Senior Workforce Management Planning and Optimisation Specialist

Air New Zealand; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Air New Zealand is seeking an experienced Senior Workforce Management Planning and Optimisation Specialist to lead cross-functional projects and apply advanced workforce management expertise to optimise crew utilisation, resource planning and operational efficiency.

You will drive continuous improvement, challenge conventional thinking and shape industry benchmarks for excellence, working within a squad structure to implement changes quickly with minimal disruption and strong risk management.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in workforce management within the airline industry.
• Deep expertise in rostering, resource planning, and training optimisation.
• Experience working across airline resource groups (Pilots, Cabin Crew or Ground).
• Exceptional analytical acumen with data modelling and decision-making tools.
• Strategic thinker with track record balancing long-term vision and short-term impact.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and union agreements.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional projects to optimise crew utilisation and operational efficiency.
• Work within a squad structure to implement changes quickly with risk management.
• Provide expert advice on best practices and emerging trends in airline workforce management.
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses for workforce initiatives to support operational changes.
• Develop and present reports to leadership on workforce strategy impact on performance and profitability.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal teams and external partners to drive change.

Skills

Leadership in workforce management

Rostering

Resource planning

Training optimisation

Advanced data modelling

Decision‑making tools

Regulatory requirements

Union agreements

Pairing optimisation software

Senior stakeholder influence

Tools

Pairing optimisation software

Job description

Kia ora!

Kia ora!

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Workforce Management Planning and Optimisation Specialist to join our dynamic team and help shape the future of our airline operations.

In this role, you’ll lead cross-functional projects and apply advanced workforce management expertise to optimise crew utilisation, resource planning, and operational efficiency. With a focus on driving continuous improvement, you’ll challenge conventional thinking, introduce innovative solutions, and ensure that Air New Zealand continues to set industry benchmarks for excellence.

The role you will play:

• As a member of the Workforce Strategy and Optimisation Chapter, you will work cross-functionally to identify and evaluate productivity improvement opportunities in our workforces
• You will work within a squad structure to implement changes quickly and efficiently, ensuring strategic alignment and minimal disruption to ongoing operations with appropriate risk management.
• You will provide expert advice and thought leadership on best practices and emerging trends in airline workforce management to improve crew utilisation, reduce operational costs, and mitigate risk.
• You will conduct cost-benefit analyses for workforce management initiatives to provide clear business cases that support operational changes or enhancements.
• You will develop and present detailed reports and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders, outlining the impact of workforce strategies on operational performance and profitability.
• You will build strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams and external partners to influence decision‑making and drive successful change initiatives.

You’ll succeed in this role if you bring:

• A proven track record of leadership in workforce management within the airline industry, with a focus on delivering transformational change.
• Deep expertise in workforce management, including rostering, resource planning, and training optimisation.
• Experience working across either Air (Pilots, Cabin Crew) or Ground (Airports, Maintenance) resource groups.
• Exceptional analytical acumen, with expertise in advanced data modelling and decision‑making tools.
• Strategic thinking capabilities and a history of developing and executing initiatives that balance long‑term vision with short‑term impact.
• Deep understanding of regulatory requirements, union agreements, and workforce optimisation tools, including pairing optimisation software.
• The ability to influence and collaborate at the most senior levels, driving impactful change across diverse teams and business units.

In return!

This is a rare opportunity to influence strategic workforce management and contribute to Air New Zealand’s success. You’ll work with passionate teams, take part in exciting projects, and help deliver a world‑class travel experience that embodies our values of manaaki and innovation.

Applications close Monday 26th October 2026.

Additional Information

At Air New Zealand, we are proudly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in creating a truly inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. Our people are our greatest asset – because while everything else we do in our operation can be replicated by our competitors, it is our people that truly set us apart. We are firm believers in celebrating the differences and diversity of thought our people bring to their roles. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those with a disability, additional health and mental health needs, and/or are neurodiverse to apply for our roles.

If you have encountered any accessibility barriers and require further information or reasonable accommodations to our recruitment process, please reach out to the recruiter listed on this job advert so they are able to support you to freely participate equitably in our recruitment and selection process.

Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata. Ko te pae tata whakamaua, kia tina.

\"Seek to bring distant horizons closer. Once near, seize them and make them your reality.\"