Head of Talent

Are you looking to create new pathways of success in a Trust that thrives on empowering every member of their community?

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is seeking to appoint a dedicated and skilled Head of Talent to join our team.

• Location: Trust Office (Medway/Portsmouth/Paignton/Plymouth) – with regular travel to the Trust’s schools [Hybrid working available]

• Hours: Full time, Permanent

• Salary: TSAT Pay Group 9 £62,036 - £74,834 per annum

Join Thinking Schools Academy Trust, a leading educational Trust committed to empowering talent at every career stage. As part of our People Directorate, we promote a positive, inclusive and growth-oriented environment, where each member of our Trust feels valued and inspired to thrive. Recognised with the prestigious Investors in People accreditation, we’re committed to supporting our staff’s development and wellbeing – and now, we are seeking a new Head of Talent to help us build on this success.

In this role, you will be instrumental in supporting the Trust’s mission of Transforming Life Chances through innovative and impactful talent strategies. You will shape our talent vision by designing and leading recruitment, development and retention initiatives that align with our educational objectives and values.

About Thinking Schools Academy Trust

Thinking Schools Academy Trust is a leading multi-academy trust with 26 schools across the South of England. Our vision is rooted in metacognitive learning, empowering students to think critically and reach their full potential. Guided by our core values, we are dedicated to transforming the life chances of young people, helping them to set high goals and achieve exceptional outcomes.

We know that our success relies on recruiting, retaining and developing outstanding talent—creating pathways for our people to grow and succeed. As our new Head of Talent, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring our schools are equipped with highly skilled, motivated staff, enabling us to deliver the best possible education for our students.

The Role:

As the Head of Talent, you will join our Senior Management Team and work closely with both the People Directorate and Educational Strategy Team. Your contributions will shape the entire employee lifecycle, taking the strategic lead on attracting, inducting, developing and retaining high-quality talent across our Trust. 

As the Trust lead for professional development, the right candidate will bring enthusiasm, strong organisational skills with an understanding of professional development in the education sector. You will lead a team and work closely with professional development leads within our schools.

The Head of Talent will play a pivotal role in ensuring our schools are well-resourced with high-quality staff, enabling them to deliver the best educational outcomes for students.

This is an exciting role that would suit a pro-active, solution- focused and determined individual who can also influence stakeholders and deliver results. If you are an experienced learning and development leader who is driven by improving educational outcomes, then we would love to hear from you.

Click here to learn more about the role and how to apply

What you will need to succeed:

 • A Bachelors or Masters degree in Human Resources, Learning & Development, or related field

• A proven experience in talent acquisition and recruitment, with a track record of success in leadership roles

• Significant previous experience of leading a Learning and Development function, ideally within the education field, including leading Teacher Training programmes would be advantageous

• Ability to convey a strong strategic vision and align talent acquisition strategies with the organisation's business objectives.

• Expertise in talent sourcing, attracting top-tier candidates, working with senior leaders to drive talent development and a strong talent pipeline.

• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building abilities to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

For a full list of responsibilities please see the attached job description

What our Trust will offer you:

• Competitive Pay Scales: Our TSAT pay scales exceed national standards, ensuring that your expertise is well-rewarded.

• Collaborative Support: Thrive within a supportive network of educators and professionals across our Trust.

• Annual leave: The post comes with 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays increasing to 31 after 5 years of service

• Hybrid working: Opportunities for this post to work from home and flexible hours to support improved work life balance

• Professional Development: Access extensive CPD opportunities, including tailored programs for Early Career, Middle, and Senior Leadership, to help you achieve your career goals.

• Innovative Teaching Approach: Engage with our internationally accredited, research-based pedagogy designed to elevate classroom practice and student outcomes.

• Local Government Pension Scheme: Secure your future with our pension plan, offering long-term stability and peace of mind.

• Wellbeing Focus: Benefit from our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, free flu vaccinations, and eye care vouchers.

• Cycle to Work Scheme: Support your health and sustainability goals through our Cycle to Work initiative.

• Exclusive Discounts: Access our staff benefits platform, offering substantial savings through a wide range of deals and vouchers.

For a full view of our benefits, please click here

Next steps:

If you’re excited to join our Trust, where you’ll benefit from a supportive network of dedicated educators and professionals across our schools, we encourage you to apply today! This is an excellent opportunity to advance your career while making a meaningful impact on our schools and the lives of our students.

We welcome early applications, as we may close the vacancy once we find the right candidate. To arrange an informal conversation please contact our People Director, Janina Villalta j.villalta@tsatrust.org.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. As per KCSIE we will also undertake online searches for all shortlisted candidates, if you have any questions regarding this process please email recruitment@tsatrust.org.uk