HR AI & Automation Operations Lead

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a HR AI & Automation Operations Lead based in United Kingdom.

• Own automation initiatives from discovery and process redesign through prototyping, launch, optimization, and ongoing operational ownership.
• Use customer and employee feedback, operational data, and business insights to identify opportunities to improve HR experiences, efficiency, and outcomes.
• Assess risk, compliance, scalability, and regulatory requirements when designing HR automation and systems.
• Map operational processes, identify bottlenecks, and design end-to-end automated workflows that improve speed, accuracy, consistency, and scalability.
• Build and maintain integrations and data flows across HRIS, case management, payroll, and other systems using APIs, native connectors, webhooks, and workflow tools.
• Develop automation solutions using low-code/no-code platforms such as Zapier, Make, Retool, n8n, or similar technologies.
• Implement and govern AI-enabled tools and agents for use cases such as document processing, query triage, policy guidance, data auditing, and operational support.
• Design multi-agent workflows, including routing and maker/checker patterns, with appropriate retries, fallbacks, guardrails, human oversight, and change controls.
• Establish automation observability and governance practices, including logging, tracing, agent-run evaluation, access controls, and auditability for sensitive HR data.
• Develop and maintain operational data models that support reporting, compliance, auditing, and data integrity initiatives.
• Build and improve HR Operations dashboards and reports using SQL and BI tools such as Tableau, Sigma, or comparable platforms.
• Lead cross-functional change management, training, adoption, and continuous improvement for AI and automation solutions.
• Act as a technical lead for AI and automation within Operations, helping establish best practices and scalable ways of working.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to the ongoing development of automation and operational capabilities across the department.

• Strong ownership and autonomy, with the ability to identify priorities, set direction, and deliver outcomes independently in a fast-moving environment.
• Proven ability to take initiatives from early exploration and experimentation through to scalable, sustainable delivery.
• Progressive experience in automation, business process optimization, systems integration, or a related operational technology discipline.
• Ability to translate operational pain points into practical automated and intelligent solutions in collaboration with Product, Engineering, Design, or IT teams.
• Experience in HR Operations, Shared Services, or comparable operational environments is highly relevant, particularly where processes involve hiring, employment, payroll, or other compliance-sensitive activities.
• Strong understanding of sensitive-data lifecycle risks and data privacy obligations, with the ability to incorporate these considerations into system, integration, and automation design.
• Extensive hands-on experience with low-code/no-code workflow tools such as Zapier, Make, Retool, n8n, or similar platforms.
• Comfortable using light scripting, such as Python, TypeScript, or JavaScript, to build custom agents, API integrations, webhooks, message queues, or supporting services.
• Practical understanding of AI-enabled automation and the ability to assess where AI can add value without introducing unnecessary complexity or risk.
• Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to manage complex initiatives from scope through implementation.
• Excellent communication, influencing, conflict-management, and negotiation skills, with confidence leading complex conversations independently and constructively.
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Basic knowledge of mobility and immigration processes is a plus.
• Experience working in a remote or globally distributed environment is an advantage.

• Fully remote work with the flexibility to work from anywhere.
• Flexible paid time off.
• Flexible working hours within an asynchronous working environment.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Mental health support services.
• Stock options.
• Learning and professional development budget.
• Home office budget and IT equipment.
• Budget for local in-person social events or coworking spaces.
• Globally distributed and remote-first working environment.
• Annual salary range of $46,150–$103,800 USD, with actual compensation determined by factors including location, experience, relevant skills, training, business needs, and market conditions.
• Opportunity to work on large-scale HR automation and AI initiatives involving complex workflows, sensitive data, and international operations.