Solutions and Strategy Lead

About CDW

CDW is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers around the Globe. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW was founded in 1984 and employs over 15,000 coworkers, with headquarters across the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

CDW prides itself on “making amazing happen”. Our relationships are fueled by our deep expertise and are grounded in the CDW Way. Our empowering leadership makes things happen and inspires their teams to do the same. From the teammates beside us to the leaders who guide us, we move forward together.

Job Summary

CDW UK’s Configuration department, running out of our National Distribution Centre, a 200,000sqft Automated warehouse and Configuration operation in Rugby UK is responsible for the Pre staging and configuration of a wide range of Technology products, across all sectors. From End user compute to retail and restaurant technologies and the infrastructure that powers them all, our configuration services underpin how CDW goes to market and offers a hassle free, pre configured delivery of all types of hardware to its customers.

At the forefront of the technical delivery and direction sits our Solutions and Strategy team, lead by the Solutions and Strategy lead.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead a team of Technical and Pre sales configuration specialists
• Identify new technologies and how to ensure we can support customers configuration requirements
• Drive the use of automation techniques including scripting, AI, RPA and other technologies that can increase productivity and accuracy
• Work with the Professional Services teams to attach Configuration services to sales and drive more technical engagements and pre-staging opportunities.
• Promote the Configuration department within the wider business, and be an ambassador of the department.
• Work closely with coworkers from various technical disciplines across various departments to plan delivery approaches and problem solve
• Be the SME for the technical delivery of configuration services
• Be the technical product owner for configuration services
• Work collaboratively with internal and external customers, ensuring all requirements are understood, translated, documented and transitioned into work packages
• Work alongside Break-Fix (repair/refurbish) delivery teams to ensure Configuration requirements can be met
• Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures
• Ensure clear Statements of work are produced for service delivery
• Look forwards into the Technology industry to identify new services and changes in vendor behaviours that could require changes in approach
• Support the effective productisation of Configuration services and ensure frameworks are adhered to and amended where necessary
• Ensure configuration services and those who deliver them are highly security focused

Management Responsibilities:

• Manage the recruitment, training, performance, development and promotion of the solutions and strategy team
• Capacity planning and reporting, ensuring workloads are managed and justifications for additional resources are backed with data

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Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

Essential:

• Strong ability to inspire and motivate
• Strong background knowledge of networking, security, and cloud computing.
• At least three years of experience in configuration and testing of IT products and solutions, preferably in an IT reseller environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong knowledge and skills in IT hardware, software, networking, and security.
• Enthusiastic about technology, eager to learn and share knowledge within the team.
• Proven track record of delivering change and driving technical efforts to benefit customers with extensive experience of agile delivery techniques and methodologies
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Experience in developing and empowering teams, managing performance, and fostering a positive culture.
• A demonstrable track record of getting stuff done whilst managing competing pressures and deadlines and retaining an eye for detail and quality.
• A passion for technology and its ability to have a positive impact on business.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong engagement and negotiation skills.
• Attention to detail and quality orientation.
• Ability to take control of a situation and drive the best outcome for the business
• Problem-solving and analytical skills. Quick to understand new concepts and work with fresh ideas in a dynamic environment.

Nice to have:

• CCNA/CCNP highly desirable (not essential) or proven to work at required level.
• Other languages, such as C#, PowerShell
• ITIL v4 foundation or above
• Experience using Lean methodologies to achieve improvements

Essential Attributes:

• Be a leader who can manage, inspire, and live by the CDW code.
• Highly motivated self-starter with ability to work with executives, managers, and individual contributors at all levels.
• Passionate about what you do and making a difference.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills
• The ability to multitask and manage multiple work streams and problems simultaneously.
• The ability to prioritise tasks through organisation and delegation.
• Able to demonstrate a positive, proactive, results driven team approach.
• Customer centric
• Confident and able to bring others on a journey
• Ability to communicate with coworkers of all levels and abilities including executive level leadership
• Able to take articulate a technical challenge to non technical people with patience
• A highly energetic individual with a passion to lead, develop and contribute.
• Able to demonstrate adaptability in response to changing needs and priorities.
• Reliable, tolerant, and dependable under pressure.
• Able to work to deadlines.
• Has a professional ‘can do’ attitude and approach.
• A strong leader that can positively influence and inspire others to excel.

More about CDW and your career with us:

At CDW, you’ll work with people who inspire you. People with positive, success-driven attitudes whom you will learn and forge strong relationships with. Bring your best true self — and your best ideas — to CDW. Because diverse perspectives bring forth better problem solving — and better solutions for our customers in a rapidly evolving technology landscape.

CDW is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a policy of non-discrimination towards all coworkers and applicants for employment in all aspects of employment. CDW does not discriminate against any applicant because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/belief, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis that is prohibited by local employment law, including those protected by the UK Equality Act 2010.

We encourage candidates from all walks of life to apply and join us in our mission of cultivating a culture of belonging, diversity and inclusion for better collaboration, innovation, and business results.

Together, we strive to create a workplace where everyone feels like they belong and is empowered to bring their full energy, capabilities and authenticity for coworker and business benefits. Will you be a part of it?

What we offer:

Life Assurance

Competitive Contributory Pension

Private Medical Insurance

Enhanced Maternity Pay

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Option to buy additional holiday

Dental Insurance

Season Ticket Loan + additional perks