Automation Lead

Genentech; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 147,600 - 274,200; Full time

Job summary

Genentech, based in San Francisco, seeks an Automation Lead to identify, design, and deliver automation across finance, reducing manual effort and strengthening controls.

You will define the automation roadmap, build scalable solutions with clear intake processes, and drive adoption with cross-functional teams, delivering measurable business value.

Experience in RPA and data automation, with a track record of production deployments and quantified impact, is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, IS, Engineering, or related field.
• Lean/Six Sigma and RPA/automation platform certifications preferred.
• 6–10 years in automation, process improvement, or finance transformation roles.

Responsibilities

• Manage automation intake, assess complexity, risk, and control impact.
• Design scalable automation solutions with IT/engineering partnership.
• Set standards for documentation, testing, monitoring, and exception handling.
• Track KPIs: hours saved, cycle time reduction, defect reduction.
• Embed controls to prevent audit/compliance risks.
• Own backlog and roadmap aligned with business value.
• Drive adoption with training and change management.
• Provide post-go-live hypercare and monitoring.
• Collaborate with Finance, IT, Controls, Data, and Governance.
• Lead cross-functional teams and vendors with measurable outcomes.

Skills

Process mapping

Diagnostics

Change management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

RPA platforms

Job description

The Position

Automation Lead

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love.

The Opportunity:

This role is responsible for identifying, designing, and delivering automation solutions across finance to reduce manual effort, strengthen controls, and improve overall process efficiency. It supports a broad portfolio of initiatives spanning finance operations and reporting workflows, including workflow automation, RPA, data automation, and control automation. The role balances strategic responsibilities, such as defining the automation roadmap, standards, and pipeline, with hands-on execution, including solution delivery, release management, and driving adoption. It also promotes an “automation by design” approach, building scalable, reusable solutions with embedded controls and clear intake processes, while ensuring appropriate human oversight where needed.

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

• Manage automation intake: Build and run a structured intake and feasibility process, assessing complexity, risk, benefits, and control impact.
• Design automation solutions: Translate business needs into scalable automation designs, partnering with IT or engineering for implementation when needed.
• Set automation standards: Establish best practices for documentation, testing, monitoring, and exception handling.
• Track value and performance: Define and monitor KPIs such as hours saved, cycle time reduction, and defect reduction.
• Ensure controls and compliance: Embed strong controls into solutions to avoid audit or compliance risks.
• Own backlog and roadmap: Maintain a prioritized automation pipeline and delivery roadmap aligned with business value.
• Drive adoption: Partner with change and business teams to ensure successful rollout, training, and sustained usage.
• Support post-go-live: Establish hypercare and monitoring processes to ensure stability, manage alerts, and drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate across stakeholders: Work closely with Finance, IT, Controls, Data, and Governance teams to align priorities and delivery.
• Lead through influence: Coordinate cross-functional teams and vendors, prioritizing high-impact opportunities and demonstrating measurable outcomes to leadership.

Who You Are:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• Certifications: Lean/Six Sigma and RPA/automation platform certifications preferred (tool-dependent).
• Experience: 6–10 years in automation, process improvement, or finance transformation roles.

• Proven experience delivering multiple automation solutions into production with measurable business impact.

• Strong skills in process mapping, diagnostics, and simplification, including assessment of control impacts before automation.

• Experience working in matrixed environments alongside IT, compliance, and business stakeholders.

• Solid understanding of the automation lifecycle (design, build, test, deploy, monitor) and ability to quantify benefits and prioritize opportunities.

• Controls-aware mindset (audit trails, approvals, exception handling), strong communication skills to drive adoption, and ability to influence behavior change.

Location

Location: This position is based in South San Francisco, CA.

Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of San Francisco, CA is $147,600 - $274,200. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Benefits

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy and practice to employ, promote, and otherwise treat any and all employees and applicants on the basis of merit, qualifications, and competence. The company's policy prohibits unlawful discrimination, including but not limited to, discrimination on the basis of Protected Veteran status, individuals with disabilities status, and consistent with all federal, state, or local laws.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.