IT Consultant - Automation and Effciency Lead

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

About Duke Health Technology Solutions

Pursue your passion for caring and innovation with Duke Heath Technology Solutions, which is dedicated to the transformation, development, and management of enterprise information technology solutions across Duke Health. By harnessing the power of innovative technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence — and pairing them with a forward-thinking approach — Duke Health Technology Solutions is revolutionizing the future of health care at Duke Health and beyond.

Occupational Summary

The Automation and Efficiency Lead serves as a strategic and technical consultant responsible for identifying, evaluating, and implementing workflow automation and operational efficiency solutions across Duke Health. This individual partners closely with clinical, operational, and technical teams to understand current-state workflows, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop solutions leveraging automation, artificial intelligence, analytics, integration technologies, and modern digital tools.

The Automation and Efficiency Lead possesses a broad technical background and the ability to bridge business needs with technology capabilities. Working alongside DHTS teams, application owners, architects, engineers, analysts, and operational leaders, this individual helps translate workflow challenges into scalable technology solutions that improve efficiency, reduce manual effort, increase reliability, and enhance the experience for both team members and end users.

This role requires a combination of technical acumen, consulting skills, process improvement expertise, and strong relationship management. The successful candidate can engage in detailed technical discussions and implementations with application team members while also communicating effectively with operational and executive stakeholders.

Reports To

Senior Director, IT for Application Delivery and Services

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

Strategic Consultation and Workflow Optimization

• Serve as a trusted consultant to DHTS leaders, managers, and technical teams on automation opportunities and workflow optimization initiatives.
• Assess existing business, operational, and clinical workflows to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, manual processes, and opportunities for improvement.
• Facilitate discussions with stakeholders to understand current-state processes and define future-state objectives.
• Develop recommendations that align technology capabilities with organizational priorities and operational goals.
• Utilize process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, Design Thinking, and workflow mapping techniques.

Automation and Technology Solutions

• Evaluate, recommend, and implement automation solutions leveraging technologies such as AI, RPA, APIs, scripting, low-code/no-code platforms, and workflow orchestration tools.
• Partner with DHTS technical teams to design and implement scalable automation solutions.
• Work with application teams to identify opportunities for integration and automation between systems.
• Support adoption of AI-enabled tools that improve operational efficiency, data quality, productivity, and decision-making.
• Develop prototypes, proofs of concept, and pilot programs to validate technology solutions.

Technical Leadership and Collaboration

• Collaborate with application, infrastructure, cloud, integration, analytics, cybersecurity, and support teams across DHTS.
• Act as a liaison between business stakeholders and technical teams to ensure solutions are aligned with operational requirements.
• Provide technical guidance regarding automation architecture, integration design, workflow tooling, and emerging technologies.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops and working sessions to drive consensus and solution adoption.
• Assist teams in evaluating technical feasibility, risks, dependencies, and implementation approaches.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, AI advancements, and healthcare automation opportunities.
• Evaluate new products and capabilities for applicability within Duke Health.
• Develop business cases and value assessments for potential automation investments.
• Measure and report operational improvements including time savings, process efficiency gains, risk reduction, and user satisfaction.
• Champion a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and automation adoption throughout the organization.

Project Leadership

• Lead or support automation initiatives from concept through implementation.
• Coordinate activities among stakeholders, vendors, project teams, and technical resources.
• Maintain project documentation, workflow diagrams, requirements, and solution designs.
• Track project outcomes, benefits realization, and optimization opportunities post-implementation.

Education and Training

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Healthcare Informatics, Business Administration, or related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in healthcare IT, process improvement, automation, systems integration, or technology consulting.

Preferred

• Master's degree in a technical, business, or healthcare-related discipline.
• Lean, Six Sigma, PMP, Agile, or related certifications.
• Relevant certifications in Epic, automation, AI, cloud technologies, or data analytics platforms.

Experience

Required

• Minimum of seven years of progressive IT experience.
• Experience evaluating and improving business, operational, or clinical workflows.
• Experience collaborating with technical teams to implement technology solutions.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience translating business requirements into technical solutions.

Preferred

• Healthcare IT experience within a large health system.
• Experience with Epic and related healthcare technologies.
• Experience with AI and automation platforms such as Microsoft Power Platform, Copilot Studio, Power Automate, Azure AI, Automation Anywhere, UiPath, or similar tools.
• Experience with APIs, data integrations, workflow orchestration, and enterprise applications.
• Experience developing dashboards and operational analytics.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong understanding of workflow analysis, process improvement, and operational efficiency methodologies.
• Ability to understand technical architectures and communicate effectively with engineers, architects, and analysts.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business-friendly language.
• Strong consulting and relationship management skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to facilitate meetings, workshops, and collaborative design sessions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking capabilities.
• Experience evaluating emerging technologies and determining practical business applications.
• Ability to identify opportunities where automation and AI can deliver measurable value.
• Skilled in creating process maps, workflow diagrams, business cases, and executive presentations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence without direct authority.

Success Measures

• Reduction in manual effort and workflow inefficiencies.
• Increased adoption of automation and AI solutions.
• Demonstrated operational improvements and measurable value realization.
• Enhanced collaboration across DHTS teams.
• Successful delivery of automation initiatives that improve quality, reliability, and user experience.