Workforce Management Industrial Engineer

bp • Chicago, IL

6d • $60,000 - $90,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Workforce Management Engineer at TravelCenters of America, you will be responsible for supporting the development, implementation and maintenance of workforce management processes, labor standards, labor models and scheduling practices across field operations. The Engineer will work closely with cross-functional teams to improve labor planning, staffing accuracy, productivity, time and attendance processes and operational consistency. Utilizing operational data, field observations, standard operating procedures, work measurement practices and workforce management tools, the Engineer will help identify opportunities to improve labor utilization, scheduling effectiveness and overall field performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, Operations, Analytics or related field preferred.
• Recent college graduates will be considered.
• Prior internship, co-op, field operations, restaurant, retail, truck service, workforce management, finance or labor planning experience is a plus.
• Basic understanding of workforce management concepts, including labor planning, labor scheduling, productivity tracking, staffing models, time and attendance and labor standards.
• Familiarity with engineered labor standards, including MOST methodology, labor standard creation, standard operating procedures and work measurement practices preferred.
• Experience or familiarity with labor scheduling applications, workforce management systems and time and attendance platforms preferred.
• Basic understanding and experience in core data analysis functions such as utilization, labor planning, productivity and metrics.
• Basic financial acumen, including understanding of labor cost, productivity, payroll impact, budgeting and operational efficiency, is a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to review operational data, identify trends and make recommendations that improve labor utilization and field performance.
• Ability to partner with field operations, support center teams and business leaders to understand operational needs and translate them into practical workforce management solutions.
• Knowledge of truck service, quick service restaurant, full-service restaurant, retail store or multi-unit field operations preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with process improvement concepts such as Kaizen, 5S Workplace Organization and standard work is a plus.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain workforce management concepts, labor standards, scheduling recommendations and process changes to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently and support initiatives across multiple locations or business units.
• Preferred experience or certifications include MOST Certification, labor standard creation, workforce management system support, labor scheduling, time and attendance processes and SOP development.

Nice To Haves

• Prior internship, co-op, field operations, restaurant, retail, truck service, workforce management, finance or labor planning experience is a plus.
• Familiarity with engineered labor standards, including MOST methodology, labor standard creation, standard operating procedures and work measurement practices preferred.
• Experience or familiarity with labor scheduling applications, workforce management systems and time and attendance platforms preferred.
• Basic financial acumen, including understanding of labor cost, productivity, payroll impact, budgeting and operational efficiency, is a plus.
• Familiarity with process improvement concepts such as Kaizen, 5S Workplace Organization and standard work is a plus.
• Preferred experience or certifications include MOST Certification, labor standard creation, workforce management system support, labor scheduling, time and attendance processes and SOP development.

Responsibilities

• Review labor hours, staffing levels, productivity, workload drivers, schedule effectiveness, time and attendance data and operational trends to identify opportunities for improved labor planning and scheduling accuracy.
• Map and document workforce management processes, labor assumptions, job tasks and standard operating procedures.
• Identify process gaps, recommend improvements and support implementation of practical workforce management solutions.
• Review labor utilization, productivity and staffing metrics to support decisions that improve field performance, labor cost management and operational consistency.
• Support the development, implementation and ongoing maintenance of workforce management processes, labor models, scheduling guidelines and labor standards.
• Partner with field operations to understand staffing needs, service expectations, workload demands, operating hours and location-specific labor requirements.
• Support labor scheduling processes and tools to help ensure locations are staffed appropriately based on demand, workload, service requirements and business needs.
• Assist in evaluating labor plans and staffing models to ensure they align with operational expectations and financial objectives.
• Assist in creating, validating and maintaining engineered labor standards using work measurement practices, operational observations, standard operating procedures and task-level analysis.
• Support time studies, field observations and labor validation activities as needed.
• Apply basic understanding of labor planning, utilization, productivity and metrics to support labor standard development and ongoing refinement.
• Support the use of MOST methodology, where applicable, to help document and validate task expectations and labor standards.
• Support workforce management systems, labor scheduling applications and time and attendance processes.
• Assist with testing, implementation, training and ongoing support of workforce management tools and related processes.
• Identify data, process or system gaps within labor scheduling, timekeeping, labor reporting and workforce planning processes.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot workforce management issues and recommend process or system improvements.
• Support the adoption of scheduling and labor management tools by providing guidance, documentation and operational support.
• Provide regular reporting and analysis related to labor performance, productivity, schedule adherence, payroll trends, staffing metrics and workforce management data.
• Use data to identify trends, highlight opportunities and support practical recommendations that improve operational performance.
• Partner with Finance and Operations teams to understand labor cost impact and support labor planning decisions.
• Prepare clear summaries, reports and presentations for business leaders, field operators and support center partners.
• Make labor planning and scheduling recommendations that align with field operations strategy and business needs.
• Collaborate with field and support center leaders to validate labor standards, understand real-world execution and ensure workforce management recommendations are practical and sustainable.
• Provide guidance and support to operators on labor standards, scheduling practices, workforce management tools and related processes.
• Support practical process improvement efforts related to workforce management, labor planning, scheduling, timekeeping and field execution.
• Apply basic process improvement concepts, such as standard work, Kaizen and 5S Workplace Organization, where appropriate.
• Support business initiatives related to workforce management, labor standards, scheduling and operational performance.
• Support labor standard validation, workforce management system implementation, process review and training.
• Analyze operational feedback and develop recommendations to improve scheduling, labor planning and workforce management processes.
• Support the documentation and adoption of standard operating procedures related to labor planning, scheduling, timekeeping and field execution.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, improve consistency, reduce manual work and enhance the overall team member and customer experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Ensure bp’s safety, risk, and compliance culture and expectations are met.
• Prioritize safety in all aspects of the role and support the Believe in Zero safety philosophy.

Benefits

• Paid vacation depending on your years of relevant industry experience and will range from 120 – 240 hours of vacation per year for full time employees (60 - 240 hours of vacation per year for part time employees).
• 9 paid holidays per year and 2 personal choice holidays.
• Up to 8 weeks’ paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.
• Discretionary annual bonus program.
• Long-term incentive program.
• Generous retirement benefits that include a 401k matching program.
• Pension for eligible employee.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Life and Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level