Workforce Planning Manager

The Warehouse Group is home to some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic retail brands: The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery and Noel Leeming. We are proud to be a Kiwi household name and to play an important role in communities across the country.

At our Support Office, we operate through a brand-led model that keeps us focused on our customers and the markets we serve. Retail is more competitive than ever, and we are committed to bringing our A game.

The Workforce Planning Manager plays a critical role in how The Warehouse and Warehouse Stationery deliver great customer experiences while operating efficiently. Leading a team of workforce specialists, this role is responsible for workforce strategy, labour planning, forecasting, workforce analytics and productivity performance across more than 150 stores nationwide.

Reporting to the Head of Central Operations, you will partner with Operations, Finance, HR, Technology and Store Leadership teams to ensure labour investment aligns with customer demand, business priorities and financial targets.

This is a role where you will influence significant commercial decisions, drive continuous improvement in workforce practices, and shape the future of workforce planning across the Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of Workforce Planning Specialists, building capability and driving high performance.
• Own workforce planning, labour forecasting and budgeting across The Warehouse and Warehouse Stationery and providing support to Noel Leeming.
• Provide insights and recommendations that influence labour investment, store performance and strategic decision making.
• Lead workforce optimisation initiatives that improve productivity and simplify store execution.
• Partner with Finance and Operations to monitor labour performance and identify risks and opportunities.
• Act as the subject matter expert for workforce management tools, systems and reporting.
• Support the ongoing evolution of workforce technology, including planning, scheduling and execution tools.
• Ensure store teams have practical and effective solutions that support the realities of frontline retail operations.
• Lead workforce-related projects and change initiatives across the store network.

You are a commercially minded leader who combines strong analytical capability with a deep understanding of operational execution. You can comfortably move between strategic planning and practical problem solving, using data to influence decisions and drive results.

You'll bring:

• Proven experience in workforce planning, labour management, resource planning or workforce optimisation within a large multi-site environment.
• Strong leadership experience, including coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear business insights.
• Strong commercial acumen and an understanding of the relationship between labour investment, sales and operational performance.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organisation.
• Experience working across Operations, Finance, HR and Technology teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts.
• Experience with workforce management systems, labour scheduling tools and reporting platforms.
• A passion for retail and creating practical solutions that make life easier for frontline teams.

This is an opportunity to influence how one of New Zealand's largest retail businesses plans and deploys its workforce. You'll lead a capable team, work closely with senior leaders, and play a key role in improving productivity, customer experience and operational performance across our national store network.

When you join us, we offer a range of benefits that work for you, your lifestyle, and your career, which include:

• Generous discounts across all of our brands for you and a family member
• A paid birthday day off
• A paid volunteer day
• Free parking at our Northcote Support Office
• Café and gym facilities at our Support Office
• Flexible working arrangements - Four (4) days in office, optional Friday WFH (working from home)
• 26 weeks’ paid parental leave
• Access to free 24/7 counselling and support through Telus Health, our employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible benefits including options for additional holidays, discounted gym membership and much more