£70,000 - £80,000 + Excellent Benefits Hybrid (Remote-First with Occasional Office Collaboration) Manchester
Im supporting a leading organisation undergoing a major digital transformation, and they are now seeking an Automation & AI Practice Lead to shape and scale their Automation and AI capability. This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of an emerging function, define strategy, and directly influence how a business adopts intelligent automation and AI technologies. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a strategic position but still enjoys rolling their sleeves up and driving hands‑on delivery when needed.
Key duties as AI & Automation Lead:
* You’ll take charge of the entire Automation & AI roadmap - from developing standards and best practice, to guiding solution design, to leading a talented technical team.
* You’ll act as the key bridge between the business and technology, turning real challenges into practical RPA and AI use cases that deliver measurable value.
* Define and evolve the organisation’s Automation & AI strategy.
* Create frameworks, standards and reusable assets for effective Automation delivery.
* Provide hands‑on leadership across AI architecture, model design and deployment.
* Oversee project delivery, ensuring alignment to KPIs and strategic outcomes.
* Mentor and line‑manage AI/ML and Automation professionals.
* Work closely with stakeholders to uncover opportunities and translate needs into solutions.
* Ensure governance, security, ethics and compliance are embedded in every development.
As AI & Automation Lead, you will have:
* At least 2 years’ experience leading AI, Automation or data science teams.
* Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts, architecture and real‑world applications.
* Proven record of delivering AI solutions end‑to‑end.
* Solid knowledge of data governance, security and compliance.
* Ability to translate business problems into AI/Automation use cases.
* Great communication and stakeholder management skills.
* Experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS or GCP.
* A track record of building or scaling an AI/Automation strategy.
Desirable extras include:
* Hands‑on coding experience.
* Familiarity with MLOps or RPA tooling.
* Experience with advanced analytics, data engineering or architecture.
* Knowledge of industry compliance standards (ISO, Cyber Essentials).
Contract Type: Permanent
Specialism: Technology & Digital
Focus: Data Science & AI Research
Industry: IT
Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 per annum
Workplace Type: Hybrid
Experience Level: Senior Management
Location: Bolton
Job Reference: Q5YY8C-CCC3CA42
Date posted: 23 February 2026
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