Process Improvement and Automation Lead

PHS Group Ltd.; Dinas Powys; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car or car allowance

Virtual GP for you and your household

Buy and sell holiday scheme

Discounts with major retailers (phsPer

Job summary

phs Group is seeking a hands-on Process Improvement and Automation Lead to work across the business, identifying practical improvements that simplify how we work and boost productivity. You will lead cross-functional activity from initial diagnosis through implementation and measurable benefit realisation.

This is a high-impact role with no direct reports. You will influence senior stakeholders and operational teams, turning priorities into practical, measurable results while applying automation

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering continuous improvement and AI-enabled change.
• Track record of taking improvement activity from diagnosis to implementation with measurable benefits.
• Strong process mapping, analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.
• Commercial awareness linking improvements to cost, productivity, service, quality and risk.
• Practical understanding of automation, generative AI and agentic AI for safe business change.
• Confidence using data to identify opportunities and test assumptions.
• Clear communication and facilitation to translate complex issues into actions.
• Results-driven, pragmatic and collaborative with momentum across priorities.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a prioritized pipeline of improvement opportunities aligned to the business plan and executive priorities.
• Review end-to-end processes to identify inefficiency, duplication, bottlenecks, and control weaknesses, then recommend improvements.
• Lead cross-functional improvement projects from discovery through testing, implementation, adoption and benefit realisation.
• Develop clear business cases, delivery plans and success measures using operational, financial, customer and colleague data.
• Identify where automation and AI can improve outcomes while meeting governance, privacy and responsible AI requirements.
• Facilitate workshops, coach colleagues and support teams to embed new tools and sustainable ways of working.

Skills

Continuous improvement

Stakeholder influence

Data-driven decision making

Automation / AI understanding

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Lean Six Sigma qualification

Job description

Process Improvement and Automation Lead

Fixed term contract for 1 year

Based in South Wales or Tamworth

Competitive Salary + Company Car or Allowance

Are you passionate about making businesses work better?

We are looking for a hands-on Process Improvement and Automation Leadto work across phs Group,identifyingand delivering practical improvements that simplify how we work, increaseproductivityand strengthen the experience of our customers and colleagues. You will lead cross-functional activity frominitialdiagnosisthrough toimplementation and measurable benefitrealisation, using technology,automationand AI as enablers of sustainable change.

This is a high-impact individual contributor role with no direct reports.

You will influence senior stakeholders and operational teams across the Group, challengeestablishedways of working constructively and turn business priorities into practical, measurable results.

The Process Improvement and Automation Lead role at phs Group will involve:

• Building and managing aprioritisedpipeline of improvement opportunities aligned to the business plan and Executive Team priorities.
• Reviewing end-to-end processes toidentifyinefficiency, duplication,bottlenecksand control weaknesses, then recommending practical improvements.
• Leading cross-functional improvement projects from discovery and process designthrough totesting, implementation,adoptionand benefitrealisation.
• Developing clear business cases, deliveryplansand success measures, using operational, financial, customer and colleague data todemonstratevalue.
• Identifyingwhere approved automation, generative AI and agentic AI can improve outcomes, while meeting governance, information security,privacyand responsible AI requirements.
• Facilitating workshops, coachingcolleaguesand supporting teams to embed new tools,processesand sustainable ways of working.

The ideal candidate for a Process Improvement and Automation Lead at phs Group will have:

• Proven experience delivering continuous improvement, business change, processimprovementor operational transformation initiatives, including the adoption and use of AI.
• A track recordof taking improvement activity from diagnosisthrough toimplementation and measurable benefitrealisation.
• Strong process mapping,analyticaland structured problem-solving skills.
• Experience working across functions and influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to connect improvements to cost, productivity, customer service,qualityand risk.
• Experience supporting the adoption of new systems,processesor ways of working.
• A practical understanding of automation, generativeAIand agentic AI, including how they can be applied safely to business change.
• Confidence using data and performance measures toidentifyopportunities, testassumptionsanddemonstrateimpact.
• Strong communicationand facilitation skills, with the ability to translate complex issues and technology into clear, practical actions.
• A results-driven,pragmaticand collaborative approach, with the resilience tomaintainmomentum across multiple and changing priorities.

Desirable:

• A lean, Six Sigma, changemanagementor project management qualification
• Practical delivery experience is important for this role.

In return for your commitment and expertise, you will get:

• Competitive Salary
• Company car or car allowance
• Virtual GP for you and your household
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Amazing employee discounts with major supermarkets and retailers with ‘phs Perks’
• Training to expand your skills. We offer accredited ILM training through external and in-house training
• Apprenticeship opportunities
• 23 days holiday plus bank holidays (31 days in total) plus a Buy / Sell holiday scheme
• Free Parking onsite so no parking costs
• Other benefits such as improved parental and paternity leave, a 24-hour wellbeing helpline, cycle to work scheme, pension scheme, life assurance and more…

About phs:

Phs Group

was founded in 1963 and we are the leading provider for Hygiene Services in the UK, Spain and Ireland with over 90,000 customers across 300,000 locations incorporating numerous businesses during its 63 years of business.

Our businesses include: Washrooms, Healthcare, Floorcare, Phs Direct and Direct 365 (sale of consumables), Phs Greenleaf, Teacrate, Besafe, Wastekit and Compliance.

At phs, we pride ourselves on our diverse workforce, and ensuring we have an inclusive environment for all our staff. We remain committed to ensuring our teams can bring their true selves to work without risk or fear of discrimination.