Sr. Manager, Automation

American Credit Acceptance; Spartanburg (SC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401(k) plan

Job summary

American Credit Acceptance in Spartanburg, SC is seeking a Senior Manager, Automation to lead strategy, delivery, and evolution of automation and internally developed applications that create measurable value across ACA.

You will lead a team reimagining business processes and building scalable solutions using automation, AI, and other emerging technologies. This is a senior leadership role with broad cross-functional collaboration and a focus on delivering tangible business outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in automation, software or application development, technology delivery, process improvement, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of direct people leadership experience, preferably leading technical engineering, automation, or application development teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of automation, software, or digital transformation initiatives from opportunity identification through production and value realization.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to identify high-value opportunities and connect technology solutions to measurable financial and operational outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience with technologies such as Python, SQL, APIs, RPA platforms, Power Platform or other low-code tools, web applications, databases, and version control.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to partner with senior leaders, translate technical concepts into business terms, manage ambiguity, and develop high-performing technical talent.

Responsibilities

• Own the automation and application development strategy and roadmap aligned to goals and future tech direction.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of automation opportunities with department leaders and tech partners; prioritize work.
• Partner with business leaders to simplify or redesign work before automation and address root problems.
• Own delivery outcomes across the Automation portfolio, ensuring initiatives meet objectives, timelines, and production-readiness.
• Define success metrics and measure value across cost, productivity, capacity, cycle time, and risk.
• Oversee the full solution lifecycle and enforce standards for design, development, testing, deployment, and support.
• Evaluate and select approaches including RPA, Python, APIs, web apps, low-code, and AI.
• Collaborate with IT, security, data, and infra teams to resolve blockers.
• Manage vendor and platform relationships including licensing, renewals, capacity, and roadmaps.
• Present portfolio progress, risks, value, and needs in leadership forums.
• Lead and develop Automation Engineers; foster accountability, innovation, and rapid development.

Skills

Leadership

Automation

Python

SQL

APIs

RPA

Low-code

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Power Platform

Job description

Summary/Objective

The Senior Manager, Automation is responsible for leading the strategy, development, delivery, and ongoing evolution of automation and internally developed applications that create measurable value across ACA. This role leads a team that reimagines business processes and builds scalable solutions using automation, application development, AI, and other emerging technologies.

Description

The Senior Manager, Automation is responsible for leading the strategy, development, delivery, and ongoing evolution of automation and internally developed applications that create measurable value across ACA. This role leads a team that reimagines business processes and builds scalable solutions using automation, application development, AI, and other emerging technologies.

Essential Functions

• Own the automation and application development strategy and roadmap, aligning team priorities with organizational goals, WIGs, operational needs, and future technology direction.
• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of opportunities by partnering with department leaders, process owners, and technology partners; prioritize work based on value, effort, complexity, risk, capacity, and strategic alignment.
• Partner with business leaders to simplify, redesign, or eliminate ineffective work before automating it and ensure solutions address the underlying business problem.
• Own delivery outcomes across the Automation portfolio, ensuring initiatives meet business objectives, timelines, quality expectations, and production-readiness standards.
• Define success metrics and measure realized value, including operating expense reduction, productivity, capacity creation, cycle-time improvement, and risk reduction, and customer or associate experience.
• Oversee the full solution lifecycle and enforce standards for design, development, testing, deployment, documentation, version control, monitoring, security, maintenance, and production support.
• Evaluate and select the appropriate solution approach, including RPA, Python, APIs, web applications, low-code platforms, workflow tools, Generative AI, Agentic AI, and intelligent document processing.
• Partner with IT, Information Security, Data, Infrastructure, Architecture, and other teams to resolve technical dependencies, access, licensing, security constraints, and other blockers to delivery.
• Manage strategic vendor and platform relationships, including licensing, renewals, capacity, upgrades, system stability, product roadmaps, and utilization.
• Represent Automation in leadership forums and communicate portfolio progress, risks, value, capacity, resource needs, and strategic opportunities in clear business terms.
• Lead, coach, and develop Automation Engineers and other technical professionals; build growth paths and foster a culture of accountability, innovation, knowledge sharing, automation-first thinking, and rapid development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Business, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in automation, software or application development, technology delivery, process improvement, or a related discipline.
• 3+ years of direct people leadership experience, preferably leading technical engineering, automation, or application development teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing a portfolio of automation, software, or digital transformation initiatives from opportunity identification through production and value realization.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to identify high-value opportunities and connect technology solutions to measurable financial and operational outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience with technologies such as Python, SQL, APIs, RPA platforms, Power Platform or other low-code tools, web applications, databases, and version control.
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to partner with senior leaders, translate technical concepts into business terms, manage ambiguity, and develop high-performing technical talent.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has supervisory responsibilities and will manage a team of Automation Engineers and/or other technical professionals responsible for automation and application development.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers and phones.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position with a work schedule of Monday-Friday with additional hours occasionally required to support critical implementations, production issues, or business needs.

Travel

Travel as required based on business needs.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

ACA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. ACA complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

California Privacy Notice

As an employer of California residents, we are dedicated to protecting your privacy rights. Any personal information you provide during the application process will be used solely for permitted internal purposes and will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws. By applying to this position, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in our Employee Privacy Notice.