At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape the future of our organisation with strategic workforce planning and data-driven insights.
- Company: Join a leading HR team in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension, free travel, and wellness support.
- Other info: Commit to personal growth with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on workforce strategies and drive organisational success.
- Qualifications: Experience in strategic workforce planning and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
We’re excited to offer a fantastic opportunity to join our HR team as a Workforce Planning Manager. In this strategic role, you’ll play a key part in shaping our organisation’s future by providing expert workforce planning insight. You’ll lead the development of robust, consistent workforce plans and talent pipelines that align with both current priorities and long-term business goals. Working closely with senior leaders and Heads of Department, you’ll build an understanding of workforce demands and apply this into effective, localised plans that ensure we have the right people, in the right place, at the right time. You’ll also drive our retention and succession planning strategies, using data-led insights to monitor progress, identify risks, and highlight opportunities through regular reporting and analysis. If you bring strong experience in strategic workforce planning and the confidence to lead with evidence-based recommendations, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver short, medium and long-term workforce plans aligned to business priorities.
- Analyse workforce data to produce accurate forecasts, scenario planning, and evidence-based insights.
- Collaborate with HR, finance, and business leaders to align workforce plans with recruitment, training, and operational needs.
- Monitor workforce performance through KPIs, reporting, and continuous improvement of planning tools and processes.
- Provide strategic insight on workforce risks and opportunities, including retention, succession planning, skills gaps, and resource optimisation.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Relevant qualification (CIPD Level 5 or equivalent) with degree-level capability or experience.
- Strong experience in strategic workforce planning within a large or complex organisation.
- Ability to analyse and interpret workforce data, providing clear, evidence-based recommendations and insights.
- Proficiency in HR systems (e.g. Oracle), advanced Excel, and data visualisation tools such as Power BI.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, build relationships, and understand sector-specific workforce challenges.
To ensure continuity and an effective delivery of service, successful candidates will be required to commit to a minimum 14-month period in role after achieving competence. This also includes existing colleagues who move by internal promotions and transfers. This time allows our future colleagues to support personal career development by allowing time to build strong knowledge and expertise.
Benefits
- A defined benefit pension from day 1 – one of the best in the UK.
- Free travel on all London Northwestern and West Midlands Railway services for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 75% off all other train operating companies for you, your spouse/partner, and dependents.
- 8 Friends and Family Day passes to gift per annum on our network.
- A 24/7 Virtual GP service for you and your household.
- Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - A confidential employee benefit that supports you with personal or work-related issues affecting your home life, work life, health, or wellbeing.
- Our cycle to work scheme with Evans Cycles.
- A retail discount portal - offering savings, discounts and cashback at over 800 retailers and restaurants.
Workforce Planning Manager employer: WM Trains
Join our dynamic HR team in Birmingham as a Workforce Planning Manager, where you'll not only shape the future of our organisation but also enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and well-being. With exceptional benefits including a defined benefit pension from day one, free travel for you and your family, and access to a 24/7 Virtual GP service, we are committed to fostering a healthy work-life balance and providing opportunities for professional development. Embrace the chance to make a meaningful impact while being part of a collaborative environment that values your expertise and insights.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Workforce Planning Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those already working in HR or workforce planning. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their workforce challenges and think about how your skills can help solve them. This shows you're not just interested in any job, but specifically in making an impact at their organisation.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Workforce Planning Manager. Highlight your strategic insights and data analysis skills, as these are key to impressing the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at StudySmarter.
We think you need these skills to ace Workforce Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Workforce Planning Manager role. Highlight your experience in strategic workforce planning and how it aligns with our goals at StudySmarter. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since this role involves analysing workforce data, don’t forget to mention your proficiency in tools like Excel and Power BI. Share specific examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in previous roles – we love a good success story!
Be Personable:We’re all about building relationships here at StudySmarter, so let your personality shine through in your application. Use a friendly tone and show us how you can connect with stakeholders and influence decisions. We want to know the real you!
Apply Through Our Website:To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at WM Trains
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Workforce Planning Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to analyse and interpret workforce data. Brush up on key metrics and be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform strategic decisions in the past. Bring examples of forecasts or reports you've created that had a tangible impact.
✨Understand the Business
Familiarise yourself with the company's current workforce challenges and business goals. Research their recent projects or initiatives and think about how your role can align with these. This will show that you're not just interested in the position, but also in contributing to the company's success.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
You'll be collaborating with various departments, so it's crucial to highlight your stakeholder management skills. Prepare examples of how you've built relationships and influenced decision-making in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you would approach working with HR, finance, and senior leaders.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask you to solve hypothetical workforce planning scenarios. Practice articulating your thought process and the steps you would take to develop effective plans. This will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities during the interview.
