Office 365 Architect, M365 Technical Architect

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Job description

Our client a leading Government body is seeking to recruit an Office 365 Architect.

The M365 Technical Architect is best described as a Builder/Architect. They will work with the Service Owner to implement new components of the M365 service in a secure fashion; whilst also working with projects and programmes of all scales to support delivery of end-to-end cloud architectures, that leverage M365 components, and implement designs based on requirements, strategic drivers, best practice, and guidance.

The role holder has the primary responsibility for ensuring that any M365 based solution is fit for purpose, meets business need, and can highlight any areas of deficiency or strategic conflict.

The M365 Technical Architect plays an active and often practical part in the realisation of the design to deliver the desired business outcomes, which can involve the actual build out of cloud infrastructures, using templates or similar approaches to enforce compliance to standards and patterns.

The M365 Technical Architect is expected to cover the end-to-end solution ie, the business, information/data, application, and technology aspects of the solution with support from specialists in both business and other technical domains. They will work with colleagues to ensure solution designs meet service and operational needs.

Key responsibilities

Update the M365 roadmap with each new M365 component as it is put into Public Preview by Microsoft. Map out how those features will support user needs and liaise with the broader architecture function to identify early adopters for each feature.

Design logical and virtual components of M365 architectures that will enable the delivery of the required business outcomes and services.

Provide support to the Cloud Centre of Excellence on the optimal approach for evolving the M365 services offered to the business and deploying specific M365 technologies as part of an application. This will include advising on and potentially implementing the optimal configuration, which aligns with National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) 'Best' practices and usability.

Creation of appropriate formal architecture products for (amongst other activities) product selection, options, and impact assessment to validate solution choices, or to enable traceability and provide corporate knowledge for ongoing support efforts.

Coordinate the efforts of specialist colleagues (such as security and identity) to contribute to end-to-end service designs, ensuring quality and coherence throughout the cloud solution layers.

Work with operations colleagues to review then, where possible, Approve or Reject Requests for Change to Production Services, ensuring Production services are not exposed to unacceptable risk.

Work with operations colleagues in support of recovery from Major Incidents, where M365-based services are impacted.

Work with project managers and service owners to provide whole life costing for the components of the architecture to support the selection of best value approaches and inform the organisation as to the economy of their solutions estate.

Work with commercial colleagues to provide input to tender materials and conduct supplier and product evaluation.

Work with service and operations colleagues to define and implement service needs and ensure that sustainable and manageable services are delivered.

Support technical and service requirements capture, design and assurance including injection of architectural stories into backlogs.

Identification and management of "technical debt" items related to M365 features, including justification and exception seeking for initial adoption and exit plan for future remediation.

Actively support and contribute to the domain lead aspects of the team function by providing specialist insight and hands-on experience into one or more cloud technology domains.

Technical

A practical understanding of architectural models of application, solution delivery, delivery methodologies and ways of working.

Strong hands-on experience and knowledge of at least two of the major components within the M365 ecosystem (Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, Security) coupled with a broad understanding of the range of M365 capabilities, which may be selected from to deliver required solution capabilities.

An understanding of the technical implications of delivering to both on premise infrastructure and cloud (or hybrid) environments and an understanding of the associated economics.

A desire to prove, pilot and learn new technologies and keep up to date with industry best-practice, external disruptors and adapt accordingly.

Demonstrate the ability to identify areas where specialist input is required and to coordinate the required resources and consider their advice and input constructively in the broader context of a defined solution.

Skills and Experience

Experience of working in a multi-supplier environment, both designing aspects of solutions and assuring the work of others to ensure coherent designs support an end-to-end service.

Experience of designing and implementing M365 architectures in support of IT programme and projects to a large user base.

Experience of estimating and contributing to project planning, dependency, and risk maps from a technical perspective.

Able to demonstrate the ability to arbitrate in difficult situations and make decisions that may carry significant delivery and/or financial consequences.

Able to demonstrate the ability to think pragmatically to balance architectural elegance, value for money and appropriate adoption of risk while delivering M365 Technical architectures.

People Source Consulting Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. People Source specialise in technology recruitment across niche markets including Information Technology, Digital TV, Digital Marketing, Project and Programme Management, SAP, Digital and Consumer Electronics, Air Traffic Management, Management Consultancy, Business Intelligence, Manufacturing, Telecoms, Public Sector, Healthcare, Finance and Oil & Gas.