Position Overview

As the Head of Automation, you will lead the development, implementation, and ongoing optimisation of automated processes across the organisation. Reporting to the senior leadership team ( Managing Director), you will ensure that technology-based solutions align seamlessly with business objectives, reduce operational friction, and support the company’s overall goals. This role requires a balance of technical expertise, visionary leadership, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & Roadmap

• Develop the Automation Vision: Establish a clear roadmap for leveraging automation and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery.
• Align With Business Goals: Work closely with senior leaders to ensure automation initiatives support the broader company strategy (including Lean Management principles).

1. Project Leadership & Execution

• Identify & Prioritise Projects: Collaborate with department heads to pinpoint areas with the highest ROI for automation—such as repetitive manual tasks, data entry, or customer service workflows.
• Manage Project Lifecycle: Oversee the full project lifecycle, from scoping and design to development, testing, deployment, and post-implementation review.
• Vendor & Tool Selection: Evaluate and select the most suitable automation tools (low-code/no-code solutions, AI-based systems, etc.) to meet organisational needs.

1. Team Management & Collaboration

• Lead the Automation Team: Provide direction, mentoring, and professional development for automation engineers, analysts, and any external contractors or service providers.
• Cross-Functional Partnerships: Collaborate with other departments (Operations, Sales, Finance, etc.) to ensure seamless integration of automated solutions into existing workflows.

1. Process Optimisation & Continuous Improvement

• Champion Lean Management: Drive a continuous improvement culture by regularly reviewing and optimising processes, ensuring minimal waste and maximum efficiency.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Track and measure the performance of automated processes, making data-driven improvements and ensuring ROI on automation initiatives.

1. Risk & Compliance

• Ensure Security & Compliance: Work with IT and compliance teams to ensure automated solutions meet data security and regulatory standards.
• Mitigate Operational Risks: Identify potential risks tied to automation (e.g., system downtime, process errors) and develop robust contingency plans.

1. Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Regular Communication: Provide clear, concise updates to senior leadership on project status, KPI performance, and upcoming initiatives.
• Training & Change Management: Partner with the People/HR team and department managers to ensure employees are properly trained on new systems and processes, and to foster acceptance of automation-driven changes.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field (Master’s degree or MBA is a plus).
• 5+ years of experience leading automation initiatives or digital transformation projects, preferably at a growing or medium-sised organisation.
• Technical Expertise
• Proven track record in designing and implementing automation solutions (e.g., robotic process automation, workflow management, machine learning, AI-based tools).
• Use of Zapier, HubSpot and other low code platforms.
• Familiar with developing bespoke platforms that evolve from initial use of systems developed in low/no code environments.
• Familiarity with Lean Management, continuous improvement methodologies, and process mapping.
• Leadership & Communication
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, mentor, and build highly effective teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills—capable of translating technical insights into actionable business outcomes.
• Strategic & Analytical Thinking
• Ability to align automation roadmaps with high-level business goals and identify areas for significant cost/time savings.
• Comfort with data analysis, metrics tracking, and ROI measurement.
• Problem-Solving
• Aptitude for diagnosing complex process and system issues, then designing creative, robust solutions.
• Resilient and resourceful under pressure, with a commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
• Key Areas of Success
• Plan the development of our bespoke solutions, e-portfolio systems, course management systems and others.
• Spearheading the development of sub-brands.
• Development of learning and development solutions for internal and external stakeholders. (As well as the ability to deliver training sessions confidently.)

What We Offer

• Competitive Salary & Bonus: Aligned with experience, plus potential performance-based incentives tied to successful automation initiatives.
• Career Growth: Opportunity to shape the digital transformation journey of a fast-growing organisation aiming for a major milestone.
• Innovative Culture: A workplace that embraces creative thinking, Lean principles, and continuous improvement.
• Impact & Autonomy: High level of influence on the company’s future state, driving technology adoption and process excellence.