Strategic Workforce Planning & Skills Partner

Heriot-Watt University Malaysia; Easter Howgate; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days annual leave + closed days

Job summary

Heriot-Watt University is seeking a Workforce Planning and Skills Partner to lead university-wide skills frameworks and workforce capability development. You will analyse future needs, support succession planning, and drive workforce insights to inform strategic decisions.

The role focuses on stakeholder collaboration, change management, and the implementation of career pathways within a complex, multi‑faculty environment, underpinning organisational agility and performance.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified, or equivalent professional experience, in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Learning and Development, Business Management or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in workforce planning, talent management, organisational development, talent acquisition, or skills-based workforce transformation.
• Experience developing and implementing skills frameworks, career pathways or workforce planning initiatives within a complex organisation.
• Strong understanding of workforce planning, succession planning and talent development methodologies.
• Experience using workforce data, HR systems and reporting tools to generate strategic insight.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical, scalable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of University-wide skills and capability frameworks aligned to organisational priorities and career structures.
• Identify current and future capability requirements across academic and professional services areas.
• Ensure frameworks support career progression, talent mobility, succession planning, workforce resilience, organisational agility and the effective deployment of individual strengths.
• Promote a consistent and accessible approach to skills development across the University.
• Develop and embed workforce planning approaches that support strategic decision-making and long-term capability needs.
• Assess workforce capability against future requirements, identifying skills gaps, strengths profiles, development priorities and opportunities to enhance organisational agility.
• Support succession planning and strengthen talent pipelines for critical and specialist roles.
• Contribute to the University's transition towards a skills-based approach to workforce and talent management.
• Workforce Analysis and Insight
• Analyse workforce demographics, trends and labour market intelligence to identify risks and opportunities.
• Develop workforce forecasts and scenario plans to support strategic workforce decisions.
• Create and maintain workforce metrics, dashboards and reporting that provide actionable insight.
• Present evidence-based recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders across the University.
• Provide expert advice on workforce planning, capability development and organisational effectiveness.
• Facilitate workshops and consultations to support workforce initiatives and change programmes.
• Assess workforce implications of organisational transformation and support sustainable change planning.
• Design or commission development initiatives aligned to organisational priorities and workforce needs.
• Work collaboratively with learning, leadership and Professional and Organisational Development colleagues to develop approaches that build skills, augment strengths and increase workforce agility.
• Evaluate programme effectiveness and use insights to drive continuous improvement.
• Support the development and optimisation of workforce planning, talent and skills systems and processes.
• Establish effective workforce planning standards, methodologies and governance arrangements.
• Promote workforce planning capability across the University and drive continuous improvement in tools and practices.
• Monitor external labour market trends and benchmark activity to inform workforce strategies.

Skills

Workforce planning

Talent management

Organisational development

Skills frameworks

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Education

Degree in HR/OD/L&D/Business

Tools

HRIS / HR systems

Reporting tools

Job description

Heriot-Watt University is seeking a Workforce Planning and Skills Partner to lead university-wide skills frameworks and workforce capability development. You will analyse future needs, support succession planning, and drive workforce insights to inform strategic decisions.

The role focuses on stakeholder collaboration, change management, and the implementation of career pathways within a complex, multi‑faculty environment, underpinning organisational agility and performance.