Director, Workforce Planning & Productivity

The Director, Workforce Planning & Productivity provides enterprise-wide leadership and strategic oversight of workforce models and productivity processes to optimize labor efficiency, service delivery, and profitability. This role establishes labor standards, tools, and methodologies that align business needs with operational capabilities, ensuring workforce decisions enhance sales performance, customer experience, and compliance. Acting as the primary bridge between Finance, Operations, and People teams, the Director leverages data-driven insights to drive accuracy, accountability, and continuous improvement across all labor planning activities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Framework Development

• Lead the development of WHSmith’s labor and productivity frameworks, aligning field execution with business objectives and financial targets.
• Define labor standards, benchmarks, and operational models that drive consistency and efficiency across all locations and formats.
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Operations, and People teams to refine labor modeling, planning cycles, and deployment processes.
• Develop forward-looking forecasts, scenario modeling, and simulation tools to support enterprise decision-making.

Operational Oversight & Analysis

Continuous Improvement & Enablement

Key Metrics

Productivity Gain (%) : Annual improvement in labor optimization and cost control.

Job Requirements

Skills & Competencies

Leadership Attributes