Assistant Workforce Planning Manager

About Keelings

Keelings is a 100% Irish-owned family business passionate about fresh produce. Operating across Ireland, the UK, and Europe, we grow, source, and supply top-quality fruit and vegetables. Our success is built on innovation, sustainability, and strong partnerships - powered by our dedicated people.

Purpose of the Role:

• To support the Central Planning Manager in the effective planning, deployment and monitoring of labour within a fast-paced, 24/7 production environment.
• The Assistant Labour Planning Manager will ensure that the right number of appropriately skilled employees are available in the right areas and on the right shifts to meet daily and weekly production requirements, while maintaining control of labour costs, overtime, agency usage and working-time compliance.
• The role will work closely with Operations, HR, Training, Recruitment, Finance, Procurement and external labour agencies to ensure labour requirements are accurately forecast, planned and communicated.
• The role will also provide day-to-day leadership and support to the Labour Planning team and will deputise for the Central Planning Manager when required, ensuring continuity of the labour planning function.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Labour Planning & Deployment - Support the planning and allocation of labour across all operational areas, ensuring the right number of appropriately skilled employees are available to meet daily and weekly production requirements.
• Team Leadership - Support and manage the Labour Planning team, ensuring planning activities are completed accurately and consistently, and deputise for the Labour Planning Manager when required.
• Labour Cost & Payroll Control - Monitor labour costs, overtime, absence and agency usage, while reviewing payroll and time & attendance information to ensure accuracy and cost control.
• Agency & Workforce Management - Manage day-to-day relationships with labour agencies, ensuring requirements are met and performance, attendance and labour supply are effectively managed.
• Compliance & Auditing - Monitor Working Time Directive compliance and conduct regular audits of labour planning, time and attendance and related processes.
• Reporting & Analysis - Prepare regular KPI reports and labour analysis, identifying trends, resource gaps, inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
• HR, Recruitment & Training Support - Work closely with HR, Recruitment and Training to identify labour requirements, skill gaps, recruitment needs and training priorities.
• Continuous Improvement & Annual Leave Management - Support workforce planning initiatives, core team development and improvements to labour planning processes, while ensuring annual leave is effectively planned and managed.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Labour Plan Accuracy & Coverage - planned versus actual labour requirements across all operational areas.
• Labour Cost & Overtime - labour spend, overtime and agency costs against budget/plan.
• Attendance & Absence - attendance levels, absence trends and impact on labour requirements.
• Compliance - Working Time Directive, time & attendance and payroll accuracy.
• Labour Productivity & Utilisation - effective deployment of labour, productivity levels and identification of resource gaps/inefficiencies.

Key Skills & Knowledge

Essential:

• Proven experience in labour, workforce or resource planning, ideally within a fast-paced production or 24/7 environment.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and confidence working with data, reporting and KPIs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across Operations, HR, Recruitment, Training and external agencies.
• Ability to prioritise, make decisions and work under pressure in a constantly changing operational environment.
• Good understanding of labour costs, overtime, absence, time & attendance and workforce requirements.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative, while also supporting and leading a team.
• Flexibility to support the operation, including on-call requirements where necessary.

Desirable:

• Previous team leadership or management experience.
• Experience working with UKG Ready/workforce management systems.
• Experience within food manufacturing, FMCG or a similar 24/7 environment.
• Knowledge of Working Time Directive compliance and agency labour management.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with workforce forecasting, labour cost analysis and KPI reporting.

Benefits:

• Staff discount at Keelings Farm Shop and subsidized canteen
• Free On-site parking with access to electric chargers
• Wellness Initiatives such as wellness week

Keelings Values

• People Matter
• Teamwork
• Integrity
• Passion for Achievement

Inclusion & Diversity Statement

In Keelings we value all perspectives and knowledge that our colleagues bring to our business. We are committed to forming a diverse and inclusive team where all can share their unique experiences and perspectives. We welcome applications from all cultures and backgrounds and are dedicated to forming an environment of inclusiveness and diversity where all can thoroughly feel a sense of belonging.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

If you require reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know at[email protected]

Recruitment Process

• 1. CV Submission & email acknowledgment of receipt
• 2. Phone Screening
• 3. 1st Interview
• 4. 2nd Interview
• 5. Outcome & Feedback

Keelings Careers - https://www.keelings.com/careers-keelings/

Keelings Strategy & Values - https://www.keelings.com/our-people/