Automation & AI Lead

Job Title:
Automation & AI Lead

Location: Home-based with travel to client site or Columbus offices as required

Salary: Negotiable (We aim to improve your current package)

Bonus: Yes

Holiday: 25 Days, Plus Bank Holidays (Increasing with Service)

Medical Insurance: Yes (terms apply) plus additional Health Cashback Plan

Hours: Full time (36.5 hpw)

Travel/Expenses: A car is required for travel to client sites — expensed at 45p per mile from home address (excluding travel to any Columbus Office within 35mi)

People always come first ’re a global digital consultancy with a local presence, helping businesses transform and thrive through technology, data, and human insight. Just as importantly, we’re a workplace where careers are nurtured, and development is supported through clear, structured career paths.

Our culture is built on trust, collaboration, curiosity, and a shared commitment to delivering customer success. Whether you re an experienced professional or just starting out, you’ll find the freedom to explore ideas, challenge convention, and shape your own path.

Let’s thrive, grow, and shape the future together.

Data & AI team

By joining our team, you will be part of a supportive network that values your voice, respects your ideas, and promotes a healthy work-life balance. Our average length of service in the UK is 8 years, as we are committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace culture that celebrates and supports career growth and advancement in becoming a Trusted Advisor.

Diversity and Inclusion are close to our hearts.

We provide equal opportunities for everyone, ensuring a level playing field for all candidates. We actively encourage applications from all backgrounds to apply for positions across our organisation, and in return, we will give you the tools and support to Thrive with us, Grow your Skillsets, and be empowered to Shape the Future.

The role of Automation & AI Lead

We re looking for an Automation & AI Lead to shape and grow our AI capability in the UK. You ll work across sales, delivery and strategy, partnering with customers to design and implement AI solutions and helping position Columbus as a trusted Automation & AI consultancy in the UK.

• Define and lead the Automation & AI strategy and go-to-market approach
• Build and develop a diverse and growing AI team
• Act as a trusted advisor to customers, leading AI transformation programmes
• Support and lead sales and pre-sales activity
• Collaborate with Microsoft and global Columbus teams to deliver innovative solutions.

We have an environment that gives you the flexibility to achieve an effective work-life balance for you and your family, whether you want to work from home or at one of our luxury Cubo offices around the UK.

We continue to offer our customers onsite consultancy time if requested, so flexibility around travel and overnight stays is expected, dependent on the project requirements. On-site time is planned ahead of time, within 2-week blocks, so you know well in advance where you will be working.

We encourage those in customer-facing roles to aim to come into the office at least once a month, and also team meetings and client meetings; however, you can work from Nottingham HQ or any Cubo office regularly if you prefer, whichever suits you.

• Consultancy experience, ideally within a partner environment
• Experience across both AI/Data solution sales and delivery
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft AI technologies (Azure AI, Copilot, automation and modern data platforms)
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders and leading transformation initiatives
• Full driver's licence and access to a vehicle
• Curious, looking to challenge the status quo and improve
• Collaborates well with both internal and external colleagues
• Committed to personal development and becoming a Trusted Advisor in your field.

You will be a part of both a local and global team, where you not only share knowledge but also a laugh or two. We value our employees and leave room for flexibility so that you can enjoy a work-life balance.

At Columbus you will get:

• 25 Days Annual Leave (Increasing with Service)
• C…