Manager — Intelligent Process Automation

Cognizant; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Continuous learning opportunities

Job summary

Cognizant IPA is seeking an experienced delivery leader to manage automation and process transformation programs for clients across industries. You will drive day-to-day delivery, align milestones, and ensure quality and client expectations are met.

You will translate business requirements into structured designs, lead Agile ceremonies, build strong client relationships, and contribute to practice initiatives and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

• 7–11 years of experience in consulting, operations, or process improvement.
• Solid understanding of process automation tools and their business applications.
• Experience with process analysis, requirements gathering, and solution design.
• Strong analytical and communication skills for client-facing work.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day delivery of automation and transformation projects with milestones and quality.
• Coordinate PM activities to streamline legacy to new systems and data flow.
• Perform diagnostic assessments to identify automation opportunities and quantify impact.
• Translate requirements into structured solutions with technical teams.
• Build client relationships and deliver high-quality outputs.
• Lead end-to-end Agile lifecycle and Scrum ceremonies.
• Support proposals and statements of work for client opportunities.
• Coordinate delivery across teams and manage dependencies.
• Contribute to internal practice initiatives and knowledge sharing.
• Engage in continuous learning across automation tools and industry trends.

Skills

Consulting experience

Process improvement

Process automation

Stakeholder communication

Agile / Scrum

Data analysis

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree advantageous

Certifications (CSM, Lean Six Sigma)

Tools

UiPath

Blue Prism

Automation Anywhere

Power Automate

ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, Workday)

Job description

About Cognizant IPA

Cognizant's Intelligent Process Automation (IPA) practice helps organizations unlock transformative value by combining intelligent automation, advanced analytics, and deep process expertise. Working at the intersection of consulting, technology, and operations, our teams partner with clients to diagnose inefficiencies, design smarter ways of working, and implement solutions that deliver lasting financial and operational impact.

Our work spans business process transformation, cost optimisation, finance transformation, and data-driven decision-making — always with a focus on outcomes that matter. As part of Cognizant's broader consulting capability, IPA professionals collaborate with colleagues across AI, ERP, digital, and industry practices to bring integrated, end-to-end solutions to our clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day delivery of business and operations process automation and process transformation projects, ensuring milestones, quality standards, and client expectations are consistently met.
• Manage projects needing PM coordination to streamline legacy to new systems, improve data flow and streamline operational reporting.
• Conduct diagnostic assessments and process analyses to identify automation opportunities and quantify their business impact.
• Translate business requirements into structured solution designs, working closely with technical teams to ensure alignment and feasibility.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships at the working level, acting as a reliable, knowledgeable point of contact throughout each engagement.
• Prepare high-quality deliverables including process maps, business cases, project plans, status reports, and executive presentations.
• Drive the end-to-end Agile lifecycle for automation projects, leading core ceremonies (Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Retrospectives) and maintaining a high-velocity delivery cadence while ensuring high-quality output.
• Utilize Scrum frameworks to facilitate "fail-fast" diagnostics and iterative development, ensuring that process bottlenecks are identified early and that automation solutions deliver measurable value in incremental releases.
• Support the development of proposals and statements of work in response to client opportunities.
• Coordinate delivery activities across team members, managing dependencies and escalating risks proactively.
• Contribute to internal practice initiatives — including methodology development, talent development activities, and knowledge management.
• Engage in continuous learning across automation tooling, analytics platforms, and industry trends relevant to client sectors.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7–11 years of experience in consulting, business operations, or process improvement, with relevant exposure to automation or transformation programmes.
• Solid understanding of process automation tools and their application to business process challenges.
• Experience conducting process analysis, requirements gathering, and solution design in client or internal consulting contexts.
• Strong analytical skills — able to synthesise data, identify patterns, and develop structured, well-reasoned recommendations.
• Ability to manage project workstreams, track milestones, and coordinate across teams with multiple concurrent priorities.
• Clear and confident communicator — experienced in client-facing presentations, workshop facilitation, and executive reporting.
• Agile delivery experience — familiarity with scrum principles, sprint planning, and backlog management.

Preferred / Nice-to-Have

• Experience in retail industry transformation, retail operations, or consumer sector consulting is a strong differentiator.
• Familiarity with automation platforms such as UiPath, Blue Prism, Automation Anywhere, or Microsoft Power Automate.
• Scrum certification (CSM or equivalent) or formal agile training.
• Experience working in a consulting practice, managed services environment, or professional services firm.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and financial process workflows (e.g. Oracle, SAP, Workday).
• Experience with financial process transformation — including P2P, O2C, R2R, or FP&A.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required — BSc or BA in a relevant discipline.
• Master's degree in Management, Science, or a related field is advantageous.
• Relevant certifications in automation, agile, or process improvement (e.g. Lean Six Sigma, CSM) are a plus.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work on high-profile transformation programmes across a diverse, global client base.
• A collaborative, inclusive team culture where consulting excellence is both valued and actively developed.
• Clear career progression pathways within Cognizant's broader consulting and IPA practice.
• Access to Cognizant's global network of automation, AI, data, and industry specialists.
• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and flexible hybrid working arrangements.
• Continuous learning opportunities — including access to industry certifications, internal training programmes, and innovation communities.