Senior Workforce Lead (Planning)

Job Description

Are you ready to lead the way in shaping a smarter, safer and more sustainable energy future? We are growing our Workforce Renewal function to support SP Energy Networks (SPEN) to achieve network targets set by the Scottish and UK Government as part of our journey to Net Zero. Our focus is on harnessing technology and innovation to create the networks of the future. SPEN is building a dynamic network to meet the changing demands for electricity and increasingly, renewable electricity - safely, securely and sustainably in the communities we serve.

We are seeking a Senior Workforce Lead (Planning) to play a central role in shaping, developing, and supporting our future workforce across SP Energy Networks. These are high‑impact leadership roles that sit at the heart of our Workforce Renewal Strategic plan, ensuring that our short and long-term workforce planning meet the future needs of the business.

This role provides strategic oversight and governance of workforce planning activities led by the Planning Leads, ensuring alignment with SPEN's long-term business objectives and regulatory commitments. It governs the processes and procedures that ensure the trainee pipeline aligns with future business demand across SP Energy Networks trainee programmes.

The Senior Workforce Lead (Planning) plays a critical role in supporting the Workforce Management team by providing insights and recommendations that inform strategic decisions. The role also contributes to the continuous improvement of workforce planning tools, systems, and processes. Working with People, Technical Training, business management teams and external educational partners, you'll ensure we have the right trainees, in the right programme, at the right time.

What you'll be doing

• Lead, coach and support Planning Leads to deliver high quality workforce planning, ensuring strong performance, effective escalation management, and consistent adherence to policies and ways of working.
• Manage escalations, resolve conflicts and maintain positive team engagement and communication.
• Maintain accurate trainee trackers and ensure readiness for recruitment cycles.
• Develop awareness of neurodiversity and tailor support/processes to individual needs
• Oversee strategic workforce planning and delivery of planning cycles.
• Support recruitment, assessment centres and trainee onboarding activities.
• Champion continuous improvement in planning tools and data systems and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and capability.
• Build strong relationships with People, Learning, Technical Training, Compliance and external partners.
• Act as a key point of contact for planning insights and senior level updates.
• Drive operational consistency aligned to SPEN's Workforce Renewal Strategy.
• Work collaboratively with other workforce senior Leads to ensure strong alignment between planning and development.

What you'll bring

• Experience in workforce planning & forecasting (or similar) roles.
• Strong people management skills, with experience leading teams or clear potential to lead managers.
• Confident using workforce planning tools, data systems and reporting processes.
• Strong decision-making skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast paced environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Skilled in building a positive team culture, resolving issues and leading diverse teams by adapting management style to different needs.
• High level of organisational and prioritising skills.
• Knowledge of SP Energy Networks and trainee programmes (desirable).

To be successful, as a minimum you must demonstrate:

• Experience in workforce planning, trainee management, learning/development, or a similar people focused operational role.
• Ability to provide leadership, coaching and oversight to managers, with experience or potential to operate confidently at this level.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to support, guide and challenge others effectively.
• Ability to work in a fast paced, reactive environment while managing competing priorities.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with good attention to detail.
• Proven ability to make sound decisions, resolve issues and support positive outcomes.
• Experience coaching, mentoring or developing others.
• Ability to build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

What's in it for you

As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%.

At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action - our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world - today and tomorrow. That's why our benefits include:

• 36 days annual leave
• Holiday Purchase - perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
• Share Schemes
• Payroll Giving and Charity Matched Funding
• Technology Vouchers - save more and spread the cost of your technology purchases
• Electric Vehicle Schemes - to help you transition to green/clean driving
• Cycle to Work scheme and Public Transport Season Ticket Loans
• Healthcare benefit options including: Dental Insurance, Private Medical Insurance, Health Cash Plan and annual Health Assessments
• Life Assurance (4x salary)
• Access to Savesmart financial wellbeing support
• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4000km of cables and lines that make-up the transmission network - connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It's a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland's ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we're taking it very seriously. We're investing >£10 billion into our transmission network, directly supporting the rapid growth needed in renewable energy. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in.

We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected].

Mobility

Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country. If/when required, the Company will support the employee with the necessary Immigration requirements.