Chief of Operational Efficiency & Forecasting

Places for People; Preston; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension with matched contributions up

Bonus scheme up to 15%

Car Allowance

Healthcare cashback plan

Wellbeing support

Free gym membership

Life Assurance

Training & development

Employee discounts

Job summary

Places Leisure, part of Places for People, is seeking a Head of Operational Optimisation to lead smarter, data-driven resource management and cost control across sites. You will improve labour planning, scheduling and forecasting to align resources with operational and commercial goals.

You will work closely with Operations, Finance and central teams to identify efficiencies, reduce spend and develop practical cost models to inform investment and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in labour planning, workforce management and operational efficiency.
• Forecasting operational demand and translating it into practical labour plans.
• Experience analysing labour and non-labour P&L performance.
• Practical experience using time and motion studies (DILO) to assess operational activity.
• Advanced Excel and Power BI to build models and reporting that support decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of data-led ways to manage resources and operating costs.
• Improve labour planning, scheduling and forecasting.
• Identify efficiencies, reduce avoidable spend and support investment decisions.
• Collaborate with Operations, Finance and central teams.
• Support refits, bids and growth opportunities with robust cost models.

Skills

Labour planning

Workforce management

Operational performance

Commercial finance

Cost transformation

Operational efficiency

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Job description

Places Leisure, part of Places for People, is seeking a Head of Operational Optimisation to lead smarter, data-driven resource management and cost control across sites. You will improve labour planning, scheduling and forecasting to align resources with operational and commercial goals.

You will work closely with Operations, Finance and central teams to identify efficiencies, reduce spend and develop practical cost models to inform investment and growth opportunities.