, you'll get access to brilliant staff travel benefits including unlimited basic and premium standby tickets on British Airways flights.
You'll also receive up to 30 discounted Hotline' airfares per year for yourself, friends, and family.
At British Airways you'll have the chance to take on new challenges and move forward in a way that feels right for you.
We encourage all those who work for us to consider opportunities right across our business to help you develop and progress.
We never stand still, and we don't expect our people to either.
Inclusion & Diversity
At British Airways we all have a part to play in creating an inclusive place to work.
Diverse representation among our people is really important to us and we recognise that all our colleagues are uniquely different and bring their own originality, creativity and identity to work.
Inclusion and diversity is a key driver of innovation and we're committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they can be themselves.
We're looking for people from all backgrounds and cultures to join us and be a part of our journey to become a Better BA as we continue to connect Britain with the world and the world with Britain.
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Strategic Workforce Planning Manager in London employer: British Airways PLC
At British Airways, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at Heathrow where every team member is valued and empowered to reach their full potential. With competitive salaries, extensive staff travel benefits, and a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, we foster a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth. Join us in delivering world-class service while enjoying the unique advantages of working for the nation's flag carrier, where your ambition can truly take flight.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Workforce Planning Manager in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Workforce Planning Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Leadership Skills:In the corporate leadership and management field, it's essential to highlight your leadership experience. Use your CV to flesh out examples of how you've led teams to success or managed significant projects. We want to see specific instances where your actions made a tangible difference in your previous roles!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers talk, especially in management! When detailing your achievements in your CV or cover letter, don’t just say you improved team performance. Instead, say you boosted productivity by 30% over six months through effective strategy implementation. This makes your application pop and shows us what you can bring to British Airways PLC.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to narrate your professional journey. We’re looking for motivation and a clear understanding of what corporate leadership means to you. Dive into your aspirations and how they align with the values and vision of British Airways PLC. Make it personal – we want to get to know you!
Tailor Your CV for Management Roles:Ensure your CV reflects the management skills that are essential for this role. Focus on competencies like strategic planning, team building, and problem-solving. Use a clean layout, and don’t forget to align your experiences with those keywords mentioned in the job listing. This will help you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at British Airways PLC
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
You’ll want to thoroughly convey your unique approach to leadership. During the interview with British Airways PLC, be ready to share real-life examples of how you've inspired and motivated teams in the past. Think about specific achievements that illustrate your strategic thinking and your ability to drive results.
✨Brush Up on Management Theories
Expect some technical questions related to management theories and practices. Brush up on concepts like transformational leadership, servant leadership, or situational leadership. Be prepared to discuss how you would apply these theories to the role at British Airways PLC, especially in the specific context of the challenges they’re currently facing.
✨Craft Your Vision for the Company
Since this is a full-time leadership role, spending time thinking about your vision for British Airways PLC could really set you apart. Consider potential strategies for growth and how you would lead teams towards achieving them. This shows not just enthusiasm, but also strategic foresight that they’ll likely be looking for in a candidate.
✨Emphasise Team Dynamics and Culture
In corporate leadership, team dynamics and organisational culture are everything. Be ready to discuss how you've fostered a positive work environment in previous roles. Bring up examples of how you've managed diverse teams effectively—this will resonate well at British Airways PLC as they’re likely seeking a candidate who can enhance their workplace culture.
