Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) Expert
Inside IR35 - 2 days per week (part time)
Remote (occasional office travel)
We are seeking an experienced Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) Expert to support our Operational Excellence (OE) team as an external specialist. The primary objective of this role is to bring external insights, best practice, and hands-on expertise to help shape and mature our future SWP model and ways of working, from design through to full operationalisation.
This role will play a critical part in ensuring our workforce strategy is fully integrated with business, talent, and financial planning cycles across a global organisation.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Workforce Planning Design & Deployment
- Lead and advise on the design, build, and implementation of a modern, enterprise-wide Strategic Workforce Planning model.
- Support the transition from conceptual design to full-scale deployment, embedding SWP into business-as-usual (BAU) operations and governance.
- Define sustainable SWP cycles, operating models, and ownership aligned to global business rhythms.
Talent & Financial Integration
- Orchestrate integration between SWP and adjacent processes, including:
- Talent and skills-based workforce models (e.g. skills taxonomies, critical roles, attrition, mobility).
- Financial planning frameworks, including Headcount planning, Total Employee Cost (TEC), and budgeting/forecasting cycles.
- Ensure alignment between workforce insights, strategic priorities, and financial outcomes.
Tooling, Data & Analytics
- Advise on and support the use of SWP technologies and platforms, such as:
- Visier
- Anaplan
- Pigment
- SAP (or equivalent SWP configurations)
- Guide data requirements, workforce analytics, and reporting standards to enable evidence-based decision making.
Stakeholder Engagement & Storytelling
- Translate complex workforce models, data, and scenarios into clear, compelling narratives for senior stakeholders.
- Develop and deliver executive-level presentations that articulate strategic choices, trade-offs, and recommendations.
- Build strong engagement and credibility across HR, Finance, OE, and Business leadership teams.
Required Experience & Expertise
- Proven SWP Design and Delivery: Extensive hands-on experience designing and implementing Strategic Workforce Planning models within large, global organisations (ideally FMCG and/or Retail).
- Demonstrated success moving beyond design into deployment, operational management, and BAU adoption.
- Cross-Functional Integration: Strong experience connecting workforce planning with talent management and financial planning processes.
- Technology & Data Fluency: Working knowledge of leading SWP tools and workforce analytics platforms.
- Senior Stakeholder Influence: Excellent communication, storytelling, and facilitation skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and align diverse stakeholders.
Working Model & Engagement Terms
- Working Pattern: Primarily remote. Occasional office presence may be required for induction, key milestones, or senior stakeholder sessions.
- Engagement Status: Inside IR35