IT Director - Microsoft 365 Services

What You Can Expect In This Role

The IT Director – Microsoft 365 Services is responsible for the strategic leadership, governance, architecture, security, and operational excellence of the organization’s Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This role oversees the design, implementation, optimization, and compliance management of M365 platforms including Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Teams, Power Platform, Purview, and related security and compliance services.

 

The Director ensures Microsoft 365 capabilities are secure, well-governed, cost-effective, and aligned with enterprise productivity, collaboration, regulatory, and digital transformation objectives. This position partners closely with Security, Compliance, Infrastructure, Enterprise Architecture, and Business Leaders to maximize value and manage risk across the M365 environment.

What You'll Do In This Role

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the enterprise Microsoft 365 strategy and roadmap.
• Align M365 capabilities with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and digital workplace initiatives.
• Serve as the executive owner for Microsoft 365 platform lifecycle management.
• Evaluate emerging Microsoft technologies and assess business applicability.

Platform Governance & Compliance

• Establish governance frameworks for Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Power Platform.
• Oversee data retention, information protection, eDiscovery, and compliance policies (Purview).
• Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements (e.g., financial services compliance standards).
• Define standards for provisioning, naming conventions, access control, and lifecycle management.

Security & Risk Management

• Partner with Information Security to implement and maintain:
• Conditional Access policies
• Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
• Insider risk management
• Secure collaboration controls
• Oversee secure configuration baselines and continuous risk monitoring.

Operational Oversight

• Lead administration and operational support for:
• Exchange Online
• Microsoft Teams
• SharePoint Online
• OneDrive
• Power Platform
• Ensure high availability, performance optimization, and service reliability.
• Establish SLAs, KPIs, and operational dashboards.
• Manage incident response and platform-related escalations.

Architecture & Integration

• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture on integration with:
• Azure infrastructure
• On-prem systems
• Third-party SaaS platforms
• Ensure scalable design and long-term sustainability of M365 services.

Financial & Vendor Management

• Oversee licensing strategy and cost optimization.
• Manage Microsoft relationships and strategic partners.
• Develop and manage annual budgets for M365 services and products used within the M365 ecosystem.

Leadership & Team Development

• Build and lead a high-performing M365 engineering and operations team.
• Define roles, responsibilities, and succession planning.
• Promote automation, process improvement, and operational maturity.
• Drive adoption and enablement strategies across the enterprise.

What We're Looking For

• • Bachelor's Degree in field relevant to role preferred
  • 8+ years of progressive IT leadership experience with 2+ years managing Microsoft 365 in an enterprise environment preferred.
  • Deep expertise in:
  • Microsoft security, compliance and governance practices
  • Understanding Microsoft licensing and contract models
  • Strong understanding of cybersecurity, identity, and data governance principles.
  • Experience with hybrid environments (on-prem + cloud).
  • Experience managing and/or implementing the following M365 Solutions
  • Exchange Online
  • Teams & SharePoint
  • Entra ID (Azure AD)
  • Power Platform
  • Tenant Architecture
  • ITIL or similar service management framework experience.
  • Experience operating in a regulated industry (e.g., financial services, insurance, healthcare).

Other Requirements

• Due to the financial nature and level of accountability of this position, a credit and criminal background check is required - The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires Sammons Financial Group Companies to notify you that, as a routine part of processing this application for employment, Sammons Financial Group may request a consumer report on you to verify all information contained in this application. Such report may include information about work-related behaviors, performance, character, general reputation, and personal characteristics, in addition to information about your previous employment, education, credit history and criminal records

What you can expect when you join Sammons Financial Group

• Sammons Financial Group offers a competitive benefit package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.
• Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company-funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
• Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
• Our incentive program for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance.
• Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture.
Salary Range Information

USD $115,531.00 - USD $216,621.00 /Yr. Range includes data points from multiple labor markets. Specific range is dependent on the labor market where the incumbent will be hired to perform the position. Starting salary is dependent on candidate qualifications and experience. For a narrower salary range specific to your labor market, please inquire.
Work Authorization/Sponsorship

At this time, we’re not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.)