Automation Specialist

Smart Pa; Cape Town; Remote; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading administrative support company in South Africa is seeking an Automation Specialist. This remote role focuses on designing and implementing automation solutions primarily using Google Apps Script. Ideal candidates should have expertise in scripting, problem-solving skills, and an understanding of prompt engineering. Join us to enhance operational efficiency and deliver high-impact solutions for our global clients.

Benefits

Competitive Salaries

Yearly Bonuses

Remote Work

33 Days Holiday

Growth Opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in automations, preferably with examples.
• Understanding of prompt engineering principles.
• Experience in requirements gathering and technical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement workflow solutions for efficiency.
• Deliver tailored support to key client accounts.
• Document code and provide user instructions.

Skills

Scripting

Problem-solving

Logic and algorithm design

Prompt engineering

Tools

Google Apps Script

APIs

Job description

Automation Specialist

Permanent employee, Full-time

• South Africa – REMOTE
• R per year

£30, – £40, (depending on experience)

Job Description

Who We Are

At SmartPA, we don't just provide support – we transform it.

Our mission is simple yet bold: to redefine administrative and PA services through innovative thinking, cutting‑edge technology and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence.

Trusted by global leaders in industries such as tech, automotive and retail, we are the engine behind smarter, more efficient operations.

With a vibrant, client‑focused culture and a team driven by creativity, no two days at SmartPA are ever the same!

As we continue to grow rapidly, this is your opportunity to join us on the journey to becoming the most optimised administrative organisation in the world.

If you're ready to challenge the status quo and create meaningful impact, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities and Skills

What You'll Do

The Centre of Excellence (COE) is the driving force behind SmartPA, where strategy comes to life.

As part of this dynamic, client‑facing department, you'll be the heartbeat of our business – delivering high‑impact, tailored support to a key client account daily.

In the role of Automation Specialist, you'll design and implement smart workflow solutions that improve efficiency and performance.

You'll work closely with stakeholders to understand needs, solve real operational challenges, and deliver impactful, scalable automation.

This particular role is assigned to one of our "dedicated" clients, meaning you will be representing our brand while working very closely with a global tech giant.

A technical role for a problem‑solver who excels at creating efficiencies using scripting, APIs, and generative AI / large language models.

What Your Day Will Look Like

Design, develop, and deploy automation scripts primarily using Google Apps Script to connect various Google Workspace services (Sheets, Forms, Gmail, Calendar) and third‑party APIs.

Build and refine prompts for large language models (LLMs / Generative AI) to solve specific business problems, such as content summarisation, data categorisation, or generating draft reports.

Integrate and maintain automation solutions, ensuring they are robust, secure, and scalable.

Identify repetitive, manual business processes and propose automation solutions that deliver clear time savings and improve data quality.

Document code, logic, and user‑facing instructions for all developed automation tools.

Manage multiple projects simultaneously, maintaining a high level of quality under tight deadlines.

Skills

About You: You are a natural innovator with a passion for removing friction from workflows.

You are highly proficient in scripting and logic, with a burgeoning interest and practical experience in the field of prompt engineering.

You thrive on translating complex user needs into elegant, working code.

Experience

What You'll Need: Your experience is key but your attitude is what sets you apart.

Essential

• Proven expertise in Automations (preferably Google Apps Script) with a portfolio or examples of functional automation projects.
• Strong understanding of prompt engineering principles and best practices for interacting with LLMs.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with a focus on delivering high‑reliability, scalable tools.
• Solid logical and algorithmic thinking to design efficient and robust automations.
• Experience in requirements gathering and translating business needs into technical solutions.

Desirable

• Experience with version control and collaborative coding practices.
• Understanding of data security and privacy best practices in automation.

Work Remotely

Yes

Salary

R per year; £30, – £40, (depending on experience)

Schedule

Monday – Friday

Your working hours will be 2:00 pm to 10:30 pm (UK time), aligned to cover the 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (EST) business day.

Job Type

Full-time, Permanent (37.5 hours per week)

What's in it for you?

At SmartPA we believe in rewarding talent and supporting your growth.

• Competitive Salaries
• Yearly Bonuses based on company, department, and individual performance
• Department based incentives
• Remote Work
• 33 Days Holiday: Because rest fuels greatness
• Growth Opportunities: Develop your skills, advance your career and grow with a company reshaping the industry

About us

At SmartPA we provide industry‑leading administrative and business support services to organisations across the globe.

Through our knowledge and experience, we aim to teach the true value of EA and secretarial services as a fundamental support function in every business, providing access to the world's largest talent pool, whilst raising standards and inspiring growth across our marketplace.

We offer a variety of opportunities to work with and within SmartPA from free training to becoming a fully fledged Partner.

The Partnership provides a unique opportunity for Partners to run their own home‑based business, delivering SmartPA's world‑class back‑office services.

Whether you want flexible working hours, increased income, better work‑life balance or minimised childcare costs, SmartPA enables you to achieve your goals.