Labor Planning and Forecasting Manager

2139 Gate Gourmet, Inc; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401k with company match

Life insurance

Medical coverage

Disability insurance

Voluntary life

Commuter benefits

Employee discounts

Job summary

Gate Gourmet is seeking a Labor Planning Leader in Los Angeles that oversees long- and short-term labor scheduling for multiple units. You will drive resource planning, budget alignment, and forecasting with finance and operations teams.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, labor analytics, and cross-functional collaboration to optimize staffing while ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience within operational planning, monitoring operational KPIs, or financial controlling
• Experience leading strategic or operational workforce planning activities, including demand and gap analysis
• Ability to identify complex themes, findings, and recommendations from both quantitative and qualitative assessments
• Ability to function independently
• Adaptable and receptive to change with a drive to adopt innovative approaches
• Proficient at handling tasks under demanding time constraints
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Skilled in personnel scheduling and rostering
• Knowledge of union regulations and labor legislations
• Fluent in written and verbal English; second language is a plus
• Strong communication skills

Responsibilities

• Labor Resource Planning: Develop and execute comprehensive labor resource planning strategies that align with business goals and operational needs.
• Workforce Optimization: Analyze historical data, trends, and market dynamics to optimize labor allocation while avoiding overstaffing/ understaffing.
• Budget Management: Collaborate with Finance and Operations to develop labor budgets, monitor expenditures, and provide cost insights.
• Forecasting and Demand Planning: Use data-driven forecasting to anticipate labor needs considering seasonal variations and events.
• Labor Analytics: Develop and maintain reporting to track KPIs related to labor utilization, productivity, and cost.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Align labor plans with Operations, HR, Finance, and Industrial Engineering.
• Staffing Strategies: Recommend short- and long-term staffing strategies including hiring, training, and reassignment.
• Monitor and review weekly schedules to accommodate changing business needs.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve labor planning and resource allocation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay current with labor regulations and policies for compliance.
• Team Leadership: Provide guidance and mentorship to a high-performing team environment.

Skills

Labor Planning

Workforce Optimization

Budget Management

Forecasting

Labor Analytics

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in operational planning/ KPIs/ financial controlling

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel/Word/PowerPoint/Outlook/SharePoint)

Job description

We’re looking for motivated, engaged people to help make everyone’s journeys better. Responsible for all the local activities related to the labor planning and labor scheduling on the long and short term of the assigned unit(s).

Compensation

Annual Hiring Range/Hourly Rate: $90,000 - $100,000 /per year

Benefits

• Paid time off
• 401k, with company match
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Voluntary short-term/long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Commuter benefits
• Employee Discounts

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Labor Resource Planning: Develop and execute comprehensive labor resource planning strategies that align with business goals and operational needs.
• Workforce Optimization: Analyze historical data, trends, and market dynamics to optimize labor allocation, ensuring the right workforce is in place to meet demand fluctuations while minimizing overstaffing and understaffing situations.
• Budget Management: Collaborate with Finance and Operations teams to develop labor budgets, monitor actual vs. planned expenditures, and provide insights to improve cost efficiency.
• Forecasting and Demand Planning: Utilize data-driven forecasting techniques to anticipate labor needs, considering seasonal variations, special events, and other factors that impact workforce requirements.
• Labor Analytics: Develop and maintain reporting mechanisms to track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to labor utilization, productivity, and cost, providing regular updates to senior management.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with departments such as Operations, Human Resources, Finance, and Industrial Engineers to align labor plans with operational strategies and business objectives.
• Staffing Strategies: Recommend short-term and long-term staffing strategies that align with business goals, including hiring, training, and reassignment of labor resources.
• Monitor and review weekly schedules to accommodate changing business needs.
• Process Improvement: Continuously identify opportunities for process improvement within labor planning and resource allocation and implement best practices to enhance overall efficiency.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay current with labor regulations and policies to ensure all workforce planning activities are compliant with legal requirements.
• Team Leadership: Provide guidance and mentorship while fostering a collaborative, high-performing, and results-oriented team environment.

Qualifications

• Education Bachelor's degree, or equivalent professional experience within operational planning, monitoring operational Key Performance Indicators, or financial controlling
• Experience leading strategic or operational workforce planning activities, including demand and gap analysis
• Ability to identify complex themes, findings, and suggestions/recommendations from both quantitative and qualitative assessments
• Ability to function independently
• Easily adaptable and receptive to change, with a strong drive to adopt innovative approaches
• Proficient at handling tasks under demanding time constraints
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Skilled in personnel scheduling and rostering
• Technical Skills: Proficient with Microsoft Office Products (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and SharePoint)
• Knowledge of union regulations and labor legislations
• Language / Communication Skills: Fluent in written and verbal English language.
• Knowledge of a second language is a plus
• Strong communication skills

Job Dimensions

• Geographic Responsibility: Multiple Units in an area
• Type of Employment: Full Time
• Travel %: 10-25% outside of 50 miles
• Exemption Classification: Exempt
• Internal Relationships: Regional and unit operations, finance, human resources staff
• External Relationships: Professional affiliate organizations
• Work Environment / Requirements of the Job: Office / Manufacturing
• Budget / Revenue Responsibility: N/A

Gategroup Competencies Required to be Successful in the Job

• Excellence We put the customer at the forefront of everything we do, taking time to understand their needs, wishes and desires. We constantly learn by giving and receiving feedback, improving from our mistakes and bettering ourselves.
• Passion Hospitality, in its purest form, comes down to a single, core principle: care. We do everything with thoughtfulness, attention, and care. We have a growth mindset, a resilience that makes us determined to bounce back from failures and setbacks.
• Responsibility We care about what we do, and we understand the impact we have on others and the planet. We always look out for each other - creating a safe workplace environment is everyone’s responsibility.
• Respect Every job matters. We each do our part to ensure our colleagues and our customers succeed in their goals. We respect each other’s voices and foster a workplace that supports inclusion and belonging. We are all one gategroup.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

gategroup is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status or other category under applicable law.

gategroup is the global leader in airline catering, retail-on-board and hospitality products and services. gategroup provides passengers with superior culinary and retail experiences, leveraging innovation and advanced technology solutions. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, gategroup delivers operational excellence through the most extensive catering network in the aviation industry, serving passengers from over 200 operating units in over 60 countries/territories across all continents. We work in an exciting industry - fast-paced and ever-changing. Industry trends and customer expectations are constantly evolving and it is critical that we are agile, innovative and ready for change - and our people are our driving force. We offer attractive opportunities to be part of this fast-paced and truly international working environment.

We anticipate that this job will close on: 11/30/2026

For further information, please visit www.gategroup.com.