At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the management of a diverse device estate, ensuring clarity and consistency.
- Company: Join Halfords, a forward-thinking company shaping the future of motoring and cycling.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, and extensive employee discounts.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive workplace that values diversity and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by transforming technology for thousands of colleagues.
- Qualifications: Experience with Microsoft Intune and managing complex device estates required.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ 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
We're looking for an End User Device Lead to take ownership of a large, complex and fragmented device estate, bringing clarity, consistency and control to an environment that supports thousands of colleagues across our stores, garages, Support Centre and field-based teams. The estate spans everything from laptops and mobile devices through to retail point-of-sale systems, specialist workshop technology, meeting room equipment and other business-critical devices. While elements of device management are already in place, ownership, standards and processes are not always consistent. You'll lead the journey from a fragmented landscape to a modern, standardised and well-governed device estate, balancing the need to stabilise today's environment while building the future strategy and roadmap. This role combines deep technical expertise with leadership, stakeholder management and organisational influence. You'll work closely with Infrastructure, Security, Identity, Service, Procurement and external partners to define standards, improve security and compliance, simplify support models and establish clear ownership across the organisation. If you're someone who enjoys solving complex technology challenges at scale and can bring people with you on a transformational journey, this role offers a genuine opportunity to make a lasting impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end lifecycle for devices across the estate, from selection and deployment through to support, refresh and retirement.
- Lead the stabilisation, rationalisation and standardisation of a diverse estate including laptops, mobile devices, retail systems and specialist operational equipment.
- Own and develop the Microsoft Intune and Autopilot platforms, driving modern device management practices across the organisation.
- Define device standards, policies and governance frameworks that improve security, supportability and colleague experience.
- Build and deliver a roadmap for estate modernisation, balancing immediate operational requirements with long-term strategic objectives.
- Manage key technology suppliers and outsourced service providers, ensuring strong service delivery and continuous improvement.
- Use estate data, compliance reporting and operational insight to identify risks, improve performance and inform investment decisions.
About You
- Strong hands-on expertise across Microsoft Intune, Autopilot, Entra ID and modern endpoint management technologies.
- Experience managing large, complex and multi-site device estates across a variety of operating systems, device types and user groups.
- Proven track record of bringing fragmented or inconsistently managed environments under control through standardisation and governance.
- Strong understanding of device security, patching, compliance, configuration management and endpoint protection technologies such as Microsoft Defender.
- Experience managing third-party suppliers or outsourced service providers and holding them accountable for service performance.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences alike.
- Comfortable operating strategically while remaining willing to get into the detail when required to understand issues and drive solutions.
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.
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.
End User Devices Lead employer: Halfords
Halfords is an excellent employer that prioritises employee development and offers a supportive work culture in Havant. With comprehensive training programmes and clear pathways to management, team members are empowered to grow their careers while delivering exceptional customer service. The collaborative environment fosters teamwork and ensures that every employee feels valued and motivated to succeed.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land End User Devices Lead
✨Join the IT Consultancy Buzz
Get involved in local or virtual IT consultancy meetups and forums. This is where we can rub shoulders with industry professionals, get insights into what Halfords values, and even spot unadvertised opportunities. Don't miss out on these chances to make a name for ourselves in the IT world!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a personal project or case study relevant to the challenges Halfords might face. Use platforms like GitHub or Medium to share your findings. This not only demonstrates our consulting skills but shows a proactive attitude, making us stand out from the crowd when applying for that full-time gig.
✨Leverage LinkedIn for Connections
Follow and engage with the relevant thought leaders and influencers in IT consultancy on LinkedIn. Share insightful content and join discussions to gain visibility. A well-placed comment or shared article could catch the attention of someone at Halfords!
✨Direct Apply to Halfords
Let's not forget to apply directly through the Halfords website! Tailor your application to showcase our understanding of their consulting style and how we can contribute to their projects. A personalised approach can make a huge difference in landing that full-time position!
We think you need these skills to ace End User Devices Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills:In IT consulting, it's all about problem-solving, so make sure your CV highlights your analytical skills and any relevant projects you've tackled. Mention specific technologies or methodologies you've used to resolve issues or improve processes; this shows you can think critically and deliver results, which is vital for us at Halfords.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Certifications like ITIL, PMP, or even specific tech stack qualifications can really make you stand out. Make sure to include these in your CV, as they not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to staying current in the field. We love seeing candidates who are proactive about their professional development!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to connect personally with us at Halfords. Share stories about your experiences in IT consulting, and how they shaped your desire to join our team. Mention why you’re excited about this particular role, and how you see yourself contributing to our projects.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We're all busy, so make sure your application is easy to read. Use bullet points for key achievements, and don’t overload us with jargon. A clean, professional layout goes a long way. Remember, the clearer your application, the more likely we are to invite you in for an interview!
How to prepare for a job interview at Halfords
✨Brush Up on Your Technical Skills
For an IT consulting role, be ready to demonstrate your technical prowess. You might face questions on systems integration, cloud technologies, or even troubleshooting specific software. If you have experience with tools like AWS, Azure, or even specific programming languages, make sure you can talk about them fluently.
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Approach
IT consulting is all about solving problems for clients. Think about how you can illustrate your approach to a past challenge using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). It's a great way to show how you tackle complex issues and come up with effective solutions.
✨Know the Business Impact of IT Solutions
When discussing your experiences, focus not just on the tech solutions you implemented, but also on their business impact. Employers want to see that you can connect IT with organisational goals. Prep examples that highlight how your tech contributions improved efficiency or reduced costs for past clients or projects.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Since IT consulting often involves teamwork and client interactions, expect behavioural questions that assess your interpersonal skills. Be prepared with examples that demonstrate your adaptability, communication skills, and how you handle client feedback. Before the interview, think of situations where you worked closely with clients to create effective IT strategies or changes.
