Labour Planning Specialist

Labour Planning Specialist
£38,000 to £41,800 (pro rata) plus great benefits aligned to your home role (Work Level 6A)
6-month secondment
Manchester city centre | hybrid (spending at least one day a week in the office)

We’re looking for two Labour Planning Specialists to join our Operations Support Centre team in Manchester on a 6-month secondment. We’ve around 40,000 colleagues across Co-op. Behind the scenes, our labour planning systems help make sure they’re supported effectively, scheduled fairly, and paid accurately.

As a Labour Planning Specialist, you’ll play a key role in keeping these systems running smoothly. You’ll become an expert in our labour planning processes and technology, supporting colleagues across our Food and Funeralcare businesses, solving technical issues, and helping teams make informed decisions.

If you enjoy working with data, building relationships, and turning complex information into practical solutions, this could be a great opportunity for you.

Why this role matters

The work you do will have a direct impact on thousands of colleagues across Co-op. From helping stores plan resources effectively to supporting accurate payroll processes, you’ll help create a better experience for our people.

You’ll be the person we can turn to for expert advice, helping teams navigate challenges, improve ways of working, and get the most from our labour planning tools.

What you’ll do

• Become a specialist in our labour planning system, maintaining the platform, and resolving a range of technical issues
• Provide expert support and guidance to colleagues on labour planning, scheduling, and payroll-related queries
• Help colleagues access the tools, information, and support they need to do their jobs effectively
• Build strong relationships with colleagues across our stores, support centre, and funeral homes
• Share technical expertise and insights to support business decision-making
• Help make sure our policies, processes, and controls remain effective and up-to-date
• Support a variety of projects and improvement initiatives across the wider team

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear communications
• Good IT skills and the confidence to learn new systems quickly
• The ability to build positive relationships with colleagues at all levels of seniority
• An understanding of retail store operations and the challenges faced by frontline teams
• A positive approach to problem solving, with strong attention to detail
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work collaboratively with different teams

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus scheme (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (pro rata) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive.

If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme - if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at https://jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes 15-20 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.