The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Senior Process Improvement Specialist (Internal Promotion)
3-5 years as a Senior SpecialistSkills to master
- Leading medium-sized process projects independently, mentoring junior team members, designing complex 'to-be' processes, and getting comfortable with stakeholder management.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering measurable ROI on your projects.
- Demonstrating strong leadership potential by guiding and developing junior colleagues.
- Proactively identifying and proposing solutions for enterprise-level process challenges.
- Gaining trust and credibility with senior internal stakeholders.
- 2
Process Consultant (External Hire from Consulting)
5-8 years in a process-focused consulting roleSkills to master
- Client engagement and relationship management, managing project teams, developing robust process solutions for diverse industries, and strong presentation skills.
You're ready to move on when
- A portfolio of successful client engagements focused on process transformation.
- Experience leading project teams and managing client expectations.
- Ability to quickly understand new business domains and identify process improvement opportunities.
- Strong communication and influencing skills in a client-facing context.
- 3
RPA Solution Architect (External Hire from Tech/RPA Vendor)
5-8 years in a technical RPA solution design roleSkills to master
- Deep technical understanding of RPA platforms, designing automation solutions, understanding integration patterns, and translating business requirements into technical specifications.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven experience in designing complex, scalable RPA solutions.
- Strong understanding of the full RPA lifecycle, from discovery to deployment and maintenance.
- Ability to bridge the gap between business process needs and technical automation capabilities.
- Experience in a client-facing or advisory role within the RPA ecosystem.