Strategic Workforce Planning Lead

Digital Health and Care Wales; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Cardiff seeks a Strategic Workforce Planning Lead to shape and anticipate workforce needs across NHS Wales. You will develop innovative workforce models and collaborate with various teams to align strategies with national agendas. Proven experience in workforce planning and analytical skills are essential. The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable but not mandatory.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading workforce planning in complex organisations.
• Strong analytical skills with workforce data.
• Experience in the NHS or health sector is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of DHCW's rolling workforce plan.
• Collaborate with Finance and Digital teams to create innovative workforce models.
• Support the development of career pathways and talent retention strategies.

Skills

Leadership and collaboration

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Forecasting and resource allocation

Understanding of workforce data

Cross-functional engagement

Inclusive planning knowledge

Education

Experience in workforce planning or strategic HR

Job description

Overview

Are you passionate about using data and insight to shape workforce strategy? Do you see the power of long-term planning in building a sustainable and future-ready NHS? This is an exciting opportunity to become our Strategic Workforce Planning Lead at Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW). This influential role sits within our People & OD team and is central to shaping how we anticipate, plan, and respond to workforce needs across NHS Wales. You'll lead the design and delivery of workforce planning strategies that support our long-term organisational priorities and People Strategy. Collaborating across directorates, with national partners and strategic forums, your work will ensure we are ready for the future of healthcare and digital delivery. Bring your strategic insight, data mindset, and planning expertise to a role that makes a real difference - both now and for years to come.

What You'll Be Doing

You'll lead the development of our rolling workforce plan aligned to the Integrated Medium Term Plan (IMTP), using data, scenario modelling, and labour market analysis to shape the future of DHCW's workforce.

You'll collaborate with Finance, Performance, and Digital teams to design sustainable and innovative workforce models that account for critical skills, evolving technology, and service delivery needs. You'll align plans to national agendas, such as the All-Wales Workforce Strategy, and build leadership capability in long-term workforce thinking.

You'll also support the development of career pathways, contributing to how we attract, grow, and retain talent across DHCW, bringing real impact to our people strategy. Through close collaboration with HEIW, internal partners, and external stakeholders, your influence will stretch across NHS Wales.

What We're Looking For

• We\'re looking for a leader who shares our values of collaboration, compassion, innovation, excellence, and inclusivity, and can bring them to life through their work.
• A strategic thinker and problem solver, with proven experience in leading workforce planning in complex organisations.
• Strong analytical skills, a confident understanding of workforce data, and the ability to translate insight into action.
• Forecasting and resource allocations skills and the ability to align workforce planning with budgetary and financial constraints.
• Comfortable leading cross-functional work, advising senior leaders, and engaging with national forums.
• Strongunderstanding of the value of inclusive, data-driven planning, bringing deep knowledge of horizon scanning, labour markets, and scenario modelling.
• Experience of the NHS or health sector is desirable, along with qualifications in workforce planning or strategic HR. Above all, you\'re someone who believes workforce strategy is key to sustainable, people-centred transformation.

Successful candidates will be requested to prepare a 10-minute presentation that explores the following: How will you support the embedding of a Workforce Planning Mindset in DHCW

Interviews for the role will take place on Tuesday the 7th October 2025.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply