Workforce Manager

This is a new Workforce Manager/Resource Manager role that extends our provision of centralized resource management within our Real World and Commercial Services team. The role-holder will need to be a committed individual, who combines high emotional intelligence and excellent communication skills. They will thrive in a fast-paced environment, be comfortable managing conflicting priorities and have the gravitas to influence a team of senior stakeholders. They will also be a champion for thoughtful staffing, gain a detailed understanding of our team members to drive a balance between the career development of our client-facing staff and the needs of the business. The environment is dynamic and ever-changing, moving at the pace of our clients’ needs and the Resource Manager will be expected to understand the sense of urgency that is synonymous with the business. The pressure is high to resolve resourcing demands quickly, find creative solutions and make autonomous decisions.

Core Responsibilities

• Manage the allocation of client facing staff to client projects, business development opportunities and internal initiatives; drawing on robust negotiation skills to resolve conflicts and escalating issues when necessary
• Developing strong relationships across the wider resource management community; sharing resources across practices where appropriate to optimise overall productivity and realisation while supporting their individual development objectives.
• Engage with our local and global senior leadership team to understand, plan for and ultimately meet the resourcing demands of the pipeline, ensuring that profitability is kept at the forefront of resourcing decisions. Influencing on resource selection and strategic solutions to achieve realization of utilisation and effective skills / grade mix on projects.
• Develop a deep understanding of the development goals of the delivery team through the creation of strong relationships. Leverage that knowledge to make effective resource management decisions
• Monitor and communicate current and near-term delivery capacity
• Maintain resource management data integrity in the systems that support resource and project management decisions
• Flag resourcing capability gaps as an input to hiring and to provide guidance into Learning & Development
• Demonstrating strong commercial awareness monitor and drive compliance to our financial management system, identify and propose solutions to resolve longer term patterns relating to forecast and actual utilisation, monitoring and investigating discrepancies between the data and providing insight
• Support HR with Performance Management biannual process
• On-board all new joiners to introduce Resource Management processes and understand their skills and experience
• Appropriately escalate conflicts and unresolvable issues to leadership team for their support

Core Requirements

• 3+ years’ experience in staffing / resource management (or related) roles, ideally in a professional services environment.
• Strong written and spoken English language skills.
• Proven problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to build strong business relationships and influence with key stakeholders at all levels within the business.
• A self-starting mind-set with excellent team-based interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently with the full spectrum of our people.
• Ability to demonstrate determination, diplomacy and resilience.
• Ability to rapidly assimilate multiple types of information from a variety of sources for effective decision making.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of life science is a plus.