Job Description

ABOUT CATS GLOBAL SCHOOLS

CATS Global Schools is a leading education group committed to inspiring the next generation of world shapers. With a history dating back to 1899, but a focus on the future, our group brings together 16 institutions comprising independent boarding schools, an Arts school, English language schools and a variety of summer programmes in the UK, US, Canada and China. Each year, we provide 18,000 students around the globe with the education they need to develop real-life skills for the future. We are dedicated to academic excellence and our students benefit from our well-developed links to over 40 top global universities. We create a positive learning environment where every student is empowered to make a contribution to shape their world. This is made possible because of the commitment of our pioneering, persevering people who do the very best for our students.

ROLE OVERVIEW

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Group Talent Manager to lead and shape our recruitment and talent strategies. This role will oversee the end-to-end talent lifecycle, leveraging data-driven insights and latest recruitment tools to optimise hiring, workforce planning, and talent development. This role will also be responsible for full compliance across all recruitment activities across the organisation including the maintenance of the Single Central Records (SCR). The postholder will lead and manage all compliance processes to ensure that all staff, volunteers and agency workers meet Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and ISI regulations.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Recruitment and Talent Acquisition:

Lead the design and execution of end-to-end recruitment strategies across all business units.

Utilize modern recruitment technologies and AI tools to enhance candidate sourcing, assessment, and engagement.

Build and maintain proactive talent pipelines and succession plans for key roles.

Conduct data-driven talent reviews regularly to inform hiring decisions and workforce planning.

Manage relationships with recruitment suppliers and vendors, ensuring quality service, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with organizational needs.

2. Talent Management and Workforce Planning:

Collaborate with business leaders and HRBPs to assess workforce needs and develop comprehensive, data backed workforce plans.

Support/lead succession planning, talent review exercise.

Drive initiatives to improve candidates experience.

3. Compliance and Process Management:

Ensure recruitment and talent management processes comply with employment law, UKVI, safeguarding policies and other group policies, and best practices.

Implement and monitor robust safer recruitment practices across the group.

Conduct regular compliance audits on employee files, right-to-work documentation and the Single Central Record (SCR) ensuring inspection standards are consistently met.

Take full responsibility for the accuracy and maintenance of the Single Central Record (SCR).

Oversee and manage all pre-employment checks ensuring consistent accuracy and standards are met in accordance with current legislation.

Deliver safer recruitment training to staff and provide ongoing guidance to ensure staff understand and meet the compliance framework. In addition to supporting leadership teams in preparation for ISI inspections ensuring compliance and documentation is audit-ready.

Lead on updates following changes in safeguarding and compliance legislation.

Manage the UKVI Sponsorship Management System (SMS) and ensure full regulatory compliance.

Continuously improve recruitment and talent management processes using data-driven insights and AI-enabled solutions.

Management for recruitment budget of the group.

4. Employer Branding and Market Intelligence:

Work with marketing team to strengthen the employer brand to attract top talent.

Gather, analyse, and interpret market intelligence and talent data to inform recruitment strategies, compensation benchmarking, and talent planning.

Monitor talent trends, competitor practices, and emerging workforce challenges to guide strategic decisions.

5. Communication and Stakeholder Management:

Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, providing insight and influence in talent-related decisions.

Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment on talent strategies and goals.

We reserve the right to close the advert before the stated closing date, we therefore encourage early applications.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field preferred.

Proven experience (8+ years) in recruitment, talent acquisition and workforce planning

Prior experience within education or a regulated environment is desirable

Strong knowledge of latest recruitment technologies, data analytics, and digital sourcing strategies.

Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive strategic talent initiatives.

Solid understanding of compliance, employment law, and best practices in talent acquisition and management.

Experience managing budgets, talent pipelines, succession plans, and data-informed talent review processes.

Experience in team management, be able to inspire an in-house talent team to maximize their potential

BENEFITS

Cycle to work Scheme

Tech Scheme

Car Scheme

Free flu vaccine through Healthshield

Free eye tests

Financial wellbeing support via WageStream

Employee Assistance Programme

Group income protection

GP24: GP Access for all

Health Cash Plan

Death in Service

Long service awards

Employee referral scheme

Enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

We are committed to diversity, inclusion and belonging. Building on our core values Pioneering, Persevering, People We pledge to deliver a series of events, guest speakers and focus groups to make CATS Global Schools and employer of choice for all.

SAFEGUARDING

CGS is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and well-being of children and young people. As such, appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of safer recruitment employment checks in line with KCSIE guidelines. This will include satisfactory references, enhanced DBS from the Disclosures and Barring Service and, where applicable, any international equivalent being obtained. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to online checks which may include social media.