Head of Network Automation

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Job Description
Head of Network Automation

Location: London, Paddington or Brook Drive, Reading (Hybrid)

We are looking for a strategic and experienced leader for a 6-month fixed-term opportunity as Head of Network Automation, supporting our critical automation initiatives across fixed, mobile, and B2B domains. This is a key role in leading automation architecture, governance, and delivery during this period.

You will guide a team of technical leads, provide architectural oversight, and ensure delivery is aligned to strategic goals and best practices. This is a high-impact opportunity suited to someone who can lead with clarity, ensure continuity, and drive technical and strategic outcomes over a short but important time frame.

Key responsibilities:

Leadership & Governance

• Lead and manage a team of network automation tech leads and engineers
• Act as the central governance point for network automation activities, ensuring alignment with strategy, architecture, and delivery frameworks
• Prevent tool proliferation by promoting strategic reuse and enforcing platform alignment
• Drive consistent practices around testing, validation, and quality across all automation efforts

Architecture & Technical Oversight

• Maintain and evolve the network automation architecture, with an emphasis on microservices, API-first integration, and cloud-native patterns
• Oversee platforms such as Cisco NSO, workflow engines like IAP, and orchestration technologies
• Champion the use of digital twin concepts to support simulation, planning, and predictive automation
• Guide the application of AI/ML techniques to enhance automation and assurance capabilities

Delivery & Reporting

• Ensure visibility of team activities, priorities, and delivery milestones across squads
• Support the end-to-end prioritisation, implementation, and tracking of automation use cases
• Ensure automation solutions follow robust testing strategies, including CI/CD integration and test automation
• Communicate progress, risks, and outcomes to senior stakeholders effectively

Business Engagement

• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop compelling business cases for automation initiatives
• Build strong working relationships with product owners, platform teams, and external vendors
• Act as a key point of contact for all automation matters during the engagement period

Requirements

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Strategic and delivery-focused leader, comfortable in fast-paced environments
• Able to step into a leadership role with clarity and confidence, even in a transitional period
• Motivated to deliver impact in a short timeframe, while ensuring continuity and alignment

Skills & Experience

• Proven experience leading network automation initiatives in telecom or enterprise environments
• Strong understanding of Cisco NSO, workflow orchestration platforms (e.g., IAP), and network service orchestration
• Solid grasp of microservices architecture, cloud-native design, and API-first development
• Practical familiarity with digital twin concepts and their applications in telecom networks
• Working knowledge of how AI/ML can be applied in automation and assurance
• Experience building and presenting business cases and driving stakeholder alignment
• Confident in managing and coaching teams of senior technical leads and engineers
• Strong reporting, documentation, and communication skills
• Understanding of modern testing practices, including automation, CI/CD, and validation frameworks