Workforce Planning Specialist

IKEA; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks paid annual leave

Parental leave

15% Co-worker discount

Co-worker restaurant access

Co-worker uniform provided

Free co-worker parking

Novated leasing and EV options

Superannuation salary sacrifice

Fitness Passport membership

Job summary

IKEA Rhodes, NSW is seeking a Workforce Planning Specialist to ensure the store has the right people at the right time, driving exceptional customer and co-worker experiences. The role focuses on forecasting, scheduling, and labour budget alignment, partnering with leaders to co-create balanced plans.

Ideal candidates bring analytical experience, a commercial mindset, and strong data interpretation skills. The position requires availability for a rotating roster, day/evening shifts, and weekend

Qualifications

• Experience in workforce planning, labour planning or scheduling in an analytical role.
• Commercial mindset to balance customer demand, operational needs and budgets.
• Ability to translate data into clear insights for leaders.

Responsibilities

• Secure end-to-end workforce planning processes including forecasting and scheduling.
• Partner with leaders to co-create workforce plans balancing demand and budgets.
• Analyse labour data to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
• Educate and coach leaders on People Planning principles and best practices.
• Review contracts and hours to optimise operational and co-worker experience.
• Contribute to implementation and continuous improvement of planning solutions.
• Align planning strategy with country guidelines to support customers and co-workers.

Skills

Workforce planning

Scheduling

Data analysis

Excel & UKG systems

Stakeholder influence

Tools

Excel

UKG

Job description

At IKEA, our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. We believe that everything we do comes with the responsibility to create a positive impact on people, society and the planet. We are passionate about home furnishing, creating a positive life at home and sharing our tasty responsibly sourced food with the many people across the world.

We are guided by our cultures & values, creating a great place to work.
We stand for equality, diversity and inclusion.
We care about people & planet and promote health & wellbeing.
We nurture your development and provide career opportunities to unlock your potential.

What you need to know

Working at IKEA has its benefits & rewards:

• 5 weeks’ Paid Annual Leave, Paid Parental Leave, Family & Community Leave and much more
• 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Program for health and wellbeing support
• 15% Co-worker discount
• Low-cost nutritious meals including complimentary drinks in our Co-worker restaurant
• Co-worker uniform provided
• Free Co-worker parking
• Free benefits membership (savings and discounts across retailers and service providers)
• Novated leasing and EV subscription options
• Superannuation salary sacrifice
• Fitness Passport membership available
• Bonus programme (where eligible)
• Co-worker Loyalty programme (extra contribution to your superannuation fund where eligible)

Additional information:

• Position is temporary full-time, 76hrs/fortnight (fixed term contract ending 30 January 2028).
• Location of role is IKEA Rhodes, NSW.
• Internal job title at IKEA is Unit People Planning Specialist. Reporting line is to the Unit People & Culture Manager.
• As our store operates 7 days per week, you must have the availability to work a rotating roster with a mix of day and evening shifts. You also have the availability to work alternating weekend shifts (both Saturday and Sunday).

About this work area

As the Workforce Planning Specialist, you will play a key role in ensuring our store has the right people, in the right place, at the right time to create an exceptional experience for both customers and co-workers.

Working closely with leaders across the business, you will combine workforce planning expertise, commercial acumen and data-driven insights to support operational performance, labour budget optimisation and strategic decision-making.

Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Secure the end-to-end workforce planning process, including forecasting, workforce planning, scheduling and roster publication, ensuring workforce plans align with customer demand, operational priorities and labour budgets.
• Lead the partnership with leaders across the business to co-create workforce plans and schedules that balance customer demand, operational priorities, co-worker availability, workforce capability and financial objectives.
• Analyse workforce, scheduling and labour data using available tools to identify trends, risks and opportunities, translating complex information into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders.
• Build capability by educating, coaching and supporting leaders on People Planning principles, processes and best practice, fostering accountability and consistency in workforce planning.
• Review workforce structures, contract mix and hours allocation to identify opportunities that support both operational requirements and co-worker experience.
• Contribute to the implementation and continuous improvement of People Planning solutions, driving efficient ways of working and supporting a data-informed planning culture.
• Implement and secure the unit People Planning strategy, ensuring alignment with IKEA People Planning principles, processes and country-specific guidelines to support an optimal customer and co-worker experience.
• Ensuring workforce planning practices comply with IKEA policies, employment standards and legislative requirements.

As Workforce Planning Specialist you will bring:

• Experience in workforce planning, labour planning, scheduling, resource planning or a similar analytical role will be highly regarded.
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to understand how customer demand, operational requirements, workforce capability and labour budgets work together to balance customer, co-worker and business needs.
• Ability to dissect data and analyse complex information to provide clear, actionable insights that support workforce planning and informed business decision-making.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Experience using Excel and workforce management systems to support forecasting, reporting and scheduling activities. Experience with UKG will be highly regarded.
• The confidence to influence stakeholders, act as a trusted advisor with the ability to build strong relationships and provide constructive challenge and recommendations to business leaders to support informed decision-making.
• Take a proactive, solutions-focused approach and are always looking for opportunities to improve ways of working to enable successful outcomes for the customer, co-worker and business.

We need people like you

At IKEA, work is so much more than a job. Come join us!