At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the identity platform, ensuring security and reliability while driving technical improvements.
- Company: Join Halfords, a forward-thinking company shaping the future of motoring and cycling.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus scheme, hybrid working, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with a commitment to personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a hands-on role with cutting-edge identity technologies.
- Qualifications: Experience with Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory, and managing enterprise identity platforms.
The predicted salary is between 58500 - 71500 £ 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 an Identity Platform Lead, you'll take full ownership of Halfords' identity and directory platform, ensuring it remains secure, reliable, and capable of supporting a modern, cloud-first technology estate. This is a hands-on technical leadership role, focused on the day-to-day operation, design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the platform, where you'll be the go-to expert for Microsoft Entra ID and Active Directory, owning the platform end-to-end. Day to day, you'll lead the development and enhancement of key identity technologies including Entra ID, Active Directory, Privileged Access Management (PAM), Identity Governance & Administration (IGA), and associated tooling. Working closely with our engineering partners, you'll set the direction for how the platform evolves, oversee delivery, and ensure services are performing as expected. While delivery is carried out by third-party partners, ownership sits firmly with you. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of identity at Halfords. Significant investment is being made in the platform, creating the opportunity to re-engineer and modernise core identity services at enterprise scale. If you enjoy owning platforms, driving technical improvements, and being recognised as the subject matter expert in your field, you'll have the autonomy and support to make a substantial impact from day one.
Key responsibilities
- Own the technical design, configuration, implementation, and ongoing operation of Microsoft Entra ID and Active Directory across the organisation.
- Drive the deployment and adoption of identity technologies including PAM, IGA, Conditional Access, PIM, and enterprise authentication solutions.
- Lead the continuous improvement of the identity platform, expanding integrations across applications and services throughout the business.
- Manage and hold third-party service providers accountable for platform performance, service quality, security, and delivery outcomes.
- Oversee enterprise application integrations and Single Sign-On capabilities, ensuring services are implemented consistently and securely.
- Maintain identity governance controls, access management processes, and audit-ready evidence across the platform.
- Work closely with Infrastructure, Security, and Digital Identity teams to ensure identity services remain reliable, secure, and aligned to business requirements.
About you
- Strong hands-on experience with Microsoft Entra ID, including Conditional Access, PIM, Identity Governance, application registrations, and enterprise SSO integrations.
- Proven experience administering and supporting Active Directory in a complex enterprise environment.
- Experience with CyberArk or similar Privileged Access Management solutions.
- Demonstrable experience owning and managing enterprise identity platforms, including implementation, optimisation, and ongoing support.
- Experience leading outsourced engineering teams or managed service providers, with the ability to influence, challenge, and drive performance without direct line management responsibility.
- Strong technical leadership skills, capable of taking ownership, making decisions, and acting as the recognised expert for the platform.
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and stakeholders simultaneously.
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.
Identity Platform Lead employer: Halfords Careers
At Halfords, we pride ourselves on being the UK's largest automotive service provider, offering a dynamic work environment where customer service advisors can thrive. With competitive salaries, an uncapped bonus scheme, and extensive benefits including discounts on products and services, we foster a culture of growth and inclusivity, ensuring every employee has the opportunity to advance their career while enjoying a supportive workplace. Join us in our mission to keep the nation moving and experience the unique advantages of working with a leading name in motoring and cycling.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Identity Platform Lead
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Halfords Careers or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Halfords Careers.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Halfords Careers.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Halfords Careers that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Identity Platform Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Halfords Careers.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Halfords Careers and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Halfords Careers
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Halfords Careers uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
