HR/People Operations Manager

Diverse Academies Trust, Retford, DN22 7GR

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  9 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  25 September 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £57,358.00 - £57,358.00 Annually (FTE)

HR/People Operations Manager job summary

We have a new and exciting opportunity for an ambitious and forward-thinking People operations manager to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our People services across Diverse Academies Trust. Reporting directly to the Head of people culture, this is a high-profile leadership role responsible for leading our People Operations function and ensuring the delivery of professional, efficient and customer-focused services that support more than 1,300 colleagues across our family of academies and central teams.

This is a rare opportunity to influence organisation-wide workforce practice, lead service transformation, and contribute to strategic decision-making that helps our colleagues thrive and our children and young people achieve their full potential.

As our People operations manager, you will lead a talented and experienced team of operational and advisory team members and take ownership of key areas including employee relations, workforce data and reporting, people systems, payroll and pensions oversight, compliance, policy development and continuous service improvement. You will work closely with academy leaders, executive leaders and central teams to ensure our people services are efficient, compliant, responsive and focused on delivering excellent outcomes.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead and develop a high-performing people operations team, creating a culture of service excellence, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Provide expert advice and support on complex workforce matters, organisational change, job evaluation, employee relations and workforce planning.

• Drive innovation and transformation through the optimisation of people systems, workforce analytics and operational processes, helping the Trust make informed, evidence-based decisions.

• Oversee outsourced payroll and pensions provision, ensuring robust governance, compliance and high-quality service delivery.

• Work collaboratively with leaders across the Trust to deliver strategic priorities, support organisational development and enhance the colleague experience.

Essential

• Significant experience operating at a senior HR or People leadership level.

• Experience leading people operations within a complex, multi-site organisation.

• Extensive knowledge of employee relations, employment law, workforce practice and people service delivery.

• Demonstrable experience leading and developing teams whilst influencing senior stakeholders.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret workforce data and translate insight into action.

• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent senior professional experience

Desirable

• Experience working within the education, public sector or multi-academy trust environment.

• Experience implementing or developing HRIS, payroll or workforce management systems.

• Knowledge of public sector pensions administration.

• Experience supporting organisational transformation and service improvement initiatives.

Why join Diverse Academies Trust?

Diverse Academies is a multi-academy trust with a vision to inspire, to raise aspirations and to create brighter tomorrows. Across primary, secondary and special settings, we share a common mission to nurture curiosity, develop wellbeing and empower children and young people to go beyond their aspirations. Together, we believe we can make a difference in our diverse communities, and in the lives of those who learn with us and work with us.

We empower. We respect. We care.

Visits are welcomed and encouraged - please contact Sarah Green - Head of people culture at sgreen@diverse-ac.org.uk to arrange, or for further information.

Our employee benefits

At Diverse Academies, you’ll find yourself in a vibrant, inclusive and supportive environment, where everyone can grow, progress and achieve a fulfilling career. We offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits, challenging and interesting work, and opportunities to achieve your potential.

In return you will benefit from:           

• Enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of at least 21.8%

• Operational support holidays of 32 days + 8 bank holidays

• Excellent Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities covering technical, leadership and coaching skills via the trust’s Diverse Association for Professional Learning

• Employee Assistance Programme

• GP helpline

• Health and wellbeing advice and support

• Eyecare vouchers

• Salary sacrifice schemes - car scheme, cycle to work, home and electronics

• Lifestyle savings - discounts and offers on gym memberships, holidays, days out, shopping, restaurants, etc

• Health cash plan (personal or family) - where you pay monthly and can claim money back on private treatments such as dental, optical and therapies (e.g. physiotherapy, osteopathy etc)

• Childcare - breakfast and after school provision

• Take a look at our rewards and benefits online

Applications

Early applications are encouraged. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date of the advertisement, should we identify an appropriate candidate.

Closing date: Friday 9 October 2026      

Provisional interview date: Thursday 15 October 2026

Start date: As soon as possible

If you have any initial questions or would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact Sarah Green - Head of people culture at sgreen@diverse-ac.org.uk

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Safeguarding and child protection is of the highest priority to our Trust – and it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of all our children and young people.

We have a dedicated strategic lead who works with designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) in all academies to work with leadership teams, governors and trustees to quality assure, advise and develop the highest standards of culture and compliance across our academies and throughout the organisation.

https://www.diverseacademies.org.uk/about-us/how-we-work/safeguarding-and-child-protection/

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Diverse Academies Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Diverse Academies Trust website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/diverse-academies-trust

Founded in September 2011, Diverse Academies is a multi-academy trust consisting of 14 academies – six secondary, six primary and two special – across Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

We have a shared sixth form centre facility in Hucknall, which is managed in partnership with the National Church of England Academy. Queen Elizabeth’s in Mansfield, is a faith academy under the Church of England and is rooted in a Christian ethos. The academy works in partnership with the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham to provide an education that is distinctively Christian, and is inclusive for students from all backgrounds, of the Christian faith, other faiths and no faith.

The Trust Board provides overall support and challenge to academies through the leadership and management and governance structures within the Diverse Academies.

Head office location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed