Heriot-Watt University
Workforce Planning and Skills Partner
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Role: Workforce Planning and Skills Partner
Directorate: Human Resources Directorate
Contract Type: Full-Time (35 hours per week), Open Ended
Grade and Salary: Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum
Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)
Role Description
Heriot-Watt University is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Workforce Planning and Skills Partner to join the Human Resources Directorate.
Working within the Talent Acquisition team, the post holder will lead the development and implementation of a University-wide skills and capability framework that supports strategic workforce planning, career development, succession management, organisational capability and workforce agility. The role will help shape an evolving skills and strengths-based approach to talent and workforce development across the University. The role will play a key part in ensuring the University has the talent, skills and capacity required to deliver its global strategy across its UK, Dubai and Malaysia campuses.
Working closely with senior leaders, HR colleagues and the Professional and Organisational Development team, the successful candidate will develop practical, data-informed solutions that support workforce sustainability, employee growth and organisational effectiveness.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Skills and Capability Frameworks
- Lead the design and implementation of University-wide skills and capability frameworks aligned to organisational priorities and career structures.
- Identify current and future capability requirements across academic and professional services areas.
- Ensure frameworks support career progression, talent mobility, succession planning, workforce resilience, organisational agility and the effective deployment of individual strengths.
- Promote a consistent and accessible approach to skills development across the University.
Workforce Planning and Talent Development
- Develop and embed workforce planning approaches that support strategic decision-making and long-term capability needs.
- Assess workforce capability against future requirements, identifying skills gaps, strengths profiles, development priorities and opportunities to enhance organisational agility.
- Support succession planning and strengthen talent pipelines for critical and specialist roles.
- Contribute to the University's transition towards a skills-based approach to workforce and talent management.
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Workforce Analysis and Insight
- Analyse workforce demographics, trends and labour market intelligence to identify risks and opportunities.
- Develop workforce forecasts and scenario plans to support strategic workforce decisions.
- Create and maintain workforce metrics, dashboards and reporting that provide actionable insight.
- Present evidence-based recommendations to senior stakeholders.
Stakeholder Partnership and Change
- Build strong relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders across the University.
- Provide expert advice on workforce planning, capability development and organisational effectiveness.
- Facilitate workshops and consultations to support workforce initiatives and change programmes.
- Assess workforce implications of organisational transformation and support sustainable change planning.
Learning and Organisational Capability
- Design or commission development initiatives aligned to organisational priorities and workforce needs.
- Work collaboratively with learning, leadership and Professional and Organisational Development colleagues to develop approaches that build skills, augment strengths and increase workforce agility.
- Evaluate programme effectiveness and use insights to drive continuous improvement.
Systems, Governance and Continuous Improvement
- Support the development and optimisation of workforce planning, talent and skills systems and processes.
- Establish effective workforce planning standards, methodologies and governance arrangements.
- Promote workforce planning capability across the University and drive continuous improvement in tools and practices.
- Monitor external labour market trends and benchmark activity to inform workforce strategies.
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Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Degree qualified, or equivalent professional experience, in Human Resources, Organisational Development, Learning and Development, Business Management or a related discipline.
- Significant experience in workforce planning, talent management, organisational development, talent acquisition, or skills-based workforce transformation.
- Experience developing and implementing skills frameworks, career pathways or workforce planning initiatives within a complex organisation.
- Strong understanding of workforce planning, succession planning and talent development methodologies.
- Experience using workforce data, HR systems and reporting tools to generate strategic insight.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Proven project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical, scalable solutions.
Desirable
- Experience within higher education or another large, complex and multi-stakeholder environment.
- Knowledge of organisational design, job architecture and skills-based workforce models.
- CIPD membership, or progress towards membership.
- Experience of learning management, talent management or workforce planning systems.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Heriot-Watt University is committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Appointments will be made on merit.
How to Apply
Applications are invited from candidates who are passionate about shaping organisational capability, workforce strategy and skills development within one of the UK's leading international universities.
Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Wednesday 23rd September 2026.
Please submit your CV via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system.
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