AI Automation Lead

Why This Role Exists As automation moves from experimentation to a core operating capability, execution increasingly breaks down due to: Poorly framed problemsOne-off, non-reusable solutionsDelivery dependent on individual senior bandwidthThis role exists to institutionalize technical rigor, speed, and outcome ownershipso automation becomes repeatable, scalable, and compounding. Primary responsibilities: 1. Process Re-engineering & Outcome Ownership Own the portfolio of automation initiatives across planning, finance, supply chain, operations, HR, and omniDeconstruct complex processes into rules, states, flows, and exception pathsDrive interventions that remove days from business cycles, not just automate tasks2. Technology Discovery & Hands-on Experimentation Continuously evaluate and experiment with:Automation and workflow platformsAI-assisted development, agents, and copilotsPrompt-driven workflows and emerging vibe coding patternsRun focused POCs to validate feasibility, performance, and impactForm strong technical conviction on the most effective approaches for scale3. Automation Product & Platform Leadership Act as product owner for the internal automation platformDefine reusable building blocks, patterns, and standardsEnsure automation design emphasizes modularity, testability, and reuseGuide evolution of the platform based on real process needs and outcomes4. Vendor & Ecosystem Stewardship Lead structured evaluation, piloting, and scaling of solution providersEnsure architectural fit, integration quality, and operational readinessMaintain a disciplined approach to selection, adoption, and long-term performance5. Decision, Pilot & Rollout Leadership Drive evidence-based decisions through structured decision packsDesign and oversee pilots with clear KPIs, timelines, and budgetsOwn go/no-go decisions and clean closureLead UAT, rollout, and adoption in partnership with business teams6. Team Leadership & Scale (APMs) Lead and mentor Assistant Product Managers (APMs)Set standards for:Problem abstractionModular automation designTest-case-driven deliveryReview and elevate outputs to ensure engineer- and vendor-ready qualityBuild a culture of speed, clarity, and technical curiosity7. Operating System & Visibility Build and maintain centralized repositories for:Problems, evaluations, pilots, and decisionsProvide leadership dashboards tracking:Days savedCycle-time compressionReuse and compounding impactEnsure traceability and institutional memory across initiatives What Success Looks Like Material reduction in end-to-end cycle times across priority processesHundreds of net business days eliminated annuallyFaster delivery of similar automations through reuse and standardizationAPMs operating independently within a clear execution frameworkAutomation outcomes no longer dependent on individual heroes .