Labor and Operations Planning Specialist

Amazon•Austin, TX

About The Position

Amazon is seeking an experienced Labor and Operations Planning Specialist to analyze and optimize labor planning and operations across our food manufacturing facilities. This individual contributor role combines workforce analytics, capacity planning, and operational efficiency expertise to ensure our manufacturing sites are properly staffed to meet production demands while maintaining cost-effectiveness and operational excellence. This role includes stretch leadership opportunities including mentoring, influencing cross-functional teams, and driving strategic initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, or Master's degree in supply chain management, operations, engineering, analytics or related field
Experience guiding, training and mentoring others
4+ years of experience in labor planning, workforce planning, operations planning, or capacity planning
3+ years of experience in manufacturing, food production, or high-volume operations environments
Demonstrated experience analyzing workforce data and creating labor forecasting models
Strong proficiency with data analysis tools including Excel (advanced functions, pivot tables, macros, VBA)
Experience with workforce management systems, labor planning tools, or scheduling software
Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple facilities or locations simultaneously
Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret complex data and translate into actionable insights
Experience presenting to and influencing leadership on labor planning recommendations
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Analytics, or related field
Experience specifically in food manufacturing or CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) environments
Knowledge of labor planning tools such as ALPS, SSPOT, LAS, or similar workforce management platforms
Experience with business intelligence tools (Tableau, QuickSight, Power BI) and SQL
Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies
Experience with labor forecasting algorithms and predictive analytics
Knowledge of labor laws, overtime regulations, and compliance requirements
Experience working with staffing agencies and third-party labor providers
Understanding of production planning systems (ERP, MES) and how they integrate with labor planning
Six Sigma or Lean certification
Experience with change management and implementing new planning processes
Track record of delivering measurable cost savings through labor optimization
Experience with statistical analysis and modeling techniques
Demonstrated experience mentoring or coaching team members
Experience leading cross-functional projects or initiatives
Proven ability to influence decisions at senior management levels

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain comprehensive labor plans for multiple food manufacturing facilities based on production forecasts, historical data, and operational requirements
Analyze workforce capacity needs and create staffing strategies that balance production demands with cost optimization
Create labor forecasting models using production volume data, associate performance rates, attendance patterns, and attrition trends
Support the rhythm of labor planning, ordering, and hiring lifecycle to ensure adequate staffing across all facilities
Coordinate with Workforce Staffing (WFS) teams to provide data-driven hiring recommendations and minimize gaps in labor hours
Develop and maintain labor planning assumptions including rates, attendance, attrition, and productivity metrics
Analyze manufacturing operations data to identify opportunities for labor efficiency improvements and cost reduction
Create and maintain labor planning tools, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to track key performance indicators
Conduct capacity planning analysis to ensure facilities can meet production volume requirements
Develop labor allocation strategies across different production lines, shifts, and departments
Monitor and report on labor utilization, overtime trends, and productivity metrics
Translate labor plans into actionable recommendations for operations teams regarding shift schedules and staffing assignments
Build and maintain workforce analytics platforms to monitor labor efficiency, cost per unit, and productivity trends
Develop forecasting models that predict labor needs based on production schedules, seasonal demand, and business growth
Analyze historical labor data to identify patterns and optimize future planning decisions
Create reports and presentations on labor planning performance and recommendations for leadership
Utilize data analysis tools to provide insights that drive operational improvements
Regularly review performance metrics and proactively identify areas for improvement
Partner with operations leadership, human resources, finance, learning teams, and supply chain to align labor plans with business objectives
Participate in labor planning meetings with site leadership to review assumptions, capacity needs, and staffing strategies
Collaborate with HR teams on attendance management, conversion strategies, and roster accuracy
Work with finance teams to ensure cost-effective labor decisions and budget alignment
Coordinate with learning and development teams to ensure adequate training capacity for new hires
Build consensus across stakeholders on labor planning priorities and trade-offs
Influence team-level and cross-functional decisions through data-driven recommendations and subject matter expertise
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance labor planning accuracy and efficiency
Develop standardized labor planning processes and best practices across multiple facilities
Create mechanisms to proactively identify and address labor planning blockers
Implement tools and systems that automate labor planning tasks and reduce manual work
Document labor planning procedures and train site teams on planning tools and methodologies
Lead initiatives to improve data quality and integrity in labor planning systems
Champion process improvements that have organization-wide impact
Analyze capacity gaps and recommend labor levers (mandatory overtime, voluntary extra time, incentivized shifts) to address production needs
Develop strategies for flexible staffing that can respond to volume fluctuations
Monitor labor lever utilization and cost-effectiveness across facilities
Create frameworks for when and how to deploy different labor adjustment strategies
Ensure labor lever decisions comply with company policies and labor regulations
Serve as a subject matter expert and mentor to junior team members and peers on labor planning methodologies and best practices
Lead knowledge-sharing sessions and training initiatives to build labor planning capabilities across the organization
Guide and coach team members on complex labor planning scenarios and analytical approaches
Act as a thought leader in workforce planning, sharing insights and innovations with broader teams
Take ownership of cross-functional initiatives that require influencing stakeholders without direct authority
Represent labor planning expertise in strategic discussions with senior leadership
Identify and develop talent within the organization by providing constructive feedback and growth opportunities

Benefits

health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage)
401(k) matching
paid time off
parental leave

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