Automation Lead

Automation Lead

Location: Saudi Arabia
Contract: 12-Month Contract (Extendable)

We are seeking an experienced Automation Lead to drive key transformation and automation initiatives across the Corporate Banking and Cash Management business. This is a business-led transformation role focused on delivering operational efficiency, process optimisation and automation outcomes across a portfolio of strategic initiatives.

The successful candidate will act as the primary interface between Business and Technology teams, owning the end-to-end automation workstream, ensuring delivery against programme objectives, and leading process re-engineering efforts. This is not a hands-on technical role and is not a traditional IT Project Manager position. Instead, it requires a senior transformation professional who understands banking operations, can engage senior stakeholders, and can successfully drive complex digital transformation programmes from inception through implementation.

• Lead and manage a portfolio of automation and digital transformation initiatives within the COO Transformation programme.
• Develop and maintain project plans, governance structures, milestones and delivery roadmaps.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope and aligned with business objectives.
• Track programme progress and provide regular updates to senior stakeholders and programme leadership.
• Manage risks, dependencies, issues and escalation processes across multiple work streams.

• Identify opportunities for automation, process simplification and operational efficiency across banking operations.
• Lead process redesign and optimisation initiatives to improve productivity and customer outcomes.
• Challenge existing operating models and recommend scalable transformation solutions.
• Drive adoption of automation initiatives across business units.

• Act as the key liaison between business stakeholders and technology delivery teams.
• Engage with senior leaders to define priorities, business requirements and strategic objectives.
• Facilitate alignment across operations, technology, product and transformation teams.
• Ensure clear communication of programme status, achievements and challenges.

• Manage the overall automation book of work and coordinate delivery activities with IT and other supporting functions.
• Monitor project performance using agreed KPIs and success metrics.
• Support the establishment of governance frameworks and reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure transformation initiatives deliver measurable business benefits and operational improvements.

• Proven experience leading large-scale digital transformation and automation programmes within the banking sector.
• Strong project and programme management experience with responsibility for complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience driving business transformation and operational improvement projects.
• Background within Corporate Banking, Transaction Banking, Cash Management, Treasury Services or Banking Operations
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• Experience managing technology-enabled change programmes while maintaining a strong business focus.
• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced transformation environments.
• Track record of delivering strategic initiatives from planning through execution.

• Experience working within banking environments.
• Familiarity with automation technologies and transformation methodologies including workflow automation, process digitisation and operational excellence initiatives.
• Exposure to COO, Operations Transformation, Target Operating Model or Enterprise Transformation programmes.
• Experience working with regional and global banking stakeholders.

• Strong programme and project management capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Ability to navigate between business and technology teams.
• Strategic thinking with strong execution capability.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• High level of organisational and governance discipline.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive accountability.

The ideal candidate will be a senior transformation professional who can "hit the ground running" and quickly take ownership of a complex automation portfolio. They will possess a blend of banking domain expertise, digital transformation experience and strong delivery leadership, with the credibility to engage senior stakeholders while managing execution across multiple work streams.

This individual will be highly business-focused, commercially aware, and comfortable leading change initiatives without becoming involved in technical implementation details.