Talent Systems Manager

Star Academies; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Star Academies is seeking a highly capable Talent Systems Manager to lead the development and continuous improvement of our Trust-wide Talent Platform, including Learning Hub, Appraisal Centre and Succession tools. This role shapes a connected digital environment that supports learning, career development and workforce insight.

You will translate Star Talent Academy and Trust priorities into a clear platform roadmap, oversee configuration, governance, data quality, releases and reporting, and

Qualifications

• Experience managing a complex digital learning or talent platform.
• Translate organisational priorities into platform development plans.
• Strong knowledge of platform governance, data quality and reporting.
• Proven ability to drive adoption and stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborative, proactive and improvement-focused.
• Commitment to organisation vision and values.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and continuous improvement of the Talent Platform.
• Oversee configuration, governance and releases.
• Drive adoption across schools and central teams.
• Develop reporting/analytics for leaders.

Skills

Talent systems

Platform management

Stakeholder engagement

Data analytics

Change management

Team leadership

Cornerstone OnDemand

Tools

Cornerstone OnDemand

Job description

Are you an experienced digital systems professional with a passion for using technology, data and insight to improve professional development and talent management?

We are seeking a highly capable and forward-thinking Talent Systems Manager to lead the development, management and continuous improvement of our Trust-wide Talent Platform. This is an exciting opportunity to join Star Talent Academy and shape an integrated digital environment that supports learning, appraisal, career development and succession across Star Academies.

You will lead the continued development of the Learning Hub, Appraisal Centre, Star Succession, My Star and associated functionality, ensuring that the platform provides an effective user experience and responds to the evolving needs of our schools and central teams.

About Star Central

Star Central, which is headquartered in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies, Star Institute and our schools.

The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community. We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today's young people and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders.

Who we're looking for

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated and experienced Talent Systems Manager to lead the effective management, development and continuous improvement of our Talent Platform.

Working closely with the Head of Professional Development, you will translate agreed Star Talent Academy and wider Trust priorities into a clear platform roadmap and lead its delivery. You will oversee platform configuration, integration, governance, data quality, system releases, supplier management, reporting and user support, ensuring that the platform remains reliable, responsive and aligned with organisational priorities.

You will lead the Trust-wide adoption of the platform, working collaboratively with school leaders, Star Central teams, external suppliers and other stakeholders. Through effective communication, engagement, training and targeted support, you will help colleagues and managers use the platform confidently and effectively.

A key focus of the role will be to strengthen the connection between professional learning, appraisal, competency frameworks, career pathways and succession planning. You will develop reporting and analytical capabilities across the platform, using reliable data to identify trends, evaluate outcomes and provide meaningful talent and workforce insight to senior stakeholders.

You will also coordinate the Star Talent Academy team's platform-related activities and priorities, developing the team's expertise to ensure effective day-to-day delivery. This is a varied and influential role requiring strong digital systems expertise, analytical thinking, sound professional judgement and the ability to communicate complex information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

You will have:

• Substantial experience of managing and developing a complex digital learning or talent management platform, including operational delivery and continuous improvement.
• Experience of translating organisational priorities into platform development plans and successfully delivering system changes.
• Strong knowledge of digital platform management, including configuration, governance, release management, data quality, reporting and user support.
• Experience of leading platform adoption and organisational change through effective stakeholder engagement, communication, training and improvements to user experience.
• A proactive, collaborative and solutions-focused approach, with a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
• Full commitment to our vision and values.

Experience of working with Cornerstone OnDemand or a comparable integrated learning and talent platform would be advantageous, as would experience of working within education, a multi-academy trust or another complex multi-site organisation.

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you'll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Find out more

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please contact Star Central by calling 0330 313 9800.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Sunday, 6 December 2026 at midnight.

Interview Date: Tuesday, 15 December 2026.

Proposed Start Date: As soon as possible.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.