At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI innovation and automation solutions in our eCommerce team.
- Company: Join NEXT, a leading FTSE-100 retail company with a global presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, bonuses, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with excellent career growth and support networks.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by designing cutting-edge AI workflows and enhancing operational efficiency.
- Qualifications: Experience in Python, AI tools, and strong collaboration skills required.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We are looking for a Site Operations AI & Automation Manager to join the Developments team within our eCommerce department and drive AI innovation forward! Based at NEXT Head Office in Leicestershire!
The Role: Our eCommerce Developments team are responsible for implementing, testing and building on the UX designs plus the requirements of our partnered brands and the overall content of the website. As a Site Operations AI & Automation Engineer, you will lead a hands-on team designing, building and shipping production grade AI workflows using Python, LLMs and the Google Cloud stack to solve high value operational problems. Partnering with the site operations and across the wider eCommerce team, you will set technical direction, ensure platform health, drive root cause fixes for major incidents and issues to prevent recurrence and uphold high engineering standards for durable overall output.
What You’ll Take On:
- Technical Leadership & Delivery: Lead the end to end design and delivery of production grade AI and automation solutions across site operations. Stay hands-on, building high complexity components while setting standards for code reviews, testing, CI/CD and monitoring. Make pragmatic stack decisions (Python, LLM providers, Vertex AI, BigQuery) and lead incident response for workflow failures.
- AI & Automation Engineering: Design robust LLM-based workflows, including prompt engineering, evaluation, RAG, embeddings and human in the loop patterns. Translate business pain points into well scoped technical solutions, pushing back on low value requests and measuring commercial impact. Drive an automation first culture backed by a solid understanding of eCommerce environments.
- Engineering Depth & Technical Stack: Proven track record of shipping scalable production AI systems, not just prototypes or scripts. Strong working knowledge of the Google Cloud ecosystem (Vertex AI, BigQuery, Cloud Run, Apps Script) to compose pipeline architectures.
What You’ll Bring:
- Proven ability to design, implement and scale efficient automation scripts and workflows, primarily using Python, to reduce manual effort, enhance efficiency, and minimise errors. This includes process mapping, stakeholder collaboration, and experience integrating AI/ML services to augment human decision-making.
- Comfortable developing and maintaining frameworks, have the self start to create and manage change on key best practices.
- Comfortable with Python, SQL, and AI tools with automation to give insights and consult others.
- Must have hands on experience consuming and interpreting APIs and a working knowledge of web technologies (HTML, CSS, JS) for effective troubleshooting.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical outputs and automation impact (time saved, risk reduced) into clear, business focused insights for stakeholders at all levels.
- Must be a strong collaborator focused on driving results through automation and agentic workflows. Communicating to key stakeholders in a presentation format is something that comes natural to you for large audiences.
- A strong collaborator with an inquisitive mindset for emerging technologies and a passion for building AI aided system.
- A background in eCommerce is beneficial but not essential.
- Ability to champion and advocate for change that has a meaningful business and employee impact.
- Ability to manage and lead a team of site ops professionals.
- Architecting full end to end systems and being part of the full SDLC is in your skillset - this is essential for the role.
You know Next, but did you know we’re a FTSE-100 retail company employing over 44,000 people across the Next group. We’re the UK’s 2nd largest fashion retailer and for Kidswear we’re the market leader. At the last count we have over 450 stores, plus the Next Online and it’s now possible to buy on-line from over 80 countries around the world! So we’ve gone global!
Company performance based bonus, Sharesave scheme, On-site Nursery available; OFSTED outstanding in all areas, 10% off most partner brands & up to 15% off Branded Beauty, Early VIP access to sale stock, Access to fantastic discounts at our Staff Shops, Restaurants with great food at amazing prices, Access a digital GP and other free health and wellbeing services, Free on-site parking, Financial Wellbeing - Save, track and enhance your financial wellbeing, Apprenticeship - Grow and develop on the job whilst gaining a qualification, Direct to Work - Discount online and instore, collect your items the next day for free from your place of work or local store, Support Networks - Access to Network Groups to empower and celebrate each other, Wellhub - Discounted flexible monthly gym memberships, with apps, PT sessions and more. Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.
We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on and leave a voicemail.
Site Operations AI & Automation Manager in Enderby employer: Next plc
At our Enfield Retail Park location, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values each team member's contribution. With a commitment to employee development from day one, we offer flexible working options and a supportive work culture that encourages growth and teamwork. Join us to be part of a dynamic environment where your passion for customer service can truly shine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Site Operations AI & Automation Manager in Enderby
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Next plc or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Next plc.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Next plc.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Next plc that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Site Operations AI & Automation Manager in Enderby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Next plc.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Next plc and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Next plc
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Next plc uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
