Talent Development Manager - Fixed Term Contract - Unite Students : Job Details

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Talent Development Manager to join our fantastic People Team in Bristol on a fixed-term contract until the end of 2025.

Here at Unite Students, people are at the heart of what we do. As a Talent Development Manager, you`ll play a key role in helping our employees grow, develop, and feel engaged in their careers. You`ll design and lead impactful learning initiatives that empower individuals at all levels - enhancing leadership, performance, and career progression. This is an opportunity to make a real difference, shaping a culture where people can thrive, contribute, and be their best.

We believe that when people thrive, businesses thrive. This is more than just a job - it`s a chance to create meaningful career experiences, drive real impact, and be part of a purpose-led organisation. If you`re passionate about helping people grow and develop, we`d love to hear from you.

What You`ll Be Doing

Shape & Lead Talent Development Activities

• Develop and implement learning programs that equip our people with the skills and confidence to succeed?"now and in the future.

Deliver Engaging Learning Experiences

• Design and facilitate training, workshops, and leadership programs tailored to different career stages and business needs.

Support Performance & Career Growth

• Work closely with managers to embed performance coaching, feedback, and career development pathways across the organisation.

Develop Future Leaders

• Manage and enhance our development offer for managers and leaders, ensuring it inspires and prepares individuals for growth within Unite Students. This includes designing and delivering engaging learning experiences focused on onboarding, core management skills through our suite of Manager Essentials workshops, and leadership development to support a strong pipeline of confident and capable leaders.

Enhance Employee Engagement & Retention

• Foster a learning culture where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to progress in their careers.

Champion & Embed Performance Enablement Conversations across Unite Students

• Equip Managers with the tools, training, and confidence to have meaningful performance discussions. In 2025 you will work closely with our project implementation team as we introduce a new system into Unite Students that will further enhance our team members experience and personal development.

Measure & Continuously Improve

• Use data, insights, and feedback to refine talent development initiatives and maximise their impact.

Collaborate Across the Business to Drive Development

• Work closely with multiple stakeholders across our Support Centre and Operational Teams, partnering with leaders, managers, and teams in diverse roles to embed talent development initiatives. By understanding the unique challenges and priorities of different business areas, you ll ensure our learning initiatives are impactful, relevant, and aligned with organisational goals.

What We`re Looking for in You

• Experience & Expertise - significant experience in talent development, learning & development, or a similar role. Accreditations such as Insights or ILM are a plus.
• Leadership, Influence and Stakeholder Skills - Strong facilitation, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic Thinking - Ability to align development initiatives with business goals and long-term success.
• Innovation & Creativity - Passion for designing engaging and forward-thinking learning experiences.
• Strong Communication - Clear, compelling, and adaptable communication skills.
• Data-Driven Approach - Ability to analyse and measure learning effectiveness.

What You`ll Get in Return

• A discretionary annual bonus so you can share in the company`s success
• 25 days` paid holiday and an annual holiday buying scheme, with 5 additional days awarded for long service
• A generous pension scheme - employer contributions between 5% and 11% depending on how much you save
• Various benefits to support your health and wellbeing including a Healthcare Cash Plan, an Employee Assistance Programme, a Wellbeing platform and a Gym benefit that you can share with your family and friends
• Enhanced Family Leave including 18 weeks full pay for birthing parents and 4 weeks for non-birthing parents
• Lots of other great benefits including an annual ShareSave scheme, Employee Life Assurance, a discounts portal and more!

About Unite Students

Founded in 1991, Unite Students is a FTSE 100 business and the UK`s leading provider of purpose-built student accommodation. You can find us in 25 leading university towns and cities, with 74,000 students calling US home! We are driven by our values, culture, and a commitment to develop diverse and inclusive teams, filled with positive energy and new ideas.

Instinctive inclusion. We know that to create and maintain a happy healthy organisation, we have to work hard to ensure inclusion isn`t just what we do but who we are.

People make Unite Students. Employees, students and neighbours all contribute to building environments where we can all thrive.

Room for Everyone

We`re proud to be an employer that embraces individuality, and we`re passionate about building inclusive teams. We focus on creating a collaborative culture where you can be you, where your voice is heard, and where you can truly belong. We take great pride in being rated Gold Investors in People and are constantly striving to provide the highest standard of learning and development opportunities and professional pathways for our people. Building a home for success, for both our employees and students, requires exceptional people with a passion for creating room for everyone, doing what`s right, keeping US safe, and raising the bar. Join us as we build better experiences for students that live with us.

We are US.