M365 Messaging & Collaboration Architect – 11929HSARCHITECT

Key Responsibilities

• Define the strategic roadmap for Microsoft 365 messaging and collaboration services.
• Develop enterprise reference architectures, technical standards and design patterns.
• Own the architectural direction for Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Purview and related Microsoft 365 services.
• Evaluate emerging Microsoft technologies and define adoption strategies.
• Align technology roadmaps with business objectives and enterprise architecture principles.

Solution Architecture & Technical Leadership

• Produce high-level and low-level solution designs for complex Microsoft 365 programmes.
• Act as Design Authority for messaging and collaboration solutions.
• Provide architectural leadership across enterprise transformation and migration initiatives.
• Review and validate technical designs, ensuring alignment with security and architectural standards.
• Guide engineering teams through complex implementations and technical challenges.

Security, Governance & Compliance

• Define secure-by-design architecture across Microsoft 365 services.
• Lead architectural design for Microsoft Purview, Defender for Office 365 and enterprise email security solutions.
• Define governance frameworks covering information protection, DLP, retention and compliance.
• Own messaging security architecture, including Proofpoint integration, mail flow, SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
• Work closely with Cyber Security teams to embed Zero Trust principles and strengthen the security of collaboration platforms.

Transformation & Innovation

• Lead Microsoft 365 transformation and modernisation initiatives.
• Define the architecture and adoption strategy for Microsoft 365 Copilot and emerging AI capabilities.
• Support secure enterprise AI integration and governance.
• Identify opportunities to improve collaboration services and the modern workplace experience.
• Influence technology investment decisions and long-term platform roadmaps.

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

• Build strong relationships with senior technology leaders and business stakeholders.
• Work across Enterprise Architecture, Cyber Security, Identity, Infrastructure and Engineering teams.
• Lead design reviews and provide architectural assurance.
• Mentor engineers and technical SMEs, promoting architectural best practice.
• Represent Messaging & Collaboration within enterprise architecture forums.

Essential Skills & Experience

• 8+ years’ experience designing and delivering Microsoft enterprise collaboration platforms.
• Extensive architectural experience across Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft Teams.
• Proven experience developing enterprise architecture strategies, technical roadmaps and design standards.
• Experience leading Microsoft 365 transformation programmes.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Microsoft 365 governance.
• Experience architecting enterprise email security solutions, ideally Proofpoint.
• Strong understanding of Microsoft Entra ID, Conditional Access and Zero Trust principles.
• Experience with Exchange Hybrid environments and complex migrations.
• Knowledge of PowerShell, Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 administration.
• Strong understanding of mail flow architecture, DNS, SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
• Experience producing HLDs, LLDs, reference architectures and technical design documentation.
• Proven experience working within Enterprise or Solution Architecture functions.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior technology and business leaders.

Desirable Experience

• Microsoft 365 Copilot architecture, readiness and transformation.
• Global or multi-region Microsoft 365 environments.
• Mergers, acquisitions and tenant consolidation programmes.
• Regulated financial services or highly governed enterprise environments.
• Teams Phone, SharePoint Online and OneDrive architecture.
• Azure Automation and Microsoft Power Platform.
• AI governance and Microsoft Fabric integration.
• TOGAF or equivalent architecture framework.
• ITIL and Agile delivery methodologies.