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- Tasks: Lead automation initiatives and develop scalable solutions using Microsoft Power Platform.
- Company: Join Halfords, a forward-thinking company shaping the future of motoring and cycling.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, personal development, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving automation and innovation in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience with Microsoft Power Platform and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
About us
Halfords is on a journey - building the future of motoring and cycling and looking for people who want to help shape what comes next. We’re a place for cocreators: people who want to make a real impact, take ownership and be part of something that’s still evolving. Technology at Halfords is at a turning point. We’re modernising our foundations, sharpening our delivery, and ensuring every technology decision is connected to real commercial and customer outcomes. We're looking for people who act as trusted advisors to the business, take end-to-end accountability for outcomes, and can balance pace with long-term architectural integrity. Innovation here means practical, scalable solutions, not ideas that stay on whiteboards.
Halfords operates a hybrid working policy – this position will be based 3 days per week at our support centre in Redditch, West Midlands.
About the role
As Automation Platform Lead within our Technology Architecture function, you'll take ownership of how automation is adopted, governed, and scaled across the business. Reporting to the Head of Platform Engineering, your primary focus will be Microsoft Power Platform, building out a Centre of Excellence that gives the organisation a structured, sustainable way to identify automation opportunities and turn them into solutions that actually deliver operational and commercial value. Day to day, you'll work with business teams and delivery squads to identify where automation can make a genuine difference, develop the standards and reusable components that make adoption safe and scalable, and provide coaching and hands-on support through Power Platform surgeries and community engagement. You'll also work closely with Architecture and Platform Engineering to ensure automation capabilities evolve in line with the broader platform strategy and enterprise architecture principles.
This is a role for someone who combines solid Power Platform expertise with the stakeholder skills to champion automation adoption across a complex organisation. If you enjoy translating business problems into practical automated solutions, building capability in others, and connecting technology to measurable outcomes, there's real scope here to establish something that grows with the business.
Key responsibilities
- Define and lead the enterprise automation capability, establishing the vision, roadmap, and governance model for automation across the organisation.
- Own the Power Platform Centre of Excellence, developing standards, reusable components, and best practices that enable the safe and scalable adoption of Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and related services.
- Engage with business teams to identify high-value automation opportunities, supporting the design of solutions that reduce manual effort and improve operational outcomes.
- Establish automation governance and standards, ensuring solutions are secure, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise architecture principles and security policies.
- Provide technical leadership and oversight for automation initiatives, ensuring solutions are built using appropriate patterns and integrated effectively with enterprise systems.
- Coach and enable delivery teams and citizen developers through Power Platform surgeries, training sessions, and internal community engagement.
- Identify emerging automation technologies and approaches that could enhance productivity and support broader business transformation.
About you
- Demonstrable experience designing and delivering automation solutions in enterprise environments, with strong technical knowledge of Microsoft Power Platform including Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI.
- Experience establishing or contributing to a Power Platform Centre of Excellence or equivalent automation governance capability.
- Proven ability to identify automation opportunities within business processes and translate them into practical, value-driven solutions.
- Experience developing automation standards, governance practices, and reusable components to ensure solutions are scalable and maintainable over time.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, comfortable working with business teams and technical leaders to drive adoption and articulate the value of automation clearly.
- Able to coach and enable both business users and technical teams to use automation technologies effectively and with confidence.
- Familiarity with RPA, low-code platforms, or enterprise integration patterns is a bonus, as is experience with Microsoft Azure services or working in retail or operationally complex environments.
Reward & benefits
A fair and competitive salary evaluated against market data, car allowance, annual discretionary bonus scheme, pension, life assurance, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave. Commitment and dedication to your ongoing personal and professional development. We help you to own and grow your potential so you can be at your best in your current role and to support your future career aspirations. We offer hybrid working with a blend of working in our Support Centre and from home.
You will have access to a wealth of employee discounts across the Halfords suite of products and services. Wellbeing and inclusion are at the heart of our colleague experience. We offer resources and ongoing support to enhance your wellbeing at work and active Colleague Networks supporting inclusion initiatives across Halfords.
Not sure you meet all the criteria? We'd encourage you to take the wheel and apply anyway! At Halfords we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We're an equal opportunities employer and proud to welcome applications from all backgrounds and embrace diversity within our one Halfords Family.
Automation Platform Lead employer: Halfords Careers
Contact Detail:
Halfords Careers Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Automation Platform Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Halfords' mission, values, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to automation and the Power Platform. Think about how your past experiences align with the role and be ready to share specific examples that demonstrate your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great chance to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for the Automation Platform Lead position.
We think you need these skills to ace Automation Platform Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Automation: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for automation shine through! Talk about your experiences with Microsoft Power Platform and how you've used it to make a real impact in previous roles. We love seeing candidates who are genuinely excited about the technology they work with.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Automation Platform Lead role. Highlight your experience with establishing governance models and developing reusable components. This shows us that you understand what we're looking for and how you can contribute to our journey.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your achievements and how they relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description. We appreciate candidates who can communicate effectively, as this is key in our collaborative environment.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about Halfords and our culture while you’re at it!
How to prepare for a job interview at Halfords Careers
✨Know Your Power Platform Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Microsoft Power Platform, especially Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented these tools, as this will show your hands-on experience and technical expertise.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to engage with both business teams and technical leaders. Think about times when you’ve successfully identified automation opportunities and how you communicated the value of those solutions to different stakeholders.
✨Demonstrate Your Coaching Ability
Since the role involves coaching delivery teams and citizen developers, come prepared with examples of how you've trained or supported others in using automation technologies. This will illustrate your leadership skills and your commitment to fostering a culture of innovation.
✨Align with Halfords' Vision
Research Halfords’ journey towards modernising their technology and how automation fits into that vision. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their goals and help shape the future of motoring and cycling through practical, scalable automation solutions.