Strategic Workforce Planning Lead
About Astellas
Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into VALUE for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need. Learn more at Astellas.com.
Are you driven to make a real difference in the lives of patients?
We're seeking passionate individuals who thrive in dynamic environments, embrace new ideas, and aren't afraid to take intelligent risks. People who act with unwavering integrity and are deeply committed to making a tangible impact.
Location and Working Environment
This position reports into the Talent and Performance Management Strategy Lead and sits within the HR function. This position follows our hybrid working model and requires a blend of home and a minimum of 1 day per quarter at Bourne office, UK. Flexibility may be required in line with business needs. Candidates must be located within a commutable distance of the office.
At Astellas we recognise the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimise the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.
Purpose & Scope
The Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) Lead is responsible for establishing and leading enterprise-wide Strategic Workforce Planning at Astellas, ensuring alignment between business strategy and workforce capability, capacity, and structure.
This role will build and embed SWP as a core enterprise capability - enabling data-driven, forward-looking decisions on critical roles, capabilities, and talent strategies. The role will lead cross-functional collaboration across HR and the business to translate strategic priorities into actionable workforce plans and interventions.
Role and Responsibilities
- Enterprise Strategic Workforce Planning Strategy & Delivery
- Build Enterprise Strategic Workforce Planning Capability
- Stakeholder Leadership & Business Partnering
- Lead Cross-Functional Value Team
- Analytics, Insights & Decision Support
- Drive Strategic Workforce Interventions
Role and Responsibilities Continued:
1. Enterprise SWP Strategy & Delivery
- Lead the design, evolution, and execution of the Astellas Strategic Workforce Planning framework across all business areas
- Translate enterprise strategy and operating model changes into workforce implications, including:
Gap identification and prioritisation
- Ensure SWP outputs inform key enterprise processes (e.g. Talent Planning, hiring strategies, organisational design, and transformation initiatives)
- Establish a structured, repeatable SWP cadence aligned to business planning cycles
2. Build Enterprise SWP Capability
- Develop and embed SWP methodologies, tools, templates, and governance across the organisation
- Develop foundational SWP requirements including job and skills architecture, and clean workforce data
- Define standards for workforce segmentation, capability frameworks, and data inputs
- Drive adoption of a data-driven and actionable SWP approach, balancing analytical rigour with pragmatic decision-making
- Build capability across HR and the business to enable shared ownership of workforce planning
3. Stakeholder Leadership & Business Partnering
- Act as a strategic partner to senior business leaders
- Partner with HRBPs to co-create workforce plans aligned to business priorities
- Influence and challenge stakeholders to ensure workforce decisions are aligned to long-term strategy rather than short-term constraints
- Lead enterprise SWP governance forums and steer decision-making on workforce priorities
4. Lead Cross-Functional Value Team
- Establish and lead a cross-functional SWP Value Team to co-create and deliver enterprise workforce strategies
- Drive integration across hiring, development, mobility, and organisational design levers to close workforce gaps
5. Analytics, Insights & Decision Support
- Partner with People Analytics to define data requirements, models, and dashboards to support SWP
- Interpret workforce data and external market trends to generate actionable insights
- Develop scenario modelling (demand vs supply) to inform workforce strategies and investment decisions
- Ensure SWP outputs are translated into clear, actionable recommendations for leadership
6. Drive Strategic Workforce Interventions
- Translate workforce gaps into targeted, prioritised interventions, including:
- Redeploy (internal mobility)
- Track execution and impact of SWP actions and continuously refine plans
Required Qualifications
- BA/BS degree or equivalent.
- Significant experience in Strategic Workforce Planning, HR Strategy, Talent Strategy, or related transformation roles
- Experience operating in complex, global organisations and influencing senior stakeholders
- Experience in multi-location planning, including capability centres
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives or programs
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to translate business strategy into workforce implications
- Stakeholder Leadership: Strong influencing and partnering skills with senior leaders
- Data, Digital & AI Fluency: Ability to utilise tools to enhance predictive planning
- Scenario Modelling: Experience in cost and headcount planning
- Analytical Capability: Ability to interpret workforce data and shape insights into decisions
- Programme Leadership: Experience leading enterprise initiatives and cross-functional teams
- Collaboration: Builds alignment across HR, finance, and business stakeholders
- Change Leadership: Drives adoption of new frameworks, processes, and ways of working in an evolving organisation
Preferred Qualifications
- Global workforce planning experience within Pharmaceutical, healthcare, or another highly regulated industry.
What awaits you at Astellas?
- Global collaboration: Become part of a connected global business of like-minded life science leaders, all dedicated to improving patients' lives worldwide.
- Real-world patient impact: Contribute to transformative therapies that reach patients around the world, knowing your work makes a difference every day.
- Relentless Innovation: Join a company at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs, where you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of healthcare.
- A Culture of Growth: Chart your own course within a supportive environment that values your contributions, champions your development, and empowers you to pursue your passions.
Our Organisational Values and Behaviours
- Impact
- Innovation
- Integrity
- One Astellas
- Accountability
- Courage
- Sense of Urgency
- Outcome Focus
Benefits
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Beware of recruitment scams impersonating Astellas recruiters or representatives. Authentic communication will only originate from an official Astellas LinkedIn profile or a verified company email address. If you encounter a fake profile or anything suspicious, report it promptly to LinkedIn's support team through LinkedIn Help.
#LI-Addlestone
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-LG1