Resource Optimization Planning Manager

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in airport operations is seeking a Resource Optimization Planning Manager based at London Heathrow. This key role involves transforming labor and operational resource planning across the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands. The successful candidate will lead strategy development, overhaul planning tools, and drive performance metrics linked to labor cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience managing labor-intensive operations with payroll over 50%.
• History of owning P&L or optimization performance in a complex business.
• Proven ability to lead multi-country teams and standardize processes.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead regional resource planning strategy.
• Overhaul planning tools and processes from the ground up.
• Align resource plans with commercial deals.
• Coach planning teams and act decisively during disruptions.

Skills

Analytical strength

Commercial awareness

Leadership

Education

Post-graduate qualification (or equivalent experience)

Job description

Job Description

Resource Optimization Planning Manager

What’s the role?

This role leads the transformation of how labor and operational resources are forecasted, scheduled, and allocated across airport operations in the UK, Netherlands, and Italy.

It’s about real-time control over labor allocation, reducing inefficiencies in high-cost operations, and building a single regional standard for resource planning — covering tools, governance, and metrics.

What you’ll do

• Build and lead regional resource planning strategy (forecasting, rostering, allocation)
• Overhaul current planning tools and processes from the ground up
• Own the data behind operational resourcing: hours, cost, demand vs supply
• Lead the design of workforce planning tools (e.g. shift bidding, swaps, RTC, RMS)
• Align resource plans with commercial deals and contract renewals
• Coach and hold accountable planning teams across multiple countries
• Act fast and decisively during disruptions (irregular ops, strikes, breakdowns)
• Reduce emissions and fuel costs through better GSE/fleet utilization

Metrics tied to your performance

• Profit/cash targets linked to labor cost efficiency
• Worked hours per turnaround
• On-time delivery of resource plans vs forecast
• Internal adoption of planning system/tools
• Labor productivity gains per site
• Training completion rate across planning teams

You’ll need to have

• Experience managing labor-intensive operations where payroll is 50%+ of cost
• History of owning P&L or resource optimization performance in a complex business
• Proven ability to lead multi-country teams and standardize planning processes
• Strong commercial awareness: linking hours, demand, and contract terms
• Analytical strength — can interrogate data, systems, and processes with ease
• Post-graduate qualification (or equivalent experience)
• Fluent English; other a plus
• Must be eligible for UK airside security clearance and hold a valid UK driver’s license

Location

Role is based out of London Heathrow, with regular travel across UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.