Workforce Planning Specialist

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Posting Information:
This posting is for an existing vacancy.

This position is being offered as a Secondmentor contractopportunity.
The internal posting deadline for this position isThursday June 4 2026at 11:59PM.

Term: 18 months

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

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.

Key Accountabilities

Workforce Planning Session & Delivery Support

• 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.

Workforce Planning Project Support

• 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.

Workforce Data Analytics

• 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.

Continuous Improvement

• 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.

Required Qualifications

Education

• University undergraduate degree or equivalent combination or education and experience.
• A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) is required. A Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation is an asset.

Experience

• 35 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.
• Exposure to HR advisory environments is considered an asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• 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.

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research learning teaching and community building and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students faculty and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity anti-racism and inclusion. As such we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized including applicants who identify as First Nations Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit) Black racialized a person with a disability women and/or 2SLGBTQ.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application interview or workplace accommodation requests please contact Human Resources or ext. 45935.