Head of AI and Digital Innovation in Rotherham

Hours: Full time (37 hours each week, all year round)

Duration: Permanent

Salary: £52,129 a year + benefits

Location: Cross college role (Rotherham, Dearne Valley and North Notts College’s including University Centre Rotherham)

About The Role

The Head of AI and Digital Innovation will play a key role in delivering our ambitious digital strategy. Working with the Director of IT and Digital, you will help lead digital growth and innovation, providing inspirational leadership to ensure the College meets the needs of staff, students, employers, and partners in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

As a proud Google Reference College, you will be the architect of an ecosystem. You will leverage the full power of the Google Workspace for Education Plus suite and Gemini AI to reduce staff workload, dismantle barriers to learning, and provide our students with the high-level digital fluency required for the 21st-century workforce.

You will promote excellence in teaching, learning, and assessment through blended and digital approaches, supporting teaching staff to develop a high-quality, future-ready curriculum. By setting a bold vision and challenging traditional methods, you will inspire staff development and drive strategic aims.

You will also drive the adoption of immersive classroom technologies and support staff in developing digital literacy skills to enhance educational delivery. While the wider IT department maintains the network and hardware, this role 'owns' the digital transformation of the user experience. The successful candidate will be expected to navigate the ethical implications of AI while ensuring digital inclusion across a diverse community.

You will…

• Proven experience in leading digital transformation or AI integration within an educational or corporate setting.
• Experience managing and developing high-performing technical or pedagogical teams, such as TEL Specialists.
• Experience in curriculum design or modernising teaching through blended and immersive learning (VR/AR).
• Professional experience in AI, Project Management, or Educational Technology.

You will need;

• Level 2 (or equivalent) qualification in English and Maths (or be willing to undertake).
• A master’s degree in Educational Technology (EdTech), AI for Business Leadership or similar.
• Teaching/Training Qualification (E.g PGCE, CertEd or Level 3 AET) or willingness to work towards.

We understand that no candidate will perfectly match every qualification or criterion listed. If your experience differs from what we've outlined but you believe you can contribute to this role, we encourage you to apply!

Department Info

The Head of AI and Digital Innovation serves as a vital strategic bridge between technical infrastructure and academic excellence, reporting directly to the Director of IT and Digital who sits within the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). This reporting line ensures that digital innovation is at the heart of the Group’s executive decision-making.

Operating within the IT and Digital leadership tier, the postholder moves beyond traditional IT support to lead a specialised team of Digital & Technology specialists. You will act as a high-level consultant to Curriculum Leads, translating complex technological advancements, specifically Artificial Intelligence and immersive tools, into practical classroom applications that align with the Director’s overarching digital vision.

Our Excellent Benefits And Rewards Package

• Access to local government pensions scheme (with employer contributions from 17.7% to 23.68%).
• Up to 44 days annual leave per year including closure during Christmas period.
• Access to our gyms, restaurants and salons.
• Staff health & wellbeing and benefits schemes including in-house Occupational Health service.
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Full, part time and flexible working hours available in many roles.
• Free Parking available at all of our sites.
• Fantastic career development opportunities including funding for teacher training, apprenticeships and various other industry recognised qualifications.
• New FE teachers can also apply for grants of up to £6,000 in STEM subjects (conditions apply) through the teacher retention initiative.
• Recruitment Referral Scheme for all employees, worth £200 per referral made.

What is the RNN Group?

RNN Group’s main goal is to be an ‘outstanding’ education and training provider and this is at the heart of everything that we do. To help us achieve this we are looking to recruit highly motivated, innovative and dynamic individuals to join our existing teams. To be a part of the team at RNN Group we will expect you to be committed to our values too; We are Inclusive, We have Integrity, We Deliver, We are One Team. We are OFSTED ‘Good’ (November 2022).

We celebrate diversity and are proud to have been recognised as Investors in Diversity for our commitment to the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) Model. This means that you’d be working in a supportive environment that encourages, recognises and celebrates effort, achievement and cooperative attitudes. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, faith or disability. We are also proud to be part of the Disability Confidence Scheme and offer reasonable adjustments to all applicants throughout the recruitment process.

The RNN Group is proud to be part of the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (SYIoT). We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, vulnerable adults and young people. All new employees will be required to undertake a DBS check and other associated checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance.

The Group’s core operating hours are 8.30am-5.00pm (9pm on a Tuesday and Thursday during term time). You may be expected to work at any time during these hours to ensure business needs are met.

All candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Closing date: Monday 30 March 2026 – if you are shortlisted for this post, you will be contacted within a week of the closing date.

Provisional Interview Date: 13 April 2026.