The Automation Lead role focuses on driving operational efficiency and improving operational metrics through automation, to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and performance of software applications through the implementation of automation strategies and tools. This position requires a strong background in application support and proactive problem management, ensuring that automation solutions are effectively implemented and maintained

Drive operational efficiency through automation intiatives Improve operational metrics by implementing automation solutions. Provide application support and manage incidents proactively. Utilize automation tools to streamline processes and enhance performance. Automation Strategy Development: Design and implement an overall automation strategy aligned with organizational goals and application support needs and identify opportunities for automation across the application support life cycle, including testing, deployment, monitoring, and incident resolution. Process Optimization: Analyse existing application support processes to discover inefficiencies, redundancies, and areas for improvement and streamline workflows through automation to reduce manual intervention and improve response times. Tool Selection and Implementation: Research, evaluate, and select appropriate automation tools and technologies that fit the organization’s infrastructure and application stack. and lead the implementation and configuration of chosen automation tools ensuring seamless integration with existing systems. Scripting and Development: Write scripts and develop automated solutions to standardize repetitive tasks, such as deployments, testing, and monitoring. and collaborate with developers and other stakeholders to create APIs and interfaces that support automation efforts. Collaboration and Training: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including development, operations, and QA, to ensure alignment on automation initiatives and provide training and support to team members on new automation tools and practices. Continuous Improvement: Stay up to date with industry trends, tools, and technologies related to automation in application support. Foster a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging feedback and iterative enhancements of automated processes. Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Computer / Software Engineering or relevant courses 7+ years of experience in application support, IT operations, or software development roles in an ITIL-based environment Prior experience in a lead or senior role focused on automation is often highly desirable. Experience leading projects, managing timelines, and coordinating with cross-functional teams to deliver automation solutions. Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex application issues and implement automation solutions that address recurring problems. Ability to lead teams, mentor junior members, and promote a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Strong verbal and written communication skills to articulate automation concepts and strategies to technical and non-technical stakeholders. Capability to analyse processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. Willingness to learn new technologies and adapt to evolving industry trends in automation and application support. Certifications (optional but beneficial):  Relevant certifications in automation tools (e.g., Selenium, UiPath, Jenkins, Ansible).  And ITIL certification for understanding IT service management frameworks. Certifications in cloud technologies (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) may also be advantageous

Technical Skills:

Automation Tools and Technologies:  Proficiency in automation frameworks and tools. Experience with continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) tools and practices. Scripting and Programming: Strong skills in scripting languages such as Python, PowerShell, Bash, or JavaScript. Familiarity with programming languages like Java, C#, or Ruby can be advantageous. Application Support Knowledge: Understanding of application lifecycle management, including deployment, monitoring, and incident management. Experience with database technologies (SQL, NoSQL) is often beneficial for application troubleshooting. DevOps Practices: Familiarity with DevOps principles and practices to facilitate collaboration between development and operations teams. Knowledge of containerization and orchestration tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) can be relevant. Monitoring and Reporting Tools: Experience with application performance monitoring (APM) tools to track application health and metrics (e.g., Datadog, New Relic).