Director of Education Innovation (Global)

International; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 99,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A global education organization is seeking a Director of Education Innovation to lead its innovative learning initiatives. This role involves strategic direction, managing teams, and collaborating with schools to develop cutting-edge educational models. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in education, strong networking skills, and significant experience in educational innovation. We offer a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a hybrid environment in Cardiff among other locations.

Benefits

Relocation support

30 Days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Life assurance 4x annual salary

Enhanced family friendly benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in building innovation strategies in education.
• Proven ability to create networks for R&D projects.
• A good understanding of the education professional services environment.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for innovation initiatives.
• Oversee four innovation sub-departments.
• Collaborate with research to evaluate impact.

Skills

Building innovation strategies in education

Networking between educational service organizations and schools

Effective communication skills

Education

PhD qualification in education or related discipline

Job description

Director of Education Innovation (Global)

International Baccalaureate provided pay range

This range is provided by International Baccalaureate. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Direct message the job poster from International Baccalaureate

Hiring Global Talent for the International Baccalaureate

Director of Education Innovation

Salary: Location dependent (see benefits section)

Job Type: Permanent, Full time

Location: Hybrid working opportunity from the following IB (International Baccalaureate®) Global Centres: The Hague (Netherlands), Singapore, Cardiff (UK) or Washington DC (US)

About The IB

If you're looking to work for a global organization with a meaningful mission, and with colleagues all over the world, then the International Baccalaureate® (IB) may have the ideal opportunity for you! The International Baccalaureate provides world-class educational services to over 6,000 schools across 160 countries. A career at IB is not just a job; it’s an opportunity to work with an innovative world leader in education services and contribute to our 50-year mission of creating a better and more peaceful world. Apply now to join our global organization where we empower our employees to thrive and make a difference.

About The Job

The Education Innovation Director leads the IB’s exploratory, future‑centric learning function which is focused on envisioning and prototyping next‑generation learning models through a balance of disruptive thinking and grounded school co‑design.

Reporting into the Chief Education Officer, the Education Innovation Director manages four integrated sub‑departments (Education Foresight & Readiness, Future Learning Experimental Lab, Partnerships & Stakeholder‑Centric Design) to collectively drive bold innovation in curriculum, assessment, pedagogy, and school models.

Through strategic leadership the postholder ensures that innovation is not just imagined but tested, iterated, and made viable through authentic collaboration with schools and learners. The innovation involves not only reviewing cutting‑edge research and global trends but also actively collaborating with schools, spending time in learning environments, and co‑designing prototypes. This way the team ensures that the innovation is grounded, and informed by authentic school experiences.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for Horizon 2 and Horizon 3 innovation, identifying priorities such as learner‑driven models, competency‑based ecosystems, AI in education, assessment, new school types and structures, etc.
• Oversee Four Innovation Sub‑Departments, Education Foresight & Readiness; Future Learning Experimental Lab; Partnerships and Stakeholder‑Centric Design.
• Develop long‑term relationships with schools willing to experiment, including IB and non‑IB models.
• Ensure innovation efforts are grounded in real‑world classroom dynamics, school infrastructure, and educator/student voices.
• Collaborate with Research to evaluate impact and inform evidence‑based iteration.
• Collaborate with Student Design, Development, Educator Design and School Design to transition successful innovations into IB offerings.
• Collaborate with Community Office to anticipate systemic conditions for adoption and recognition.
• Lead cross‑functional innovation sprints, provocations, and collaborative design residencies.
• Promote safe‑to‑fail experimentation, iterative learning, and futures thinking within and beyond the Education Office.
• Represent IB in the global innovation landscape.
• Position IB as a credible, visionary, and collaborative force in reimagining education.
• Engage with global innovation networks, philanthropic ecosystems, and system disruptors.

About You

• Experience in building innovation strategies in education.
• Proven ability to create networks between educational service organization, academic researchers and schools to engage on R&D projects.
• A good understanding of education professional services environment.
• Has an established (academic) network as educational leader.
• A relevant PhD qualification with a focus on education or related discipline.
• Experience in competing for grants in an applied academic context in which networks of schools, academics and educational service providers collaborate in proposals.
• Evidence of professional impact with international (academic) recognition for expertise and leadership in learning science, curriculum design or assessment.
• Thorough understanding of the formal and informal decision processes in the IB.
• Understanding of development and policy in K‑12 education.
• Functions as an educational (academic) authority.
• Can (in)formally influence and lead teams and create effective collaborative working relationships.
• Has a vision for the future of K12 education including the innovation trends in the field of international, holistic and/or digital education.
• Understands the dynamics between the different functions and stakeholders in education.
• Takes responsibility for own actions and holds others to account to results.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, adept at speaking in public with clarity, authority and confidence.
• Proven ability to translate and adapt complex concepts into understandable, relevant, appropriate and compelling messages to different stakeholder groups.

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of regional benefits including:

• Annual salary in the region of SGD 235,739 - 294,674 (negotiable dependent on experience)
• 20% employer's CPF contribution
• S$1,200 yearly flexible credits
• 20 Days annual leave, plus public holidays, with the choice to buy or sell up to 3 days additional annual leave using flexible credits
• Life assurance 2x annual salary
• Flexible working hours due to nature of work
• Organization sponsored learning opportunities for professional development
• Corporate passes to Singapore Zoo, River Wonders and Gardens By The Bay
• Annual Salary in the region of EUR 133,699 - 167,123 (negotiable dependent on experience)
• Relocation support and work permit sponsorship available
• 30 days annual leave
• Flexible benefits allowance equivalent to 1.5% of Annual Salary to spend on benefits or as addition to salary
• Flexible working (core hours are 10am‑3.30pm), 40 hours per week
• Life insurance 2x annual salary
• Travel and work from home allowance
• Disability insurance
• Annual Salary in the region of GBP 99,289 - 124,111 (negotiable dependent on experience)
• 10% employer pension contribution with a 3% employee contribution
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• 30 Days annual leave, plus public holidays
• Life assurance 4x annual salary
• Flexible working hours (core hours are 10am‑12pm and 2pm‑3pm), 37.5 hours per week
• Flexible benefits allowance equivalent to 1.5% of Annual Salary to spend on benefits or as addition to salary
• Annual Salary in the region of USD 173,886 - 217,358 (negotiable dependent on experience)
• 10% employer pension contribution with a 3% employee contribution
• Enhanced family friendly benefits
• 30 Days annual leave, plus public holidays
• Life assurance 4x annual salary
• Flexible benefits allowance equivalent to 1.5% of Annual Salary to spend on benefits or as addition to salary

Applications will be accepted until 14 December 2025 at 23.55 CET 2025

We are committed to building a working environment that values respect, diversity, and compassion. The International Baccalaureate is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified applicants.