Operational Planning and Analytics Manager

Manager, Operational Planning & Analysis 

Job Summary 

The Manager, Operational Planning & Analysis serves as a strategic business partner responsible for driving workforce planning, labor optimization, operational readiness, business analytics, and continuous improvement initiatives across the property. Reporting to the Director, Operational Planning & Analytics, this role leads critical planning and analytical functions that support enterprise decision-making, operational efficiency, financial performance, and successful project execution. 

During pre-opening, the Manager will lead workforce planning efforts, labor modeling, critical path coordination, operational readiness assessments, and executive reporting. Following opening, the role will focus on performance management, productivity improvement, labor governance, business process optimization, and the development of analytical strategies that enhance profitability and operating effectiveness. 

The ideal candidate is a highly analytical leader who can manage projects, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and translate complex business data into actionable operational and financial strategies. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the development and maintenance of property-wide workforce planning models, labor forecasts, staffing assumptions, and productivity standards. 

• Manage the creation and administration of departmental labor compendiums, organizational charts, position control processes, and FTE tracking tools. 

• Oversee weekly workforce analytics reporting, including FTE variance, vacancy, turnover, productivity, scheduling, and compensation analyses. 

• Champion Hard Rock’s service culture and brand values. 

• Lead workforce planning initiatives in partnership with Human Resources, Operations, and Finance to support staffing and labor optimization strategies. 

• Monitor departmental labor performance and recommend corrective actions to align operational needs with financial objectives. 

• Manage project timelines, critical path deliverables, and operational readiness activities to ensure successful execution of pre-opening and business initiatives. 

• Oversee the development and maintenance of executive dashboards, scorecards, KPI reporting tools, and leadership reporting packages. 

• Coordinate enterprise-wide data collection and reporting efforts across Operations, Finance, Human Resources, IT, and Corporate partners. 

• Serve as a key administrator and business owner for Monday.com project planning, governance standards, and reporting processes. 

• Lead departmental readiness assessments and operational launch planning activities. 

• Develop analytical frameworks and decision-support tools that provide visibility into operational performance, budget adherence, and project milestones. 

• Analyze operational, labor, financial, and performance data to identify risks, opportunities, emerging trends, and strategic recommendations. 

• Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership and department executives. 

• Conduct workforce productivity analyses, labor utilization studies, and organizational effectiveness reviews. 

• Monitor departmental performance against productivity targets, labor standards, and operational objectives. 

• Lead forecasting, demand planning, and business volume modeling initiatives. 

• Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, and business reviews for senior leadership. 

• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives that drive operational excellence and organizational efficiency. 

• Facilitate process mapping, workflow analysis, root cause identification, and business process redesign projects. 

• Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve productivity, enhance employee effectiveness, and optimize service delivery. 

• Establish and monitor operational performance metrics, scorecards, and benchmarking measures. 

• Lead implementation of Business Process Management (BPM) initiatives and operational improvement strategies. 

• Coordinate recurring business reviews and operational reporting cycles. 

• Partner with Finance during annual operating and payroll budget development processes. 

• Develop business cases, financial analyses, labor models, and strategic recommendations to support executive decision-making. 

• Facilitate weekly and monthly operational review meetings with department leaders. 

• Ensure the integrity, consistency, and confidentiality of operational, financial, and employee data. 

• Provide guidance, mentorship, and project direction to analysts and project team members as assigned. 

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, Data Analytics, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, Project Management, or related field required. 

• Master’s degree preferred. 

• Minimum five (5) years of progressive experience in business analytics, operational planning, workforce planning, finance, project management, consulting, or related disciplines. 

• Minimum two (2) years of leadership experience leading projects, initiatives, or analytical teams. 

• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects from planning through execution. 

• Experience supporting workforce forecasting and labor optimization in high-volume, service-driven environments required. 

• Experience in hospitality, gaming, entertainment, resort operations, or large-scale service organizations preferred. 

• Experience supporting large-scale openings, transformational projects, or organizational readiness initiatives strongly preferred. 

• Strong business acumen with demonstrated ability to influence decisions through data-driven recommendations. 

• Proven experience presenting analytical findings and strategic recommendations to executive leadership. 

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, Power Query, advanced formulas, scenario modeling, and financial analysis. 

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, or similar business intelligence and visualization platforms. 

• Advanced experience with project management systems such as Monday.com, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, or similar platforms. 

• Expertise in workforce analytics, labor forecasting, productivity measurement, and financial modeling techniques. 

• Strong understanding of operational planning methodologies, organizational design, and workforce optimization strategies. 

• Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean, Six Sigma, Business Process Management (BPM), and process redesign principles. 

• Experience working with HRIS, ERP, payroll, workforce management, scheduling, and operational systems. 

• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving abilities. 

• Ability to synthesize large and complex datasets into actionable business insights. 

• Excellent organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail. 

• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and executive communication skills. 

• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive results across multiple functions without direct authority. 

• Demonstrated leadership capabilities with the ability to coach, mentor, and develop others. 

• Ability to independently identify business challenges and develop practical, data-driven solutions. 

• High level of professionalism, confidentiality, and business ethics. 

Work Environment 

• Ability to move throughout the property (standing, walking, kneeling, bending) frequently during shift. 

• Ability to make repeated movements of the arms, hands, and wrists for computer work. 

• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time. 

• Ability to occasionally lift, push, pull, or carry up to 20 pounds. 

• May be exposed to casino-related environmental factors including second-hand smoke, excessive noise, and frequent interaction with the public.