Automation Pipeline Manager

Why LNER?

We go beyond. For everyone. Our vision is to be the most loved, progressive and responsible way to travel for generations to come. Now we're looking for the people who can deliver this, every day.

Since we took over on the East Coast mainline, we've been changing the face of rail travel. Our new Azuma train has brought faster journey times, more space and greater reliability. Our exciting plans to embrace new ideas, experiences, backgrounds and ambitions make this the ideal time to join.

Bringing passion. Being bold. Always caring. Owning it. They're the values that make us LNER.

Are you on board?

Please note this is a 12-month fixed term contract.

We are seeking an experienced Pipeline Manager to lead our exciting Automation Discovery workstream in building a robust pipeline of process transformation initiatives across LNER. This role will drive the identification, assessment, and prioritisation of opportunities, to enable the delivery of cutting-edge solutions through our newly formed Automation Centre of Excellence - leveraging AI, Robotics, and Low/No Code technologies.

Working closely with the Automation Programme Manager and other senior stakeholders, you will be key to shaping our automation pipeline strategy and engagement roadmap, and collaborating across business areas to identify high value automation opportunities that are aligned with our strategic priorities and evolving business needs. By fostering a culture of continuous improvement and data-driven decision-making, you will ensure that opportunities are prioritised based on impact, measurable benefits, and the needs of our people.

You will also manage 'Automation Hub'-our pipeline management and analytics tool-ensuring it's properly groomed, up to date, and actionable. Your work will ensure a steady flow of 'ready' automation use cases into the relevant 'Delivery' workstreams on an ongoing basis, maximising value for our customers and colleagues.

Within this role you will be involved in;

Stakeholder Engagement & Management:

Collaborate with internal stakeholders to review and document business processes.
Manage engagement and ideation workshops to identify automation opportunities.
Lead Discovery workshops to fully understand and document end to end processes.
Drive awareness and adoption of automation capabilities across teams within LNER.
Collaborate with external automation partners, including UiPath, Microsoft, etc., and third-party suppliers to improve our pipeline of automation opportunities.

Pipeline Assessment & Prioritisation:

Evaluate the suitability of automation opportunities using Automation Hub.
Promote ideas from the backlog of opportunities to the Pipeline, for detailed assessment and analysis.
Identify and unlock opportunities to rapidly scale automation adoption across the business, on an ongoing basis.
Classify opportunities based on solution type: low/no code, coded (robotics), and AI automation.
Work with the Automation Programme Manager to build a resilient and prioritised Pipeline based on value and impact.

Pipeline Lifecycle Management:

Lead the end-to-end pipeline lifecycle, from ideation and concept through to refinement, analysis, prioritisation, solution options, and handover to the appropriate delivery workstream.
Ensure that prioritised automation use cases are joined up and meet our business transformation goals - identifying common and related processes, spotting and exploring downstream and upstream opportunities, avoiding duplication and providing best value for money.

Data Analytics and Interpretation:

Leverage analytics and insights to inform prioritisation decisions. Track key performance indicators to assess pipeline performance and identify areas for improvement.
Analyse and interpret data from a variety of sources (e.g., Automation Hub, Insights, etc.) to inform prioritisation and optimum solution decisions.
Track and interpret key automation metrics (e.g. cost savings, cost avoidance, increased customer/ employee satisfaction, increased revenue, etc.), OKRs and KPIs.

Governance & Continuous Improvement:

Ensure automation initiatives align with business objectives and strategic goals.
Monitor the performance of engagement workshops and make improvements where needed.
Stay updated with emerging automation solutions, trends, and best practices to drive innovation in process and workflow automation, with particular focus on artificial intelligence.

What you'll need:

Essential:

Demonstratable experience in pipeline or product management, with a focus on automation, digital transformation, or business process management. Experience in agile environments/ way of working is highly preferred.
Strong Business Analysis background. Ability to assess, analyse and prioritise automation opportunities based on business impact and data interpretation.
Experience with automation platforms such as UiPath (Automation Hub, Insights, etc.), IBM watsonx, Microsoft Power Platform, etc.
Familiarity with no-code/low-code automation solutions, robotic process automation, and AI-powered automation.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong stakeholder engagement/management skills.
Proactive and self-driven. Able to work on own initiative, with little to no supervision.
Knowledge of automation governance, key performance indicators, and best practices.

Desirable:

Experience working with automation implementation partners and multiple third-party suppliers.
Understanding of multiple Agentic automation models.

What you'll get:

Free travel on LNER + 75% off other companies' tickets (for you & dependents)
Discounted international train tickets (after one year's service)
50% discount on LNER tickets for friends & family
Generous pension scheme
Annual cycle to work schemes
Discount, savings and cashback scheme from top retailers
Health & wellbeing schemes and discounts
Host of training opportunities to help further your career
Rewards & awards to recognise when you shine

What we believe:

To be the most loved, progressive and responsible train operating company, we must make a meaningful difference - always doing what's right for our customers, our people, the communities and destinations we serve, the future of the industry we lead and the environment we cherish.

We know that our people are the beating heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive, engaged culture that supports everyone at every stage of their journey - and ensures that when you're at LNER, you can always be you. No wonder most people never want to leave!

Diversity and inclusion
We are passionate about creating a diverse and inclusive workforce, representative of the communities we serve, and are creating ways to inspire diverse talent to join LNER.

Developing our people
We are focused on creating a learning culture, to support our people to be the best they can be at work by providing them with the tools and resources to navigate their development and career journey.

Health & wellbeing
To create a culture where our people can perform at their best, the physical health and mental wellbeing of our people is of paramount importance to us.

What next?

Whether you're passionate about smart automation, excited by the potential of AI, or looking to lead meaningful change at scale - this is your opportunity to make your mark.

Start your journey here.

Apply now!