AI and Automation Lead

Job description

This role sits within the IL AI Innovation & Governance Hub - a dedicated team embedded in TAL's Individual Life division, working directly alongside business teams across underwriting, customer service, product, marketing and distribution. The Hub's mission is to turn real operational challenges into working automation solutions, and as the Lead you'll be the engine that makes that happen. As the Lead, you'll own the Hub's delivery pipeline, develop a team of analysts, and be the day-to-day connection between business needs and technology delivery. You'll report to the Head of IL AI Innovation & Governance and have direct responsibility for a team of two analysts, with scope to grow as the Hub expands. This is a genuine player-coach role: you'll be hands-on building solutions in Microsoft Power Platform, AI Builder and Copilot Studio, while coaching your team and managing relationships with senior business stakeholders. If you're a practitioner ready to step into a lead role - or a lead who wants to stay close to the tools - this is the role for you. In this role you will: Design and build automation solutions using Microsoft Power Platform, AI Builder and Copilot Studio - hands-on, in production, not just in design Translate business challenges into well-scoped, high-impact automation opportunities by running discovery sessions with business teams across underwriting, customer service, product, marketing and distribution Lead end-to-end delivery of AI and automation initiatives, managing priorities, dependencies and risks across a concurrent pipeline Coach and develop a team of analysts, building capability and instilling good delivery practice so the team grows over time Partner with senior business stakeholders to manage expectations, communicate progress and navigate competing priorities Embed AI governance and compliance standards to ensure responsible, sustainable adoption in line with TAL's AI Implementation Policy You have demonstrated, hands-on experience building and delivering AI and automation solutions using Microsoft Power Platform - Power Automate and AI Builder in particular - in a corporate environment You have working knowledge of Microsoft Copilot Studio, or a strong Power Platform background and a clear track record of rapidly acquiring new platform skills You have strong business analysis and discovery skills: you can run a requirements session independently, scope a solution clearly, and push back on scope creep constructively You have experience engaging and influencing senior business stakeholders - you're credible in the room, communicate technical concepts without jargon, and manage expectations with confidence You have experience coaching or mentoring junior practitioners in a delivery context and find genuine satisfaction in building others' capability You bring curiosity and a continuous learning mindset, staying current with developments in AI and the Microsoft ecosystem and bringing relevant insight back to your team Highly regarded: Background in financial services, insurance or other regulated industries Familiarity with AI governance frameworks or regulated AI deployment practices Exposure to generative AI concepts including prompt engineering, RAG architectures and AI Builder document intelligence Microsoft certifications (PL-200, PL-400, AI-900 or equivalent) TAL is one of Australia’s leading life insurers, committed to inclusion, and supporting the career growth of our diverse workforce. We’re proud to be: An Inclusive Employer – Recognised as Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency and Bronze Tier Status within the Australian Workplace Equality Index Diversity Champions – Member of Diversity Council Australia, Australian Disability Network, Pride in Diversity and Champions of Change Reconciliation Advocates – Read our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan . We welcome applications from people with diverse experiences, perspectives and backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, caregivers, individuals living with disabilities, people from culturally diverse backgrounds and the LGBTIQ+ community. Need adjustments during the recruitment process? Let our team know by getting in touch with us here. —we’re here to support you. You’re always accountable for your actions. You never give up. You strive to find the best outcomes for customers and partners. And you value working together to find the best solutions for problems. As part of the recruitment process, there are several checks which may be conducted to demonstrate your eligibility for a role at TAL including Criminal History, Bankruptcy, Entitlement to Work, Regulatory and Reference Checks. #LI-Hybrid Everyone at TAL has a responsibility to do the right thing and is accountable for the way they conduct themselves. Our expectations are that you follow the principles set out in our Code of Conduct when you come to work every day. Risk management is everyone’s responsibility. If you are already a TAL employee please apply via the SmartRecruiters button in Workday and navigate to the Employee Portal. This is important to ensure that your application is recorded accurately . Every project you undertake will directly contribute to creating a positive impact on the lives of those who need it most. Enjoy work-life balance with flexible working options, and well-being initiatives that prioritise your health Enjoy benefits such as discounted insurance, health and well-being programs, and a range of employee benefits to support your lifestyle For over 150 years, we've never stopped finding better ways to protect Australians. As one of the nation’s leading life insurers, we’re driven by ambition and a sense of purpose. Our responsibility to our customers, partners, and the broader community is at the heart of everything we do. At TAL, we’re empowered to experiment, innovate, and create better products and services. Backed by Daiichi Life, one of the world’s largest insurers, we deliver financial security to millions of Australians through our care and expertise. Bring your curious mind and ambition to shape our industry and help us become the progressive, digitally enabled, leading insurer we aim to be. We're in an active period of AI-led transformation, and the IL AI Hub sits at the centre of that agenda within our Individual Life division- with a live pipeline of initiatives in production and strong executive support for what we're building. You'll join a small, high-performing team with real scope to shape how AI and automation is adopted across one of Australia's largest insurance businesses. The work is meaningful, the mandate is real, and the opportunity to grow with the Hub as it scales is genuine.