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- Tasks: Lead AI innovation and develop cutting-edge SaaS products that transform education.
- Company: Join Tes, a global leader in EdTech, empowering educators worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25-30 days annual leave, state-of-the-art offices, and extensive learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education by driving AI advancements and innovative solutions.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in product innovation with strong AI and ML expertise.
- Other info: Collaborative hybrid work environment with a focus on creativity and experimentation.
The predicted salary is between 120000 - 180000 £ per year.
Norfolk St, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2JE, UK
Posted Thursday 5 February 2026 at 6:00 am
Department: Technology
Location: Sheffield or London
Working Pattern: Hybrid
Contract Type: Full time, permanent
Salary: Up to £150,000 per annum
At Tes we are on a mission to power schools and enable great teaching worldwide, by delivering EdTech solutions that give educators the tools to succeed. From safeguarding and compliance to staff and pupil management, our innovative and flexible software and services help teachers and school leaders worldwide to provide the best education to millions of children.
With more than 13 million educators in our community, combined with our working relationships with 25,000 schools in over 100 countries, we have been making a difference for over 100 years.
Role overview
As the Head of AI and Innovation, you will bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and practical SaaS product strategy. Leading a newly formed, dedicated team, you will operate outside the constraints of the traditional BAU technology function, to explore, prototype, and ship high-impact AI tools and MVPs.
Reporting jointly into the CEO and working closely with the CTO, reflecting the strategic imperative of this role, this provides for a unique "blank slate" mandate to provide innovation against our current and future product set, and to support our internal business efficiency through radical, outside-the-box thinking.
We fully expect you to provide huge opportunities for failure and if you don’t, then you’re probably not trying hard enough! But, at the same time finding those nuggets that will provide transformative ways of tackling problems and improving the value of our products to our customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Innovation & MVPs: Develop and own the AI vision aligning technical innovation with the long-term SaaS product goals and business objectives, rapidly taking experimental concepts from ideation to (near) production-ready MVPs.
- Product Innovation: Lead ‘blue-sky’ investigations into emerging technologies, identifying and prototyping high-impact AI use cases, such as LLM integrations, hybrid architectures and predictive analytics.
- Internal & External Transformation: Identify opportunities to deploy AI both as a customer-facing competitive differentiator, and as a tool for streamlining and automating internal business operations.
- Governance & Ethics: Establish frameworks for ethical AI usage, ensuring data privacy, model transparency, and compliance.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as the primary liaison between technical teams and executive stakeholders to ensure AI initiatives are understood and supported across the business.
- Dual-Report Leadership: Act as the strategic bridge between the CEO and CTO, ensuring innovation remains a top-tier business priority while maintaining technical excellence and architectural alignment.
- Team Building: Mentor a lean, high-performing team of Principle Engineers, capable of bringing forward the innovative thinking, fostering a culture of rapid experimentation and high-quality delivery, required to ensure success for this new initiative.
What will you need to succeed?
- Proven Innovation Track Record: Deep experience in delivering innovative thinking into more traditional technology solutions, with the ability to straddle the business objectives and technology conversations.
- AI & ML Expertise: Strong working knowledge of current AI frameworks and a solid understanding of LLM orchestration, and training/specialising models. A strong practical knowledge of how to build AI and LLM’s is essential, along with a deep understanding of when and when not to air gap AI technology.
- Cloud & Infrastructure: Proficiency with cloud services (AWS & Azure) and an understanding and track record of how to design and deliver scalable, innovative improvements.
- Fearless Problem Solving: A willingness to challenge conventional thinking and investigate non-obvious solutions to complex business problems, both for external product and internal systems.
- Senior Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication skills to translate high-level innovation concepts into actionable business narratives for the executive board.
- Leadership: Experience managing small-to-midsize technical teams, within a SaaS environment, and the ability to inform, influence and support across both technical and operational business functions.
- AI Expertise: A proven track record of shipping AI-powered features into a production environment.
- Academic Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field. 10+ years of professional product innovation, including a track record of bringing disruptive technology to market.
What do you get in return?
- 25 days annual leave rising to 30
- State of the art offices
- Access to a range of benefits via My Benefits World
- Free eye care cover
- Life Assurance
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- EAP (Employee assistance programme)
- Quarterly Tes Socials
- Access to an extensive Learning and Development menu
Who are Tes?
Tes is a global Edtech leader, on a mission to empower schools and educators to deliver impactful, inspiring learning experiences worldwide. We understand the unique challenges faced by schools, and our ecosystem is specifically designed to address these needs head-on.
Our intuitive technology streamlines complex tasks, enhances learning experiences, and alleviates the administrative burdens that often overwhelm schools. By working closely with schools, we provide up-to-date resources, expert guidance, and a technology ecosystem dedicated to innovation and excellence in education. Whether simplifying administrative workflows, creating dynamic classrooms, or advancing professional development, Tes is the trusted partner for schools worldwide.
Join the hundreds of schools already benefiting from the Tes ecosystem. Together, we empower educators to achieve more, ensuring every student thrives in a supportive, well-managed learning environment. With Tes, excellence in education is not just a goal - it’s a sustainable and rewarding reality.
For more information about Tes, our products, and our team, visit: www.tes.com.
Head of AI and Innovation employer: Tes
Contact Detail:
Tes Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of AI and Innovation
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the field. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal project that highlights your expertise in AI and innovation. This is your chance to demonstrate what you can do beyond your CV. Share it on LinkedIn or relevant platforms to catch the eye of potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their mission and how your skills align with their goals. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their innovative projects, especially in AI and SaaS solutions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, get clicking and let’s make some magic happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of AI and Innovation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of AI and Innovation role. Highlight your experience in AI and innovation, and how it aligns with our mission at Tes. We want to see how you can bridge technology and practical solutions!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of your past successes in driving innovation and delivering AI projects. We love seeing quantifiable results that demonstrate your impact in previous roles.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value creativity and outside-the-box thinking, so don’t be afraid to express your unique approach to problem-solving and innovation in the EdTech space.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our official website. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Tes
✨Know Your AI Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of current AI frameworks and LLM orchestration. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in past projects, as well as your thoughts on emerging technologies that could impact the EdTech space.
✨Showcase Your Innovation Mindset
Prepare examples of how you've successfully bridged the gap between technology and business objectives. Highlight any innovative solutions you've developed, especially those that challenged conventional thinking or led to significant improvements.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
Since you'll be liaising with both technical teams and executive stakeholders, practice translating complex ideas into clear, actionable narratives. Think about how you can convey high-level concepts in a way that resonates with different audiences.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience in managing technical teams and fostering a culture of rapid experimentation. Share how you've mentored team members and driven successful outcomes in a SaaS environment, as this will be crucial for the role.
