Technical Transformation Lead- Garages

About us Halfords is a £1.7bn leading UK provider of motoring and cycling services with a diverse portfolio spanning specialist retail, an extensive garage network and a growing B2B offering. Together, these businesses enable us to support customers and offer integrated, convenient solutions, from e-bike and electric vehicle servicing to on-demand motoring services. With a national footprint and a growing services proposition, our ambition is to build a best-in-class automotive services business that customers trust and colleagues are proud to be part of. We lead the market through customer-driven innovation, expert service and a distinctive product range, giving customers compelling reasons to return throughout a lifetime of motoring and cycling. We are trusted experts who take pride in keeping the nation moving.The business is evolving further and the trajectory is compelling, with our Garages MD joining in 2025 to lead our next phase of growth. This role plays a central part in shaping how our garage network evolves to meet the future of the automotive industry. About the role This is a strategic technical leadership role focused on defining how our garage network will operate in the future. You will be responsible for shaping the technical direction of the estate, covering equipment, tooling, diagnostics, standards, quality, compliance and capability. This is not a day-to-day operational role. It is about setting the blueprint for how we operate as the industry continues to evolve. Working across Operations, Property, Commercial and People teams, you will bring together multiple inputs to define a clear, forward-looking technical strategy that ensures our garages are equipped, capable and ready for future demands, including developments in electrification, connectivity and wider automotive technology. A key part of the role is establishing and maintaining robust technical and quality standards across the network. You will provide independent oversight, ensuring that safety, compliance and quality are embedded in how we operate, while also identifying opportunities to improve how work is carried out in practice. Key responsibilities: - Define and own the technical strategy for the garage estate, setting direction for equipment, tooling, diagnostics and future capability - Establish clear technical and quality standards across the network, ensuring consistency, safety and compliance - Provide expert guidance on investment decisions, ensuring equipment and technology choices align with future requirements rather than short-term cost considerations - Monitor industry trends, regulatory changes and emerging technologies, translating insight into practical, business-relevant direction - Partner with Property, Commercial, Operations and People teams to ensure alignment between technical standards, training, estate evolution and service propositions - Lead the development of quality frameworks, audit processes and continuous improvement mechanisms across repair and service activities - Oversee technical investigations, identifying root causes of issues and feeding learning back into training, standards and operating processes - Shape training and competence frameworks to ensure colleagues are equipped with the skills required now and in the future - Act as a central point of expertise and authority on technical matters, influencing decisions across the organisation About you - Deep technical expertise within the automotive or garage sector, with a strong understanding of repair processes, diagnostics, tooling and workshop operations - Proven experience in a strategic or leadership role where you have defined standards, frameworks or future direction rather than purely operating within them - Strong understanding of industry trends, including electrification and emerging vehicle technologies - Experience translating technical knowledge into clear, practical strategies and roadmaps - Credibility and authority to influence senior stakeholders across multiple functions - Strong problem-solving capability, with the ability to balance technical, commercial and operational considerations - Experience in quality, compliance or technical governance environments would be highly beneficial - A forward-thinking mindset, with the ability to anticipate future needs and shape how the business responds Reward & benefits - A competitive salary, benchmarked against market data, alongside car allowance and annual bonus - Pension, life assurance and 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays - Ongoing personal and professional development, with support to grow your career within Halfords - Hybrid working, with a mix of field, office and home-based work. - Access to a wide range of colleague discounts across Halfords products and services - A strong focus on wellbeing and inclusion, with support and resources to help you thrive at work Diversity & Inclusion At Halfords, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for our colleagues. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds, embracing diversity within our one Halfords family.