We currently have a hybrid opportunity available in the Columbus, OH area for a Manager of Unified Communications & Microsoft 365.
The Manager of Unified Communications & M365 is responsible for the strategic direction, daily operations, and continuous optimization of the organization’s enterprise communication and collaboration platforms. This onsite leadership role oversees Cisco telephony, Microsoft Teams voice, Direct Routing, voicemail, conferencing, contact center solutions, and Microsoft 365 collaboration services.
This leader manages the engineering, administration, support, and lifecycle management of the unified communications (UC) ecosystem, ensuring secure, reliable, and high-performing services that support clinical, administrative, and enterprise business needs. The role requires deep expertise in Cisco and Microsoft 365 technologies, strong vendor and stakeholder management capabilities, and proven experience leading technical teams in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities
Cisco Unified Communications Leadership

Own the architecture, administration, and lifecycle management of Cisco UC platforms, including:
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM)
- Cisco Unity Connection
- Cisco IM & Presence
- Cisco Webex (Calling, Meetings, Messaging)
- Cisco Contact Center solutions (UCCX/UCCE/Webex Contact Center, as applicable)
Lead PSTN strategy, SIP trunking, SBC configuration, and carrier integrations.
Ensure high availability, call quality, disaster recovery, and business continuity for voice and video services.
Manage Cisco endpoints, including desk phones and video devices, along with firmware lifecycle.
Serve as the technical authority and escalation point for complex UC issues.

Microsoft 365 & Teams Integration

Oversee Microsoft 365 collaboration services, including:
- Microsoft Teams (chat, meetings, voice integrations)
- Exchange Online
- SharePoint Online
- OneDrive for Business
Design and support Cisco–Microsoft integrations:
- Teams and Cisco calling interoperability
- Cisco Webex devices with Microsoft Teams meetings
- Hybrid/coexistence models between Cisco UC and Teams Phone
Establish governance, standards, and best practices for enterprise collaboration platforms.
Drive adoption strategies and user enablement initiatives.

Security, Identity & Compliance

Partner with security teams to implement secure collaboration and communication controls, including:
- Identity integration with Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD)
- MFA, Conditional Access, and RBAC controls
- Data retention, eDiscovery, and compliance policies across Cisco and M365 platforms
Ensure secure external collaboration and regulatory compliance requirements are met.

Leadership & Team Management

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of UC and M365 engineers and administrators.
Provide technical direction, performance management, and career development planning.
Establish operational processes, documentation standards, escalation paths, and on-call support models.
Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and service excellence.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

Act as primary liaison with Cisco, Microsoft, telecom carriers, and UC service providers.
Manage licensing strategy, contracts, renewals, and cost optimization for Cisco and Microsoft platforms.
Collaborate with business and clinical leaders to align communication solutions with organizational objectives.
Develop and manage budgets related to UC and M365 services.

Operations & Continuous Improvement

Monitor platform health, service availability, and user experience.
Define and report on KPIs for call quality, uptime, adoption, and support performance.
Drive modernization initiatives, automation efforts, and continuous service improvements.
Develop strategic roadmaps for evolving communication and collaboration platforms.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field (or equivalent experience).
7+ years of experience in IT collaboration, messaging, or unified communications.
3+ years of experience managing Microsoft 365 in an enterprise environment.
2+ years of people or technical leadership experience.
Hands-on experience with Cisco UC platforms (CUCM, Unity, Webex, Contact Center).
Experience with Microsoft Teams voice, Direct Routing, and hybrid collaboration models.
Strong understanding of SIP, VoIP, SBCs, PSTN integrations, and call routing.
Knowledge of identity management, security controls, and compliance frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications

Cisco certifications (CCNP Collaboration, CCIE Collaboration) or Microsoft certifications (MS-700, M365 Enterprise Admin, Teams Administrator).
Experience in healthcare or other regulated industries.
Experience with cloud migrations or UC modernization initiatives.
ITIL or service management experience.

Competencies & Skills

Strategic thinking with strong operational execution
Advanced troubleshooting and systems architecture expertise
Strong vendor negotiation and cost optimization skills
Executive-level communication and stakeholder engagement
Ability to lead through change and platform transformation
Analytical mindset with KPI-driven decision making

Work Environment

Onsite leadership role with potential for after-hours support during maintenance windows or critical incidents.
May require participation in on-call rotation or emergency response efforts.

The Manager of Unified Communications & M365

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