Workforce Planning Specialist

University of Waterloo•Waterloo, ON

6h•CA$73,695 - CA$92,119•Hybrid

About The Position

The Workforce Planning Specialist contributes to workforce planning activities across the University by conducting workforce analysis, consultation support, research, and project coordination. This role develops workforce insights, identifies emerging themes and trends, and prepares planning materials and reports, and assists academic and administrative units in identifying workforce trends, risks, and future staffing considerations. The Specialist collaborates with the Workforce Planning team, HR Partners, and campus stakeholders to analyze workforce trends, support planning consultations, and coordinate workforce planning initiatives that inform operational and strategic workforce decisions across the University.

Requirements

University undergraduate degree or equivalent combination or education and experience.
A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) is required.
3–5 years of progressive experience in human resources, workforce analytics, institutional planning, organizational coordination, or a related field within a complex organizational environment.
Experience supporting client-facing workshops, consultations, or planning sessions.
Experience producing analytical reports, dashboards, or workforce-related insights.
Knowledge of employment legislation and Human Resources best practices.
Knowledge of organizational structures, governance, and workforce considerations within higher education, public sector, healthcare, or unionized environments.
Working knowledge of data analysis and research methods with the ability to identify patterns and summarize information.
Strong analytical thinking skills with the ability to structure and interpret information within defined frameworks.
Strong written communication skills, including drafting reports, summaries, and presentations.
Ability to work independently within established guidelines and exercise judgment in analytical tasks.
Strong organizational and coordination skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a complex environment.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
Ability to collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders.
Ability to learn and apply workforce planning concepts and methodologies.

Nice To Haves

A Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation is an asset.
Exposure to HR advisory environments is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Supports workforce planning consultations and planning activities by preparing workforce data summaries, analytical briefings, environmental scans, and discussion materials.
Engages in workforce planning sessions and consultations to identify key themes, workforce considerations, risks, and action items.
Integrates consultation outputs, workforce data, and stakeholder inputs into draft reports, presentations, summaries, and planning materials.
Identifies emerging workforce trends, gaps, and opportunities through analysis of stakeholder discussions and workforce information.
Coordinates follow-up activities related to workforce planning initiatives, including tracking actions, consolidating feedback, and maintaining planning documentation.
Initiates and nurtures strong and effective working relationships with HR Partners, campus stakeholders, and client groups to strengthen workforce planning initiatives and encourage ongoing engagement.
Contributes to the development and maintenance of workforce planning templates, tools, and consultation resources.
Coordinates operational workforce planning documentation requirements, including job descriptions, SRC documentation, Workday updates, and related materials.
Supports facilitation activities during workforce planning sessions by coordinating materials, supporting analysis and observations, and building foundational facilitation skills and workforce planning consultation capabilities.
Consolidates cross-unit data, identifying system-wide trends, and preparing comparative analyses.
Accurately tracks workforce planning deliverables and information flow across multiple departments and organizational units.
Maintains and enhances workforce planning tools, templates, dashboards, and reporting frameworks.
Integrates workforce planning inputs from HR Partners, institutional data sources, and academic/support units into cohesive outputs.
Analyzes workforce data and workforce planning information to identify emerging trends, patterns, risks, and themes.
Interprets workforce metrics and translates analytical findings into clear, actionable observations and recommendations.
Collaborates with HR Data Specialists to identify reporting requirements and opportunities to enhance workforce planning data, dashboards, and reporting tools.
Compiles, validates, and integrates workforce information from multiple institutional and HR data sources.
Develops reports, dashboards, briefing materials, and data summaries for leadership and workforce planning discussions.
Supports the development and maintenance of workforce planning reporting frameworks, templates, and analytical resources.
Conducts environmental scans of workforce planning practices, higher education trends, and labour market developments.
Identifies emerging workforce themes and integrates findings into planning frameworks and tools.
Evaluates workforce planning processes and identifies opportunities to enhance methods, tools, templates, and approaches.
Supports the refinement and documentation of workforce planning methodologies, tools, and analytical frameworks.