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Staff Engagement Lead, STAR ACADEMIES
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Staff Engagement Lead, STAR ACADEMIES
Staff Engagement Lead
Do you want to join a team that provides outstanding leadership, strategic direction, and support to some of the best schools in the country? Do you want to play your part in delivering outstanding learning and teaching to young people in disadvantaged communities? If so, joining the Star team might just be the best career move you ever make.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking to appoint an outstanding and driven Staff Engagement Lead to join our Central People and Wellbeing Team.
This is a strategic and values-led role, focused on enhancing the lived experience of colleagues across the Trust. Working collaboratively with school leaders, wellbeing champions, and Star Central teams, you will lead the development and delivery of wellbeing, engagement, and people-experience initiatives that support a healthy, inclusive, and high-performing workforce.
You will play a central role in shaping and embedding trust-wide wellbeing and people-experience strategies, ensuring wellbeing is proactively integrated into organisational culture, leadership practice, and ways of working.
You will be supported in a highly motivated team environment that is focused on development, wellbeing, and continuous improvement.
The role is based at Star Central, Blackburn. We are currently operating hybrid office and homeworking arrangements. You will be expected to travel to schools across the Trust as required.
Key Responsibilities & Requirements
Requirements
You will have:
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- A degree-level qualification and be CIPD qualified (or willingness to work towards it)
- Experience of leading and delivering wellbeing, engagement, or people-experience initiatives
- A strong understanding of workplace wellbeing, organisational culture, and employee engagement
- Experience of using workforce data insights to identify risks and inform targeted actions
- Experience of working collaboratively with senior leaders and a wide range of stakeholders
- The ability to design, implement, and evaluate trust-wide initiatives and programmes
- Strong planning, organisational, and people management skills
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 committed to improving the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation, helping them succeed in education, employment, and beyond.
Our STAR values embody the principles that drive our success:
- Support
- Teamwork
- Ambition
- Responsibility
Professional development is key to our ongoing success. Through our Star Talent Academy, we invest in our employees via:
- A range of training opportunities
- Mentoring and progression pathways
- Cross-academy collaboration
Joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.
Rewards & Benefits
We offer a range of attractive packages:
- Competitive salaries and pension schemes
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Healthcare cash plans
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About Star Central
Based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, Star Central provides leadership, strategic direction, and support to Star Academies and its schools.
Our diverse Star Central team includes experts from varied professional backgrounds. Together, we provide:
- Outstanding support and guidance
- Educational and operational excellence
- A strong Star community culture
- Solutions to nurture today’s young people and inspire tomorrow’s leaders
Key Dates
- Closing Date: 24 July 2026
- Interview Date: 11 August 2026
- Proposed Start Date: September 2026
Application Process
To apply, please use the ‘Apply for job’ link below, ensuring your application form and supporting statement address all elements of the person specification. We will only consider candidates who meet the vast majority of the essential criteria.
Selection & Safeguarding
Star Academies is committed to:
- Safeguarding, safer recruitment, and promoting the welfare of pupils
- Rigorous pre-employment checks
- Bias-free recruitment and an inclusive culture
We are dedicated to eliminating discrimination and fostering diversity in our workforce.
For an informal and confidential discussion, contact Star Central at: [0330 313 9800]
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