Automation Manager at Strivo Labs

Job Summary

• We are seeking an experienced Automation Manager to lead the design, implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of automation systems and AI-powered workflows across the organisation.
• The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing and executing the automation roadmap, overseeing AI workflow deployment, managing technical teams and third-party partners, and ensuring that all automation systems are secure, reliable, well-documented, and aligned with business objectives.
• The successful candidate must combine strong technical expertise in workflow automation and AI integrations with excellent leadership, project management, and stakeholder management skills.

Key Responsibilities
Automation Programme Management:

• Lead all automation initiatives across the organisation, monitoring projects at the development, testing, and production stages.
• Develop, maintain, and periodically review the automation roadmap in alignment with business objectives.
• Ensure every automation project has a clearly defined scope, timeline, responsible owner, and measurable success criteria.
• Manage the entire automation lifecycle, from initial requests and requirements gathering to implementation, testing, deployment, and ongoing optimisation.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, reduce manual processes, and increase productivity through automation.

AI Workflow Development and Governance:

• Oversee the design, development, testing, and deployment of AI-powered workflows across customer onboarding, collections, customer engagement, and business operations.
• Ensure all production workflows have documented standard operating procedures (SOPs), clear escalation procedures, and tested rollback plans.
• Maintain a centralised, version-controlled knowledge base for all automation workflows and technical documentation.
• Coordinate business requirements, technical implementation, and system architecture across internal teams and external implementation partners.
• Establish standards for workflow development, testing, approval, deployment, and maintenance.
• Monitor AI workflow performance and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Lead and manage automation and AI systems personnel, as well as workflow operations and automation coordination teams.
• Set clear performance objectives, assign responsibilities, provide regular feedback, and conduct performance reviews.
• Promote a culture of technical excellence, accountability, collaboration, and operational discipline.
• Identify skill gaps and implement appropriate training, coaching, and professional development initiatives.
• Coordinate team activities to ensure projects are delivered within agreed timelines and quality standards.

Executive Reporting and Stakeholder Management:

• Prepare and present monthly automation reports to executive management, covering project progress, deployment performance, incidents, risks, and future priorities.
• Provide regular updates on live automation systems, ongoing projects, and initiatives requiring management attention.
• Translate complex technical information into clear, actionable business insights for senior management.
• Identify and communicate strategic risks, project dependencies, resource requirements, and investment needs.
• Work closely with business leaders to identify automation opportunities and ensure solutions support organisational goals.

Vendor, Tools, and Infrastructure Management:

• Manage the organisation’s automation technology stack, including workflow automation platforms, messaging APIs, CRM integrations, and AI/LLM platforms.
• Oversee relationships with technology vendors, integration partners, and infrastructure providers.
• Monitor software licensing, system access, credentials, and other technology resources.
• Ensure appropriate access controls and credential security practices are maintained and regularly audited.
• Ensure all third-party integrations are properly documented, monitored, and reviewed periodically.
• Evaluate emerging automation tools and technologies that could improve operational efficiency and business performance.

Production Governance and Operational Resilience:

• Ensure all production automation systems meet established reliability, security, and compliance standards.
• Enforce strict documentation and approval requirements before any workflow is deployed into production.
• Lead incident response for automation failures and ensure critical systems are restored within agreed recovery timelines.
• Target a 30-minute restoration time for critical automation systems.
• Conduct root cause analyses following incidents and implement preventive measures to reduce recurrence.
• Perform regular workflow audits to identify errors, inefficiencies, security gaps, and opportunities for optimisation.
• Establish monitoring, backup, recovery, and rollback procedures to support business continuity.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Engineering, or a related discipline.4–8 years of relevant experience in automation management, business process automation, operations technology, AI workflow orchestration, or a related field.
• Demonstrable hands-on experience with workflow automation platforms such as n8n, Make, Zapier, or equivalent tools.Experience integrating AI and Large Language Model (LLM) APIs into business workflows.
• Strong knowledge of prompt engineering, API integrations, webhooks, and workflow orchestration.
• Experience working with WhatsApp Business API, CRM automation, and business process integrations.
• Proven experience managing technical teams, cross-functional projects, or external implementation partners.
• Experience developing technical documentation, SOPs, workflow governance frameworks, and incident management procedures.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, project management, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to translate business requirements into practical, scalable automation solutions.
• Experience with executive reporting, performance monitoring, and operational dashboards.
• Background in fintech, lending, financial services, or another regulated industry will be an added advantage.

Key Competencies:

• Automation Strategy and Implementation
• AI Workflow Orchestration
• API and System Integration
• Technical Project Management
• Team Leadership and Performance Management
• Risk Management and Operational Governance
• Incident Response and Problem-Solving
• Vendor and Stakeholder Management
• Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency
• Technical Documentation and Reporting.