Tech Desk Manager in Cardiff

About the Team

The Tech Desk team is responsible for delivering secure, compliant, and innovative technical support services across all South Wales offices. The team manages the full lifecycle of endpoint devices and platforms, ensuring operational excellence, security, and customer satisfaction. The Tech Desk Manager leads the team and collaborates with IT leadership and business stakeholders to drive digital transformation and service improvement.

The Role

The Tech Desk Manager provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for technical support services, with a strong focus on supplier management and technical capability. This role is accountable for defining and executing technology strategies for the end user computing environment and ensures the delivery of high-quality, secure, and compliant services. The manager is responsible for mentoring leads, driving continuous improvement, and maintaining the highest standards of service and compliance.

Main Duties

• Lead all aspects of supplier management for end point devices, ensuring compliance, service levels and contractual obligations are met.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with third-party suppliers and partners to optimise service delivery and cost-effectiveness.
• Provide guidance to the procurement processes for technical assets and services, ensuring compliance with organisational policies and financial governance.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and resource planning for technical support services.
• Oversee the configuration, deployment, and optimisation of endpoint devices (Windows, macOS, virtual desktops, mobile) using platforms such as Intune, SCCM, VMware Horizon, and Autopilot.
• Develop and maintain technology standards and roadmaps, championing innovative solutions to enhance productivity and security.
• Ensure robust incident, problem, and change management processes, driving timely resolution and root cause analysis of complex technical issues.
• Ensure knowledge articles are being completed and driven to first line support.
• Oversee endpoint security, compliance, and patching, applying frameworks such as CIS, AppLocker, and Group Policy.
• Maintain accurate asset records and manage the full lifecycle of technical assets, including procurement, deployment, maintenance, and secure disposal.
• Lead the endpoint device logistics strategy, optimising lifecycle management, availability and distribution to deliver a seamless and efficient end user service.
• Lead the evaluation of end user devices to ensure appropriate choice for colleagues.
• Support the negotiation of contracts regarding end user devices.
• Drive automation and process improvement through scripting and workflow optimisation.
• Lead, coach, and develop Tech Desk Leads and Analysts, setting clear departmental goals and fostering a culture of technical excellence and customer focus.
• Act as the senior escalation point for technical and operational issues, supporting professional growth and daily priorities.
• Promote outstanding customer service and build strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Work closely with IT architects, security, and business teams to deliver integrated solutions and support digital transformation.
• Analyse service metrics, identify trends, and implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance reliability, performance, and user satisfaction.
• Ensure adherence to IT policies, security standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee budget management, procurement, and resource planning for technical support services.

Essential

• Extensive experience leading technical support or end-user computing teams across Windows, macOS, Azure AD, and virtual desktop environments.
• Advanced experience with endpoint management and deployment platforms, including Intune, SCCM, and VMware Horizon.
• Experience supporting and managing Apple devices within an enterprise environment.
• Strong experience in endpoint security, compliance, and vulnerability management, with a focus on maintaining secure and resilient environments.
• Proven people management experience, including coaching, mentoring, and developing technical teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to resolve complex technical and operational issues effectively.
• Experience working with ITSM tools, asset management processes, and service improvement frameworks such as ITIL.
• Experience managing third-party suppliers and delivering technical or service-related projects.
• Demonstrates a strong customer-focused mindset, with a commitment to delivering high-quality end-user support.

This role is office-based due to the high level of customer interaction and on-site technical support required.

Desirable

• ITIL Foundation or higher certification.
• Experience with cloud-based technical solutions and modern workplace technologies.
• Proficiency in scripting and automation.

This is not a full definition of the role but covers the main aspects and drivers for success.

Interview Process: 1 Stage Interview.

Location: This is a full time office based role across Cardiff and Swansea.

Admiral: Where You Can

We take pride in being a diverse and inclusive business. It's a place where you can Be You, and show up as you are. We’re committed to fostering a people-first culture where everyone is accepted, supported, and empowered to be brilliant. You can Grow And Progress at a pace and direction that suits you, Make A Difference for our customers and each other, and Share in Our Future with all colleagues eligible for up to £3,600 of free shares each year after one year of service. Everyone receives 33 days holiday (including bank holidays) when they join us, increasing the longer you stay with us, up to a maximum of 38 days (including bank holidays). You also have the option to buy or sell up to an additional five days of annual leave. We’re proud of our people-first culture. In fact, we've been recognised as a Great Place to Work for Women, a Great Place to Work for Wellbeing, and an overall Great Place to Work for over 25 years! We’re fully committed to making sure your progression is not slowed or halted by barriers related to race, gender, age, sexuality or any of the protected characteristics. Our fantastic benefits make sure our colleagues have a great work-life balance; You can view some of our other key benefits here.

Disability Confident Leader

As a Disability Confident Leader, for candidates with a disability or long-term health condition, that opt into the Disability Confident scheme, we’ll invite a fair and proportionate number of applicants that meet the essential requirements of the role to the first stage of our selection process. If you need any adjustments or support with your application or during the recruitment process, just let us know. Please do email us or contact us on 07386697107. This number is dedicated to supporting candidates that require reasonable adjustments or support during the application process.