Manager, Capacity Planning & Operational Forecasting

The Manager, Capacity Planning & Operational Forecasting will lead the development, governance, and continuous improvement of enterprise‑level capacity planning models that ensure operational scalability, financial alignment, and workforce efficiency across the organization. This role provides strategic oversight of forecasting, long‑range planning, and scenario modeling, while acting as a key business partner to Finance, Operational Leadership, and Workforce Management. The Manager will directly lead and coach associates responsible for forecasting and capacity planning, ensuring rigor, consistency, and professional development within the function.

This role will play a critical part in shaping planning strategy, integrating data sources, and delivering insights that guide investment decisions, vendor strategy, and workforce optimization.

• Lead the development and maintenance of short‑, medium‑, and long‑range capacity plans incorporating demand drivers, productivity assumptions, intake patterns, backlog levels, and operational constraints.
• Partner with the Operational Planning & Analysis Director to standardize forecasting practices, planning cycles, and data definitions across business units.
• Liaise with Finance to synchronize operational capacity plans with budgets, run‑rate expectations, and financial forecasts.
• Conduct variance analysis to identify drivers of over/under‑utilization and recommend mitigation and optimization strategies.

• Integrate and streamline planning data sources across systems, improving data quality and reducing manual reconciliation.
• Build and enhance planning dashboards and forecasting visuals using Power BI; leverage SQL as an asset for scenario analysis and validation.
• Support operational leaders with scenario modelling (e.g., volume shifts, staffing changes, productivity improvements, vendor allocation decisions).
• Monitor operational trends and capacity risks, providing clear narratives and recommended actions to leadership.
• Document planning methodologies, inputs, and governance processes to ensure consistency and repeatability.
• Contribute to automation and workflow tool integration that improves planning efficiency and forecasting accuracy.

• Lead, mentor, and develop forecasting & capacity planning analysts, providing coaching, prioritization guidance, and technical skill development.
• Establish team standards, quality controls, and repeatable processes to ensure forecasting accuracy and planning discipline.
• Represent the Capacity Planning function in cross‑functional forums, influencing executive stakeholders and advocating for planning needs.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning methodologies, including adoption of advanced modeling techniques, automation, and tool enhancements.

• Advise leaders on the operational and financial impacts of strategic initiatives, sales growth targets, and vendor strategy.
• Translate complex planning insights into executive‑ready materials for leadership, Finance partners, and governance committees.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Operational Leadership on workforce optimization, service‑level implications, and long‑term labor strategy.

• 7–10 years of experience in capacity planning, forecasting, workforce planning, operational analytics, or strategic planning.
• Strong understanding of forecasting methodologies (workload‑to‑FTE modeling, regression/driver‑based forecasting, scenario planning).
• Demonstrated ability to interpret operational trends and link impacts to cost, capacity, and service performance.
• Experience partnering with Finance to align…