Issue 1: why we started Second Wave, a place for non-technical AI jobs, at non-technical companies

Hello, and thanks for signing up. This is the very first Wednesday Wave - where we dig into how to get into AI if you're non-technical, and the types of roles available.

AI isn't going anywhere. So what do you do if you want to be part of it?

Do you have to retrain as an engineer? Go and work for an AI company? I don't think so. AI is changing how ordinary businesses run, and somebody has to lead that change. Somebody has to work out what it means for the finance team, and then help them use it. That's not a technical job. In fact it probably goes better if you don't have a technical background. If you know how a team really works, or you've spent years running projects and getting people through change, you've got a head start.

The trouble is these jobs don't have a home. There isn't even a shared language for them. One might be called Customer Operations Specialist, another Process Improvement and Automation Lead - and you'd only spot the 'AI' bit by reading the whole ad. So they're hard to find.

And on the other side, we've been talking to companies who want to hire exactly these people and don't know where to look.

Second Wave is our go at bringing the two together.

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Our top pick of jobs this week

Here are our top picks from the 106 jobs on the site right now. Click through to see the full listing, and you'll find the apply button there.

1. AI & Automation Lead

   WWF-UK · Woking (hybrid) · Closes 8 Nov 2026

   The charity's first AI and automation lead, choosing the pilots and training colleagues to use AI safely.

2. AI - Workshop Lead

   Multiverse · London or remote (UK)

   Runs workshops and drop-in sessions that teach apprentices to use AI in their day-to-day work, at a training company.

3. Bookkeeping & AI Manager

   London accountancy firm (via BV Recruitment) · London · Closes 13 Nov 2026

   A new role that's half bookkeeping and VAT work for clients and half rolling out AI and Xero across the firm.

4. Senior HR Advisor (maternity cover)

   HealthHero · London · Closes 24 Nov 2026

   A generalist HR job that also looks after the AI-powered HR tools and automates people processes.

5. People Business Partner – AI Transformation - 2 Year FTC

   Frasers Group · Shirebrook, Derbyshire

   A two-year HR role working on organisation design, workforce planning and learning as the group moves to an AI-enabled way of working.

6. Editorial AI Transformation Lead

   The Economist Group · London

   Helps The Economist's editorial teams use AI in their work while keeping to the paper's standards.

7. AI Transformation Manager

   Trinity Estates · Hemel Hempstead (hybrid) · Closes 27 Nov 2026

   A residential property management firm looking for someone to replace paper and spreadsheet work with AI and automation.

8. Process Improvement and Automation Lead

   PHS Group · Caerphilly · Closes 26 Nov 2026

   Runs a pipeline of process improvements across the group and decides where automation and generative AI can help.

9. Head of Digitisation

   Utilities infrastructure business (via Cavendish Maine) · Northampton (hybrid) · Closes 28 Nov 2026

   Runs IT, digitisation and communications for a growing utilities business, with a plan to get rid of paper processes.

10. AI & Microsoft Training Specialist

    We Are Zenith · Remote, UK (Tyne and Wear office once a month) · Closes 1 Dec 2026

    Teaches AI and automation apprenticeships on Microsoft 365 and Copilot, working from home with an office day once a month.

11. Head of HR Tech and AI Transformation

    Freshfields · London or Manchester

    Leads HR's technology and AI changes at the law firm, deciding where AI and automation can make work better for staff.

12. Customer Operations Specialist

    Lyst · London

    A customer care role that runs the AI workflows answering routine queries and automates back-office tasks.

13. AI & Automation Analyst Europe W&D

    Haleon · London, Warsaw, Athens, Bucharest or Poznan · Closes 24 Nov 2026

    Brings AI and automation to Haleon's European warehousing and distribution team, from data flows to coaching teams on new tools.

14. AI Analyst

    HSPG · London or Manchester (hybrid, 4 days office)

    Helps a social-impact housing developer make its data easy to query and build AI skills in every team.

See all 106 jobs on the site

Over to you

This is the first one, so I'd love to hear from you. What are you seeing out there? If you're hiring for one of these roles, or trying to move into one, what's been the hard part? Hit reply and tell me.

Cheers,
Laura

Second Wave AI Jobs

Next issue: Wednesday 11 Nov 2026 All issues

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