AI & Automation Lead

£70,000 - £80,000 + Excellent Benefits Hybrid (Remote-First with Occasional Office Collaboration) Manchester

I'm 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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