Operations Planner

Location: Thorpe Park, Chertsey KT16 8PN

Contract Type: Seasonal

Join a team where the mission is to bring joy, create connections, and make unforgettable memories! As an Operations Planner, you will play a critical role in ensuring smooth, efficient operations across the resort by delivering exceptional workforce planning and resource management.

As an Operations Planner, you will be responsible for overseeing workforce planning and scheduling to ensure the resort operates efficiently each day. This includes developing and distributing departmental rosters, aligning staffing levels with business needs, and ensuring front-line teams are resourced effectively to deliver a great guest experience. You will also prepare and consolidate hours reports to support accurate payroll processes, while ensuring compliance with labour regulations through effective break and shift planning.

You will take ownership of proactive resource management by identifying potential staffing gaps and implementing solutions to maintain operational continuity. This involves collaborating closely with internal stakeholders, including the People team, to trigger recruitment activity when needed and developing contingency plans to respond to changing demands.

A key part of the role is driving operational efficiency by analysing workforce data and using planning tools to optimise resource allocation. You will partner with departments across the business to balance cost, revenue, and guest experience, while continually reviewing performance metrics such as resource efficiency and guest KPIs to identify opportunities for improvement. You will also contribute to the development and enhancement of systems and processes that support planning and operational excellence. Alongside this, you will ensure all planning activities are compliant with labour laws and internal standards, maintaining accurate records and providing insightful reporting to support decision-making and audits.

Health and safety will be a core focus, ensuring adherence to company policies and procedures, supporting risk assessment processes, and promoting a safe working environment through proactive reporting and continuous improvement.

• Proven experience in workforce planning, operational scheduling, or resource management, ideally within a fast-paced, guest-focused environment
• Experience using scheduling tools, workforce management systems, and analysing operational data to improve efficiency
• Strong understanding of labour laws, compliance requirements, and workforce planning best practices
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel) and familiarity with planning systems
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective stakeholder relationships
• Excellent attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in reporting, rostering, and compliance
• Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make informed, data-driven decisions
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to work cross-functionally to achieve business goals
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to respond to changing operational demands

• 40% discount off LEGO® sets and products on the online LEGO Store!

• Merlin Magic Pass: 20 free tickets for you, your family and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world!
• 25% discount in Merlin retail shops and restaurants (a brilliant extra treat when you’re using your Magic Pass to visit!)
• Staff discount codes for Merlin Annual Passes to gift to loved ones!

• Private pension scheme
• Life assurance scheme
• Employee assistance programme
• Free staff parking
• Access to Perks at Work which 30,000+ national & local employee discounts
• Ongoing training & development

About Merlin

A job with Merlin isn’t like a job anywhere else. With attractions around the world, from rollercoasters to wax figures, we don’t trade in suits, handshakes or briefcases. We trade in fun. In smiles, shrieks and spine-tingles. In Memories. In magic. But there are no tricks behind our magic. Instead, there are people like you. Passionate, dedicated people who are committed to making sure our worldwide attractions and guests’ experiences are the best they can be.

If you have any questions or if you require any reasonable adjustments, because of a disability or medical condition, please contact us by email at recruitment@merlinentertainments.biz and one of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.