Innovation Automation Specialist

Stantec•Denver, CO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Innovation Automation & AI Workflows Specialist within Stantec's Innovation Program, you will design, build, and implement intelligent automation systems that power our enterprise innovation infrastructure. Reporting to the Innovation Programs Leader, you will transform how innovation flows through Stantec—from idea intake through Discovery, Prototyping, and MVP stages—by creating AI-enabled workflows, automated governance processes, and data-driven decision support systems that scale innovation across a global organization of 35,000+ employees. This role sits at the intersection of innovation strategy and operational execution. You will work closely with the Innovation Office, Digital Center of Excellence (DCoE), and Innovation Leaders to translate innovation intent into repeatable, scalable systems. Your work will directly impact how Stantec evaluates hundreds of innovation submissions annually, manages millions of dollars in active grant funding, supports evidence-based stage-gate reviews, and generates actionable intelligence from our innovation portfolio. You must bring hands-on expertise in workflow automation, AI systems implementation, business process digitization, and data analytics. This is not a strategy or advisory role—you will be responsible for building and deploying production-ready automation solutions using Microsoft Power Platform, creating AI agents and for innovation workflows, designing intelligent intake and triage systems, automating reporting and dashboarding, and continuously improving the operational backbone of Stantec's innovation ecosystem. This position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact problems in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where your technical skills directly enable organizational transformation. You will be part of a small, highly collaborative team working across North with exposure to senior leadership, enterprise digital strategy, and cutting-edge applied AI use cases.

Requirements

Proven hands-on experience designing, building, and deploying workflow automation solutions using Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI) in production enterprise environments
Demonstrated experience implementing AI-enabled systems including custom copilots, AI agents, chatbots, or intelligent automation using Azure AI, Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Copilot Studio, or similar platforms
Strong proficiency with data modeling, database design, and working with Microsoft Dataverse, SharePoint, SQL databases, or similar enterprise data platforms
Experience building dashboards and analytics solutions using Power BI, including data visualization, DAX, data modeling, and automated reporting
Solid understanding of business process analysis, requirements gathering, system design, and user experience principles
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 ecosystem including SharePoint Online, Microsoft Forms, Planner, Teams integration, and related collaboration tools
Demonstrated track record of building and deploying automation solutions that measurably improved operational efficiency, user experience, or decision-making quality
Experience working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments requiring independent problem-solving, prioritization, and iterative development
Proven ability to translate business requirements from non-technical stakeholders into effective technical solutions
Exceptional ability to work independently with general supervision while proactively seeking input and collaboration when needed
Strong customer service orientation with ability to understand and anticipate user needs
Independent thinking and sound judgment; able to make decisions and take action based on available facts and organizational context
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences and document systems clearly
Collaborative mindset with ability to build effective working relationships across organizational boundaries
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field with minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience in workflow automation, AI implementation, or digital systems development.
5-7 years of professional experience in workflow automation, business process digitization, or digital transformation roles with hands-on implementation responsibilities

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Stantec's Innovation program, Innovation Office, or similar enterprise innovation programs
Experience working in professional services, engineering, architecture, consulting, or knowledge-intensive industries
Background in technology consulting, business analysis, or digital transformation consulting
Certifications in Microsoft Power Platform, Azure AI, data analytics, or related technical areas
Experience with innovation management platforms, project portfolio management (PPM) tools, or grant management systems
Understanding of stage-gate processes, lean innovation methodologies, design thinking, or evidence-based evaluation frameworks
Background working with innovation programs, grant management systems, project portfolio management, or similar enterprise program administration is highly desirable

Responsibilities

Design and implement end-to-end automated workflows for the Idea Machine intake process, including intelligent triage, applicant notifications, coach assignment, and progression tracking across Discovery, Prototyping, and MVP stages
Build and maintain online application forms, dynamic review systems, and approval routing using Microsoft Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI)
Automate funding lifecycle management including project setup, budget tracking, milestone monitoring, financial reporting, and closeout procedures for hundreds of active innovation projects
Create automated governance workflows for stage-gate reviews, Innovation Leader evaluations, and escalation protocols
Develop intelligent notification and reminder systems to support applicants, coaches, Innovation Leaders, and program administrators throughout the innovation lifecycle
Design and deploy AI agents to support innovation program operations, including: intake triage and classification, applicant guidance and Q&A, assumptions log generation, business case analysis support, and knowledge synthesis from program documentation
Implement CoPilot to analyze innovation submissions, extract key themes, identify synergies across projects, and surface insights for portfolio management
Build AI-powered search and retrieval systems to connect applicants with relevant prior projects, subject matter experts, playbooks, templates, and organizational knowledge
Create systems to support portfolio analysis, predict project success factors, and optimize resource allocation recommendations
Develop AI workflows for report generation, documentation summarization, and templated content creation (pitch decks, business cases, final reports)
Design and build Power BI dashboards and analytics platforms to provide real-time visibility into innovation program performance, including submission trends, funding allocation, stage progression rates, time-to-decision metrics, portfolio composition, and ROI tracking
Create executive-level reporting systems for Innovation Leaders, C&I program leadership, and senior management with automated data refresh and visualization
Develop data models and taxonomies to enable consistent tracking, querying, and analysis across the innovation portfolio
Implement automated KPI tracking and alerting systems to monitor program health, identify bottlenecks, and flag at-risk projects
Build analytics capabilities to evaluate program effectiveness, measure applicant experience, and generate evidence-based recommendations for continuous improvement
Integrate innovation program systems with existing enterprise platforms including SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Planner, project management systems, financial systems, and collaboration tools
Design and maintain centralized data repositories for innovation program assets including applications, business cases, playbooks, templates, project documentation, and evaluation records
Ensure data integrity and compliance across all innovation program systems
Continuously assess and optimize innovation program workflows based on user feedback, performance data, and emerging best practices
Partner with Innovation Office staff, coaches, and Innovation Leaders to identify automation opportunities and translate operational pain points into technical requirements
Document system architectures, technical specifications, user guides, and standard operating procedures
Provide training and support to program administrators, coaches, and applicants on new tools and workflows
Stay current with emerging automation technologies, AI capabilities, and digital workflow best practices relevant to innovation program management