Education Solutions Consultant - Professional Services

About IRIS

IRIS Software Group is one of the UK's largest privately held software companies, trusted by 100,000+ businesses, schools and accountancy firms to keep their operations running. Our software pays 1 in 6 UK employees, supports over 12,000 schools, and is relied on by 91 of the top 100 UK accountancy firms.

We're a Great Place to Work® certified employer, recognised for our commitment to well-being, inclusion and development - and we're growing fast.

Enjoy asking the questions that turn a promising idea into a practical plan? Bring that curiosity to a new, standalone role within IRIS Education's Professional Services team.

You'll help customers and colleagues agree what success looks like before implementation begins, with the opportunity to shape how this new role works.

🧾 Why This Role Matters

A successful software project starts with shared expectations. You'll connect what customers need with what our delivery teams can achieve, helping prevent misunderstandings, avoidable rework and unexpected changes to scope. Professional Services is the team that plans and delivers customer software implementations. You'll represent that team during the sales process, turning customer requirements into a clear, achievable plan.

Your key output will be a Statement of Work (SOW): the agreed document setting out what we'll deliver, the responsibilities on each side and what isn't included. Your questions and attention to detail will give customers and project teams a confident starting point.

👥 About the Team You'll Join

You'll work across IRIS Education, rather than within a single product team, partnering with Sales, Pre-Sales colleagues who provide solution expertise during the sales process, and the specialists who design and implement customer solutions. This is a standalone role without line-management responsibilities, not a role you have to build alone: you'll have support from Professional Services leadership as you establish a consistent approach to scoping.

📊 What You'll Be Doing

• Get involved when customers buy new software or expand their use of IRIS Education products.

• Ask the questions that matter: challenge unclear requirements and identify gaps, risks and dependencies with Sales and Pre-Sales.

• Explore customers' objectives, operations, data and constraints through focused discovery conversations.

• Create clear Statements of Work covering deliverables, milestones, assumptions, responsibilities and exclusions.

• Balance ambition with practicality, clarifying effort, sequencing and risk before scope is finalised.

• Give project teams a well-structured handover, so they can start delivery without repeating discovery.

• Develop knowledge across our education software portfolio and help build reusable scoping templates and guidance.

🔎 What We’re Looking For

You enjoy getting beneath the surface of a requirement and making complex information clear. You're comfortable challenging assumptions constructively, building customer trust and influencing colleagues who don't report to you. You'll bring:

• Experience gathering and challenging business requirements, then translating them into clear scope and deliverables.

• Experience writing Statements of Work, proposals, scoping documents or comparable contractual documentation.

• Clear, precise writing and a careful eye for assumptions, dependencies and exclusions.

• Commercial awareness of how scope, effort and risk affect cost, timescales and deliverability.

• Experience within, or alongside, software sales and implementation or consulting delivery teams.

• Confidence working with customers and senior stakeholders, including when expectations need to be reset.

You don't need existing IRIS product knowledge, but you should be ready to learn a broad software portfolio. Education technology experience is useful, not essential, including school management or student information systems, finance, human resources or payroll software. Experience in pre-sales, bids, software implementation or relevant business analysis and project delivery qualifications would also be welcome.

🚀 Why Join Us?

Make your mark on a new capability. You'll have autonomy to shape the approach, broad exposure across the business and the chance to see your work improve the journey from sale to implementation. Alongside leadership support, the Solutions Consultant career pathway offers progression through Consultant, Senior, Lead and Principal levels. If you want to combine customer conversations, commercial judgement and precise documentation with the opportunity to improve how things work, this role brings those strengths together.

📝 What Can You Expect From Our Application Process?

We like to keep things simple, transparent and fair:

1️⃣ Apply Online

Upload your CV and tell us why this opportunity interests you and why you feel you would be a good fit.

2️⃣ Initial Conversation, plus Online Assessments

You will complete two online assessments, unless completed within the last 12 months, followed by an informal conversation with one of our Talent Acquisition Partners. The CCAT is a 15-minute timed assessment; we recommend a quiet space with pen and paper. The EPP is untimed and can be completed at your own pace.

3️⃣ First-Stage Interview

A conversation with the hiring team focused on your relevant experience, approach to customer discovery, stakeholder challenge and written scoping.

4️⃣ Final-Stage Interview

A further discussion with members of the Professional Services leadership team. We will explain any role-related exercise in advance if one forms part of the process.

Ready to turn complex customer needs into clear, achievable plans? Apply today and help shape this new role within IRIS Education.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Impact: Your work will influence millions globally.

• Growth: Continuous learning and career development opportunities.

• Belonging: A culture that celebrates diversity and empowers every individual.

Remote Working

Please be advised, permanent remote working, is only available to those living more than 25 miles (in a direct line) from their nearest IRIS office.

Ready to Apply?

Click Apply - we’re excited to learn about your unique perspective and experience. If you need adjustments during the process, let us know. We’re committed to making this opportunity accessible to everyone.

What to expect from our hiring process

Our process is designed to be fair, transparent and straightforward. Stages vary depending on the role — more senior positions may involve additional steps, and some areas include role-specific assessments such as a technical test or case study — but typically you can expect:

1. Application review — we assess your experience and potential

2. Initial call — a short conversation to learn about you and share more about the role

3. Skills assessment — tailored to the position, e.g. case study, coding challenge or portfolio review

4. Final interview — meet the team and explore how you'll make an IMPACT at IRIS

We'll always walk you through the specific stages at the start of the process so you can prepare with confidence.

If you need any adjustments or accommodations during the process, let us know, we’re committed to making this experience accessible for everyone.