At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead technology strategy and innovation at EmpowerRD, shaping the future of R&D tax relief.
- Company: Join a progressive tech company dedicated to empowering businesses through innovative software solutions.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous learning and high performance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while driving technological advancements.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in senior tech leadership, strong software development and strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
About EmpowerRD
R&D tax credits are a powerful but underused engine for innovation, and navigating them shouldn't require an army of consultants and months of back-and-forth. At EmpowerRD, we're changing that. We build software that makes claiming R&D tax relief transparent and genuinely empowering for the businesses and advisors who rely on us, with a vision to help every innovative company unlock the funding they deserve. Living by that mission has been the secret to our growth, and now we're at a pivotal moment in our journey. Every move we make has a direct impact on our customers, our product, and our collective success. We need people who take pride in understanding what drives outcomes, challenge the way things are done (respectfully), and always aim high. We can't say we've got this whole thing figured out, and frankly, that's half the fun. What we can say is that we're a driven, progressive, and, importantly, a kind team, all committed to building the future of R&D tax relief together.
About the role
We're looking for a Head of Technology to join EmpowerRD's senior leadership team at a pivotal moment in our growth. You'll own the technology strategy end-to-end, shaping our architecture and engineering culture while accelerating innovation that differentiates us in the R&D tax market. You'll be the connective tissue between our product ambitions and the engineering capability that brings them to life, partnering closely with the CEO, Product, Operations, and Marketing leadership.
Who you’ll be working with
You’ll sit at the senior leadership table, reporting into the CEO and working across the whole business. Day to day, you'll partner with the CEO, Head of Product, and our engineering and data teams. You'll also be the primary technology voice in conversations with Finance, Customer Success, Sales, and external technology vendors and partners. Our company virtues are: Be a truth seeker, Build Bridges, Empower Growth, Start and keep going, Foster Well-Being. We build strong cross-functional relationships, stay close to strategic priorities, and bring decisions grounded in data and evidence.
What you’ll be doing
- Develop, communicate, and execute a comprehensive technology strategy aligned with our business goals and growth plans.
- Collaborate closely with the executive team, product, and other business units to understand technology needs and drive technology-enabled initiatives.
- Own and evolve the Data, Metrics and Insights that underpin the business.
- Oversee design and implementation of scalable, secure technology systems and infrastructure, ensuring alignment with security standards and best practice.
- Provide strong leadership, line management and mentorship to our engineering and data teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning and high performance.
- Oversee the Ways of Working and ensure teams have a full understanding of the software lifecycle and their roles within the process.
- Identify and mitigate technology-related risks, ensuring compliance with data privacy and security regulations and internal policies: you will be the DPO.
- Manage the technology budget, optimising resource allocation and ensuring cost-effective decisions.
- Manage relationships with technology vendors and partners, evaluating and selecting the most appropriate solutions.
- Stay close to the latest technology advances and provide strategic recommendations to keep EmpowerRD at the leading edge.
What you bring
Essential- Five or more years of experience in a senior technology leadership role.
- Deep understanding of software development methodologies and how AI has transformed these processes in recent years.
- Many years of experience building technology platforms for organisations - you have the battle scars to show as well as depth of technical experience. Our Stack is Vue, Ruby on Rails, Postgres, Terraform, dbt, AWS, GCP - you’ll have many years of experience in these technologies.
- Demonstrated success managing software development, systems architecture, infrastructure management, IT infrastructure, third‑party services, cyber security and budgets.
- Broad commercial understanding of how a SaaS business ticks and the teams and processes that drive growth.
- Strong strategic thinking: the ability to translate business objectives into effective technology decisions through Data and discussion.
- Excellent leadership and team management skills, with a track record of developing high‑performing technology teams.
- Proven ability to deliver complex technology projects on time and within budget.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a data‑driven approach to decision‑making.
- A degree in computer science, information technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Experience in fintech, SaaS, professional services, or a regulated technology environment.
- Hands‑on experience with AI and Data platform tooling.
- Familiarity with the R&D tax credit, Accounting or HMRC landscape.
This role is for you if
- You're energised by setting the technology direction for a company, not just executing on a predefined plan.
- You're as comfortable discussing architectural trade‑offs with engineers as you are presenting a technology roadmap to the CEO or delivering Town Hall updates to the company.
- You hold yourself and your teams to high engineering standards without letting perfection get in the way of progress.
This role may not be for you if
- You're looking for a steady‑state technology management role rather than a building‑and‑scaling challenge.
- You do not use data, metrics and insights as part of your operating DNA.
- You prefer to operate with full certainty before moving; we're a fast‑moving team, and ambiguity is part of the job.
Practical details
- Location: London, UK. Hybrid with mandatory office days each week.
- Visa sponsorship: We're not able to offer UK work visa sponsorship for this role.
- Salary: To be discussed during the first interview.
About your application and the interview process
We use AI to score every application and then read every relevant CV ourselves. Your effort deserves human attention that matches it, so please take the time to read the role description and make sure your application reflects experience that is genuinely relevant here. The “Achieved X, as measured by Y, by doing Z” formula is a strong way to make your experience compelling. The role requires operational grounding, strategic breadth, and technical depth, so make sure your CV reflects all three.
The process:
- Intro call: A 30‑minute conversation with leadership to discuss the role and your background.
- Take‑home strategic & technical exercises followed by a presentation interview with leadership.
- CEO interview: A 60‑minute interview covering your leadership approach and strategic thinking.
- Culture Interview with function & technology team leads.
Head of Technology employer: EmpowerRD
EmpowerRD is an exceptional employer that fosters a progressive and inclusive work culture, where innovation and collaboration are at the forefront. As a Head of Technology, you will have the opportunity to shape the technology strategy in a dynamic environment, while benefiting from strong leadership support and a commitment to employee growth through mentorship and continuous learning. Located in London, our hybrid work model ensures flexibility, allowing you to thrive both in the office and remotely, all while being part of a kind and driven team dedicated to transforming the R&D tax relief landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Technology
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the tech industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who works at EmpowerRD. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for technology! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share your thoughts on the latest trends or innovations in tech. This shows you're not just looking for a job, but you're genuinely excited about the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research EmpowerRD's mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their vision of making R&D tax relief more accessible.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining the EmpowerRD team and ready to take on the challenge of leading technology in a growing company.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Technology
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Technology role. Highlight your experience with software development methodologies and the tech stack mentioned in the job description. We want to see how your background aligns with our needs!
Use the STAR Method:When detailing your achievements, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). This helps us understand the context of your experiences and the impact you made. Remember, we love data-driven results!
Show Your Leadership Style:In your application, give us a glimpse of your leadership style. Share examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and fostered a culture of continuous learning. We’re all about empowering growth here at EmpowerRD!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at EmpowerRD
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
As a Head of Technology, you need to be well-versed in the tech stack mentioned in the job description. Brush up on Vue, Ruby on Rails, Postgres, Terraform, dbt, AWS, and GCP. Be ready to discuss how you've used these technologies in past projects and how they can be leveraged at EmpowerRD.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to talk about your leadership approach and how you've developed high-performing teams. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to mentor and foster a culture of continuous learning. This role is all about collaboration, so demonstrate how you build bridges across teams.
✨Align with Company Values
EmpowerRD values truth-seeking, growth, and well-being. Think of examples from your career that reflect these virtues. Show how you challenge the status quo respectfully and aim high in your technology strategies. This will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Ready for Strategic Discussions
Expect to engage in conversations about aligning technology strategy with business goals. Prepare to discuss how you've translated business objectives into effective tech decisions in the past. Use data and metrics to back up your points, as this aligns with their data-driven approach.
