At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic workforce planning and shape the future of talent at Carnival UK.
- Company: Join Carnival UK, a leader in creating unforgettable holiday experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, bonuses, health insurance, and generous leave.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for personal growth and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by defining workforce strategies for a thriving future.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic workforce planning and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 110000 £ per year.
Join Carnival UK at a pivotal moment as we build a more strategic, skills-led view of our future workforce across P&O Cruises and Cunard. As Director, Future Workforce, you will have the opportunity to define what strategic workforce planning means for our organisation, creating the approach, insight, tools and business confidence needed to help us understand the skills and capabilities we will need for the years ahead. This is a genuinely early-stage, high-impact opportunity. We are moving beyond traditional headcount and role-based planning towards a more data-led understanding of skills, scarcity, capability and workforce investment across both ship and shore.
Working closely with senior leaders, you will help the business think differently about future demand, identify where capability already exists, and determine where we need to grow, build or deploy skills in new ways. With learning design and employer brand closely connected to this agenda, you will be able to turn workforce insight into practical action — shaping how we develop future capability internally, attract scarce talent externally and build a workforce plan that supports Carnival UK’s long-term ambitions.
This pivotal role will involve:
- Owning and continuously evolving Carnival UK's strategic workforce planning methodology, cycles, data standards and governance, ensuring the approach is scalable, skills-led and integrated with wider business and financial planning.
- Leading scenario planning and workforce risk identification, providing senior leaders with clear strategic options and trade-offs relating to capability, cost and organisational resilience.
- Translating workforce insights into coordinated actions across learning design, employer brand, capability building, recruitment, retention, location strategy and outsourcing, tracking outcomes to ensure measurable business impact.
- Shaping the data, tooling and system requirements needed to support strategic workforce planning, ensuring insights are practical, credible and embedded into decision-making.
Job Requirements
This role demands a blend of strategic workforce planning expertise, analytical judgement and business influence. We're looking for someone with:
- Deep strategic workforce planning and business foresight expertise, with experience of implementing, embedding or being closely involved in a strategic workforce planning capability within another organisation.
- The ability to design and govern enterprise-wide workforce planning methodologies, frameworks, tools and policies, including scenario planning, workforce modelling, data inputs and risk identification.
- Strong analytical capability, with experience of combining workforce assumptions, financial data and business insight to create clear and actionable recommendations.
- Strong influencing and change leadership capability, with the credibility to build stakeholder confidence, coach the business in skills-based thinking and embed workforce planning into strategic decision making.
About You
You may have built this capability directly, or played a leading role as a senior stakeholder, business partner, OD, people strategy, HR analytics or workforce transformation leader. What matters most is that you bring practical experience of helping an organisation move towards a more mature, skills-led approach to workforce planning.
- Strategic and pragmatic thinking, with the ability to translate high-level ambition into practical, commercially grounded business solutions.
- A self-starting approach, bringing drive, ownership and purposeful execution.
- Strong influencing and collaboration skills, with the confidence to engage senior stakeholders, challenge constructively and bring people with you through change.
Positioned within our internal structure from CUK15 (entry level) to CUK1 (Brand President), this role is classified as a CUK05, offered as a full-time position, on a permanent basis, with an offering of hybrid work including up to two days from home.
Why Join Us?
We're more than just a holiday company; we're a community that values work-life balance, personal growth, and wellbeing. As part of our team, you'll enjoy:
- Annual bonus
- Company paid private medical and dental insurance and health assessment
- Employee Discounted Cruising plus Friends and Family offers
- Contributory Defined Contribution Pension scheme
- Minimum 25 days leave, bank holiday allowance and holiday trading scheme
- Employee Shares Plan
- Life Assurance
- Employee Assistance and Wellbeing programmes
- In-house Occupational Health help and access to digital GP
- Recognition scheme with prizes and awards
- Employee-led networks
- Electric Car and Cycle to Work schemes
- Discounted retail and leisure via discounts portal
Application Note
Due to the high volume of interest in our roles, we encourage early applications. This is your chance to contribute to a company that's setting the standard for holiday experiences. Apply today to be part of our journey to create joy and memories for our customers—and for you. Don't let this opportunity sail away. Join us in making holiday dreams come true while advancing your career to new horizons.
Recruitment Journey
For more information on your recruitment journey, please visit our Candidate Journey Map.
Director, Future Workforce in Southampton employer: Carnival Corporation
Carnival UK is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a vibrant work culture in Southampton. As a Contact Centre Sales Advisor, you will benefit from extensive training, hybrid working options, and a range of perks including discounted cruising and health plans, all while being part of a supportive community that values your contributions and encourages personal development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Future Workforce in Southampton
✨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!
✨Make Your Presence Known
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 Carnival Corporation!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
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 Carnival Corporation.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Future Workforce in Southampton
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 Carnival Corporation. 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 Carnival Corporation 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 Carnival Corporation. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Carnival Corporation'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 Carnival Corporation
✨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 Carnival Corporation.
✨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 Carnival Corporation 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 Carnival Corporation and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
