AI and Innovation Lead

Are you a problem-solver with natural curiosity, and an innate drive to develop your own expertise? Are you a confident thinker and communicator who can develop and inspire new ways of working? The Innovation team at Blenheim Palace, led by David Green, is looking to hire an AI & Innovation Lead.

Blenheim may be a 300-year-old UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the organisation is constantly looking to the future. We have just finished working towards 10 goals in 10 years, and are now looking forward once again to tackling the issues of tomorrow.

The AI & Innovation Lead will use analytical and problem-solving skills to make sense of complex and messy information, to turn it into clear, useful recommendations. They will also create and deliver engaging training, and explain new tools and ideas to people without a technical background.

However, the ideal candidate may not have a technical background or particular set of qualifications for this role. Enthusiasm, willingness to learn and the drive to develop your own skills are the requirements! 

We believe that these attributes do not show up reliably on a CV or cover letter, so we are not asking for them at this stage. Instead, we are asking you one question!

Take some time to get to know us: our history, our work and our ambitions. Then, in one paragraph, suggest one innovation goal you think Blenheim should set for its next chapter, and tell us why it matters. This will need to be added to your application, once you hit the apply button. 

There is no right answer, and no technical knowledge is required. We are interested in how you think, what you notice, and the ideas you would bring. 

How to send it 

• One paragraph, roughly 250–350 words. Please write in your own words.
• No CV, no cover letter, and no qualifications needed, just your paragraph.
• You do not need special vocabulary or a particular background. We care about your idea and your thinking, not how polished the writing is.
• Use whatever tools help you think, but we want your genuine idea in your own voice.
• If writing a paragraph is not the best way for you to share your idea, you are welcome to send it as a short audio or video clip instead. Just let us know by emailing innovation@blenheimpalace.com or uploading a link to your clip during your application. 

How we assess your application 

We assess every paragraph against the same four criteria, and we grade each one as did not meet, met, or particularly met. Every application is read by a person in our team, not a machine: this is an AI and innovation role, but we do not believe that means a computer should decide who gets a chance. We look at what you have written, not who you are or where you have come from. The full criteria are below, and we are happy to share them with any applicant on request. 

Stage 2: A visit to Blenheim 

We invite shortlisted applicants to spend time with us on the estate. You will meet members of the team, see some of the projects you might work on, and get a real feel for the place and the role. We want this to feel welcoming rather than daunting. It is as much about you deciding whether Blenheim is right for you as it is about us getting to know you. 

• We reimburse reasonable travel costs, so that expense is never a barrier to taking part.
• We offer flexible timing wherever wecan, andwill work around caring or other commitments.
• If travelling to the estate is not possible for you, we will arrange an alternative, such as a video call.

Stage 3: Final interview 

The final stage is a structured but friendly conversation with the panel about your experience, your ideas, and how you would approach the role, including the innovation goal you proposed. Every candidate is asked the same core questions and assessed against the same criteria, with a short note recorded for each answer so that decisions are fair and can be reviewed. 

• We are happy to share the interview topics in advance with anyone who would find that helpful.
• Reasonable adjustments are available at this stage too. Just let us know what would help.
  
  

Inclusion and reasonable adjustments 

Blenheim is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to a recruitment process that is open to everyone and free from bias, and to making reasonable adjustments so that no one is disadvantaged. 

• Applicants may submit their paragraph in an alternative format, for example a short audio or video clip, and this is assessed against the same criteria. These can be sent to innovation@blenheimpalace.com or you can supply a link within your application. 
• We will make reasonable adjustments at any stage on request, such as extra time or an alternative way to take part. A named contact for adjustments is given in the application details.
• No formal qualifications are required, and applicants are never asked to disclose them as part of this stage.

What’s in it for you:

• Staff Discounts
  1. 20% on Blenheim retail
  2. 50% on Blenheim Café food outlets
  3. 30% at The Orangery 
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes for Bicycles and Electric Vehicles
• Access to our Benefits Platform with a range of additional benefits including:
  1. Instant discounts
  2. Discount on Days Out
  3. Day Passes for Family and Friends
  4. Monthly Adventure Play Visit 
  5. Shopping Cards
  6. Weekly Shop Discounts
  7. Gym Scheme and Much More!
• Competitive Pension 
• Complimentary Event Tickets
• Annual Pass for yourself and a family member 
• Staff Events
• Holiday Purchase Scheme 
• Paid Volunteer Day
• Free Fruit Wednesday
• Free breakfast on Friday
• Monthly Sharing a Sense of Belonging Events
• Free Eye Test and a contribution for Glasses
• Long Service Award
• Onsite Parking
• Free Blenheim Christmas Tree

Benefits vary from contract type; these will be confirmed to you in our welcome letter.