Microsoft Cloud Architect Local to Herndon, VA for Face to Face Interview

Job Title: Microsoft Cloud Architect

Location: Onsite in Herndon, VA Local Only

Duration: 12 Months Contract with Rolling Extensions

Interview: Video then On-Site Interview

Key Responsibilities

Leadership Communication & Strategic Alignment

• Develop and deliver compelling, visual presentations (e.g., roadmaps, dashboards, milestone charts) for leadership audiences.
• Translate highly technical information into clear, plain-language briefings tailored to non-technical stakeholders.
• Present updates and recommendations during IT Steering Committee meetings and Town leadership strategy sessions.
• Align cloud modernization projects with Town priorities, budget planning, staffing readiness, and organizational change goals.

Technology Implementation & Execution

• Configure and manage Microsoft Entra ID, Active Directory synchronization, and Intune deployment for full MDM/MAM lifecycle management.
• Lead the hands-on deployment and governance of:
• Zero Trust Security Controls: MFA, Conditional Access, DLP policies, legacy protocol blocking.
• Microsoft Defender for Office 365: Secure Score, policy tuning, threat mitigation.
• SharePoint Online & Microsoft Teams: Migration, permissions model, governance, and user onboarding.
• Perform root cause analysis, remediation, and ongoing optimization of cloud systems.
• Collaborate with vendors and validate that technical deliverables follow Microsoft best practices and align with the Town s architecture standards.

Change Management & Adoption Enablement

• Lead enterprise-wide change management initiatives to ensure smooth adoption of cloud technologies.
• Create tailored communication plans, training roadshows, end-user readiness assessments, and cross-department FAQs.
• Work with department leads and champions to identify training gaps, develop communication materials, and reinforce adoption momentum.
• Monitor and report on user adoption metrics, system usage patterns, and qualitative feedback to refine rollout strategies.
• Anticipate resistance, mitigate transition risks, and create support structures that sustain user engagement post-deployment.

Project Mapping, Coordination & Risk Management

• Create detailed project timelines, interdependency maps, and resource forecasts.
• Collaborate with project managers to track milestones, delivery risks, and mitigation plans.
• Facilitate coordination between vendors, internal IT staff, and department stakeholders to ensure smooth execution with minimal service disruption.
• Proactively identify and escalate delays, blockers, or scope misalignments to maintain momentum and transparency.

Training, Documentation & End-User Support

• Deliver Town-wide training sessions, technical onboarding, and department-focused Q&A forums during rollout periods.
• Create and maintain training guides, job aids, and self-help documentation tailored to different learning levels.
• Provide Tier 2/3 support for escalated issues during key transitions (e.g., cutovers, migrations, policy enforcement).
• Maintain detailed technical runbooks, knowledge base content, and troubleshooting SOPs for sustained operational excellence.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of IT engineering or architecture experience, with at least 4 years focused on Microsoft 365, cloud infrastructure, or cybersecurity.
• Demonstrated experience delivering both hands-on implementation and high-quality executive communications.
• Proficiency in:
• Microsoft Entra ID, AD Connect, and IAM concepts
• Microsoft Intune MDM/MAM
• SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, and OneDrive governance
• Conditional Access, DLP, MFA, and Zero Trust design
• Microsoft Defender for Office 365
• Experience developing executive briefings, project visuals, and user-facing adoption materials.