Head of Operational Efficiency & Labour Planning

Places for People; Leicester; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension with matched contributions up

Bonus scheme up to 15%

Car Allowance

Healthcare cashback plan

Wellbeing support

Employee Discounts

Training and career progression

Recognition programmes

Gym membership

Life Assurance

Job summary

Places Leisure, part of Places for People, is seeking a Head of Operational Optimisation to drive data-led resource management and cost efficiency across multiple sites. You will shape labour planning, scheduling and forecasting to align with operational and commercial goals, while supporting refits, bids and growth through robust cost models.

The role involves travel to Leisure sites (roughly 2–3 days per week) and collaboration with senior leaders across Finance, Operations and Technology.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in labour planning, workforce management, operational performance, commercial finance, cost transformation or operational efficiency within a complex, multi-site organisation.
• Demonstrable experience of forecasting operational demand and translating it into practical labour plans, hours and costs.
• Experience analysing labour and non-labour P&L performance, identifying cost drivers and turning findings into measurable action plans.
• Practical experience using DILO, time and motion studies or equivalent methods to assess operational activity, capacity and efficiency.
• Advanced experience using Microsoft Excel and Power BI to build models, tools and reporting that support commercial and operational decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of smarter, data-led ways of managing resources and operating costs across Places Leisure.
• Improve labour planning, scheduling and forecasting to ensure the right colleagues and resources are in the right place at the right time.
• Identify efficiencies, reduce avoidable spend and develop practical plans that protect the customer experience.
• Support refits, bids and growth opportunities by creating robust cost models and ensuring investment decisions are based on realistic resource and payback assumptions.

Skills

Labour planning

Workforce management

Operational performance

Commercial finance

Cost transformation

Operational efficiency

Forecasting

P&L analysis

Time and motion studies

Excel

Power BI

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Places Leisure, part of Places for People, is seeking a Head of Operational Optimisation to drive data-led resource management and cost efficiency across multiple sites. You will shape labour planning, scheduling and forecasting to align with operational and commercial goals, while supporting refits, bids and growth through robust cost models.

The role involves travel to Leisure sites (roughly 2–3 days per week) and collaboration with senior leaders across Finance, Operations and Technology.