Jobs in London - Technical Director (Hybrid - London) • UK

Company: Zinc Network

UK

About Zinc NetworkFor over fifteen years, Zinc Network has been helping governments and businesses navigate the world's most complex challenges using communications, technology, and behavioural science. We work on some of the toughest briefs: protecting children online, strengthening democratic resilience, and championing purpose-driven technologies and organisations.Working in partnership with a global network of media outlets, communities, and influencers, we help clients understand complex issues, design and deliver behavioural interventions, create compelling campaigns, activate trusted grassroots networks, and evaluate impact.We're now building Kora — our AI-powered platform that systematises this expertise into scalable technology, enabling clients to work faster, more impactfully, and more cost-effectively.We're looking for people who want to operate at the intersection of geopolitics, security, and technological disruption, and who are committed to building a safer, more secure world.Role OverviewZinc is seeking a Technical Director to lead our strategic, research, creative, and digital capabilities.Reporting to the Managing Director, the Technical Director will oversee the Head of Research and MREL, Creative Director, Head of Digital, and a team of strategists, working closely with the Kora team to integrate AI and technology into our work. They'll lead the technical vision for business development, ensure technical excellence across all our project outputs, drive innovation in how we work, reinforce Zinc as a thought leader around the emerging issues of the day, and ensure Zinc remains at the forefront of behaviour change and strategic communications practice.This role demands someone who combines deep expertise in intervention design, behaviour change, and strategic communications with the ability to lead multidisciplinary creative and insight teams. We are looking for a systems thinker who can translate complex problems into compelling solutions, and build rigorous and scalable methodologies. We want someone motivated by delivering real impact for our clients, with an agile, campaigns mindset, who wants to win.What You'll Be DoingTechnical Leadership and InnovationLead the Head of Research and MREL, Creative Director, Head of Digital, and team of strategists — ensuring these functions operate as a high-performing, integrated unitDrive technical excellence and innovation across all of our project delivery including strategy, research, evaluation, digital, and creative workWork closely with the Kora Director to advance our AI and technology capabilities, ensuring the teams use Kora to enhance how we deliver insight, design interventions, and measure impactChampion quality standards across all client deliverablesCodify and continuously improve Zinc's methodologies across research and analysis, strategic planning, creative, digital, and campaigningTechnical Leadership for New BusinessLead and write technical sections of major bids and proposals, ensuring they are strategically sound, methodologically rigorous, and creatively ambitiousEnsure programming and strategy teams are developing new opportunities with existing clients by providing a steady drumbeat of ideas for innovations and upliftsWork with our Head of BD to map future opportunities, based on emerging policy issues and prioritiesDesign innovative methodologies that differentiate Zinc's offer and demonstrate our expertise to government clientsWork with the Head of BD to identify opportunities where Zinc's technical capabilities create competitive advantageIdentify and attend fora where Zinc can build its reputation and convert that into new clients and projectsStrategy, Research, and MeasurementEnsure tight integration between research, strategy, and MREL functions — so insights inform design, evaluation demonstrates impact, and learning is used to optimise our approachOversee development of strategic frameworks and behavioural change approaches that advance Zinc's practiceDrive quality assurance for research design, data analysis, and evaluation methodologiesEnsure all of our analytical products are rigorous, concise, compelling, and actionableBuild Zinc's reputation for thought leadership in behaviour change, strategic communications, and influence operationsDigital and Creative ExcellenceGuide digital innovation, ensuring Zinc adopts emerging technologies and platforms that advance client outcomesEnsure digital marketing and campaign success, ensuring work reaches target audiences and drives measurable behavioural changeOversee creative strategy and production, ensuring campaigns are compelling, culturally resonant, and strategically alignedPromote experimentation and learning — creating space for teams to pilot new approaches and toolsChampion a campaigns mindset across our projects, ensuring everything we do is focused on delivering meaningful, measurable wins for our clientsPeople and CultureBuild and mentor heads of department and strategists, fostering a culture of intellectual curiosity, rigour, and collaborationContribute to executive-level discussions and decision-makingSupport personal development across technical functions, and build our bench of freelance talentRequirementsWhat We're Looking ForEssential:10+ years' experience in leadership across behaviour change, strategic communications, behavioural science, or related fieldsFamiliarity with digital product design and change managementDemonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams spanning strategy, research, digital, and creative functionsDeep expertise in behaviour change frameworks (e.g., COM-B, EAST, B=MAP) and their application to complex interventionsOutstanding written and oral communication skills, with ability to translate complex issues into actionable strategiesTrack record of leading and writing technical sections of major bids for government, defence, or international development clientsExperience working with or strong interest in technology platforms, digital tools, and AI applicationsCollaborative, intellectually curious mindset with commitment to excellence and innovationDesirable:Experience in defence, security, and/or countering disinformationUnderstanding of creative production and content strategyExperience with product development or platform-based servicesExperience with tech-first change managementActive SC or DV security clearance (or eligibility to obtain)Location and Working ArrangementsLondon-based, with regular office attendance expected (minimum 3 days per week). Some UK and occasional international travel required.What We OfferCompetitive salary and benefits packageOpportunity to lead a growing, mission-driven organisation at a pivotal momentCollaborative, intellectually curious team committed to positive impactInvolvement in cutting-edge work combining behavioural science, strategic communications, and AI innovationTo ApplyPlease send your CV and a cover letter explaining why this role interests you and how your experience aligns with what we're looking for.