Strategic Planning Specialist

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Qantas is seeking a Strategic Planning Specialist to shape long-term workforce planning across Airports and Freight, partnering with operational leaders to influence workforce, resource and labour decisions and drive continuous improvement that delivers strong operational and commercial outcomes. Bring proven workforce planning experience in a complex operation, develop robust labour forecasts, balance service delivery with costs, and translate data into practical staffing solutions. Key strengths include stakeholder engagement, analytical capability, and proficiency in Excel and planning systems GroundStar is desirable. Tips to apply: tailor your CV to showcase scenario modelling rostering concepts measurable outcomes and alignment with Qantas values; apply before 16 July 2026 and confirm you have the right to work in Australia or New Zealand.

Company Description

Founded in the Queensland outback in 1920, Qantas has grown to be Australia’s largest regional, domestic, and international airline. Qantas has a range of subsidiary businesses that support the overall operations of the Group. The Qantas Group’s main business is the transportation of customers and freight using two complementary airline brands — Qantas and Jetstar — operating regional, domestic, and international services.

Job Description

• Shape long-term workforce planning across Qantas Airports and Freight operations 
• Partner with operational leaders to influence workforce, resource and labour planning decisions 
• Drive workforce optimisation and continuous improvement initiatives that support operational and commercial outcomes 

We’ve always been pioneers, and we’re proud to see that spirit in our people today. Our resilience has helped us through good and tough times, and it still drives us to keep pushing the challenging expectations today. Our corporate functions include Corporate Affairs, Public Company, Legal, Finance, Treasury, Industrial Relations, IT, Sustainability, People and Customer, supporting the CEO in making Qantas a market leading, global organisation. 

As the Strategic Planning Specialist, you will play a key role in shaping workforce plans that support Qantas' Airports and Freight operations. Working closely with operational leaders, you will develop and manage long-term workforce plans, ensuring the right resources are available at the right time while balancing operational demand, labour budgets and future workforce requirements. 

Acting as a trusted business partner, you will provide data-driven workforce insights, challenge assumptions and influence decision-making to optimise workforce utilisation, operational efficiency and cost performance across your portfolio. You'll support strategic planning initiatives, workforce transformation programs and resource planning projects, helping to drive sustainable workforce outcomes across the business. 

This is an opportunity to combine workforce planning expertise, commercial thinking and stakeholder engagement in a role that directly influences workforce strategy and operational performance across Qantas Airports and Freight. 

The successful candidate will have: 

• Demonstrated experience in Workforce Planning, Resource Planning or Workforce Management within a complex operational environment. 
• Proven experience developing workforce plans, resource strategies and labour forecasts to support operational performance and business objectives. 
• Strong analytical capability, including experience interpreting workforce data, undertaking scenario modelling and translating insights into practical workforce solutions. 
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and build trusted relationships at all levels of the organisation. 
• Experience balancing workforce requirements, service delivery outcomes and labour costs to achieve sustainable operational outcomes. 
• Sound understanding of workforce planning principles, rostering concepts and workforce optimisation methodologies. 
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex workforce insights and recommendations to both operational leaders and frontline employees. 
• Experience identifying and implementing workforce improvement initiatives, process enhancements or operational efficiency opportunities. 
• Strong problem-solving, planning and decision-making skills, with a proactive and commercially minded approach. 
• Intermediate to Advanced Excel skills and experience using workforce planning, scheduling or rostering systems. 
• Experience using GroundStar or similar workforce planning and rostering platforms (Desirable) 
• Experience within aviation, freight, logistics, transport, supply chain or other large-scale operational environments (Desirable) 

Why Qantas?  

You’ll join a team where creativity and passion are encouraged. Our people come together to allow us to dream big and deliver successfully. 

There are many different opportunities across our team, which means you’ll be able to grow both personally and professionally at Qantas. Your development is a priority for us – so that you can maintain the high standards our customers have come to expect and can continue to develop over time. You’ll be supported from day 1 with on the job training and coaching as well as our formal training opportunities. While you may start in this role, we’ve got a great track record of supporting our people to take their career in so many different directions, the destinations are endless.  

The Qantas employee benefits program offers amazing benefits that extend well beyond travel.  

• We have flexible leave options: Make use of leave and flexible working opportunities including 18 weeks paid parental leave and the option to purchase additional paid leave for eligible employees. 
• We’ll give you access to thousands of rewards: Through our partnerships we can offer you discounts across shopping, food and wine, insurance, health and wellbeing, leisure and entertainment. You can also take advantage of our salary packaging program including motor vehicles, eligible portable electronic devices and professional memberships. 
• We’ll support your wellbeing: Whether it’s learning to better support your own and others’ mental health, our interactive wellbeing app or your very own tailored nutrition plan. 
• We love to travel: Enjoy heavily discounted air travel within Australia and across the globe, both for you and your family and friends, as well as exclusive deals on accommodation and holidays. 

Qantas is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion.  We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply.  If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application.  Your personal information will be kept confidential in compliance with relevant privacy legislation. 

Be a part of something special and play your part in the Qantas story – get in touch today. 

Applications close – Thursday 16th July 2026 

Please note: applications will only be considered for candidates who have the right to work in Australia / New Zealand without restriction or sponsorship.