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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead smarter labour planning and improve workforce efficiency across Compass One sites.
- Company: Join Compass Group UK&I, the UK's top catering services provider with over 6,000 sites.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, wellness resources, and discounts at major retailers.
- Why this job: Be a key player in driving change and making data-led decisions that impact real lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and familiarity with labour systems are essential.
- Other info: Hybrid role with one day a week in Birmingham; perfect for those who love data and teamwork.
The predicted salary is between 52000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid – 1 day/week in Birmingham head office + field travel
Salary: £62,000–£65,000
Hours/Contract: Monday–Friday, Flexible Working Hours
Reports to: Head of Optimisation
Why This Role Is a Great Fit for You
Are you a confident communicator and experienced project manager who thrives on using data to unlock performance? Do you enjoy guiding others through change and making complex things simple? At Compass Group UK&I, we’re looking for a Labour Optimisation Manager to lead smarter labour planning across our Compass One sites – driving workforce efficiency, unlocking value, and supporting a culture of continuous improvement. In this high-impact role, you’ll be a key partner to operational leaders, using insights and expertise to improve how our people are deployed – ensuring the right resources, in the right place, at the right time.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Partnering & Project Leadership
- Work with operational leadership, finance, and site teams to improve labour deployment and drive consistent productivity
- Brief sector leadership teams on labour performance, trends, and opportunities
- Act as a trusted advisor – taking teams on a journey through data and change initiatives
- Lead field-based labour efficiency projects from discovery to implementation
- Analysis & Reporting
- Use WFM systems (like Zebra Workforce and Infor Cloud) to assess time, motion, and labour utilisation
- Identify and quantify labour-saving opportunities with clear, actionable insights
- Create reports and dashboards that help track productivity and project ROI
- Regularly share root cause analysis and improvement recommendations
- Tools, Systems & Change Enablement
- Be the go-to expert for labour planning queries, tools, and models
- Help shape the future of our WFM systems by feeding in user needs and operational insight
- Support the rollout of labour-related change initiatives across the business
- Act as gatekeeper for any process changes impacting labour efficiency
You’ll Be a Great Fit If You…
- Have strong experience as a field-based project manager – ideally within contract catering, facilities management, retail, or hospitality
- Are confident using labour systems and WFM platforms (e.g. Zebra Workforce, Infor, or similar cloud-based tools)
- Are a natural people-person who can engage teams, manage stakeholders, and present complex info clearly
- Are passionate about data-led decision-making – with a keen eye for time and motion studies
- Are curious, proactive, and always seeking smarter, better ways of working
- Know your way around labour legislation and compliance
- Love solving puzzles – and finding the ‘why’ behind the numbers
- Have excellent Excel and analytical tool skills, and know how to turn numbers into narrative
Benefits That Support You
- Wellbeing
- 24/7 Digital GP access for you & your family
- Wellness, fitness & mindfulness resources
- Mental health and EAP support
- Financial
- Contributory pension scheme
- Discounted shopping at Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s & more
- Travel savings with Booking.com, Expedia, TUI
- Wow Points and cashback through PerksAtWork
- Career Development
- Full access to MyLearning & Career Pathways
- Opportunity to grow with the UK's No.1 catering services provider
- Internal mobility, upskilling, and leadership training
About Compass Group UK&I
We’re the UK’s market leader in food and support services – bringing people together through great food, service, and innovation across 6,000+ sites. Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer, LinkedIn Top Company to Grow Your Career, Disability Confident Leader, Investors in People – Gold Standard.
Inclusion Matters
At Compass, we celebrate individuality. We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and create a workplace where everyone can thrive. If you need reasonable adjustments in the recruitment process, just let us know.
Labour Optimisation Manager employer: Compass Group UK
Contact Detail:
Compass Group UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Labour Optimisation Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific labour optimisation tools mentioned in the job description, such as Zebra Workforce and Infor Cloud. Having hands-on experience or knowledge of these systems will give you a significant edge during discussions with our team.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to showcase your project management skills by thinking of examples where you've successfully led change initiatives. Be ready to discuss how you engaged teams and managed stakeholders, as this is crucial for the Labour Optimisation Manager role.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your data analysis skills, particularly in Excel. Being able to turn complex data into clear narratives will be key in this role, so consider practicing how to present data insights effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Understand the current trends in labour efficiency and workforce management within the catering and hospitality sectors. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your passion for continuous improvement and data-led decision-making.
We think you need these skills to ace Labour Optimisation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in project management and labour optimisation. Use keywords from the job description, such as 'data-led decision-making' and 'labour efficiency', to demonstrate your fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, explain why you are passionate about labour optimisation and how your previous experiences align with the responsibilities of the Labour Optimisation Manager. Be sure to mention your familiarity with WFM systems like Zebra Workforce or Infor.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Provide specific examples of how you've used data to drive performance improvements in past roles. Highlight any experience with time and motion studies, as well as your proficiency in Excel and analytical tools.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Think about how you would respond to questions regarding your approach to managing change and engaging teams. Be ready to discuss your strategies for communicating complex information clearly and effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Compass Group UK
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience in project management, especially in field-based roles. Highlight specific projects where you successfully improved labour deployment and drove productivity.
✨Demonstrate Data-Driven Decision Making
Since this role heavily relies on data, come equipped with examples of how you've used data analysis to inform decisions. Discuss any experience with WFM systems like Zebra Workforce or Infor Cloud.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
As a Labour Optimisation Manager, you'll need to work closely with various teams. Prepare to talk about how you've effectively engaged stakeholders in the past and guided them through change initiatives.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect questions related to labour legislation, compliance, and analytical tools. Brush up on your knowledge of these areas and be ready to explain how you've applied them in previous roles.
