Lead Cloud Services Specialist

NOTE: This is not a full-time telework position. If selected you must be able and willing to commute to and work in our physical office location at 1500 Jefferson ST SE Olympia WA. A hybrid work schedule may be available after training and/or probationary period has been successfully completed. Schedule working hours for this position is Monday - Friday 8AM to 5PM. Upon hire a different work schedule could be approved by the manager if it matches team availability. Some schedule flexibility will be required such as occasional evening and weekend work.

The Department of Enterprise Services (DES)provides centralized business services to state government agencies; to other public entities such as cities counties and tribes; and to Washington residents. DES mission is to strengthen the business of government for a sustainable and just future. Learn more about DES.

About Technology Service Division (TSD):
Our Technology Services Division (TSD) is not just another team in a government agency. We are an innovative cross-functional and high-performing group that focuses on providing seamless solutions and IT consultative services to our customers and business partners. We embrace a customer-driven IT environment by working collaboratively to solve problems. We provide innovative solutions that connect people and eliminate waste from processes by simplifying work. Our work impacts other state agencies counties cities and the people of Washington. Technology Services division is responsible for supporting the internal and enterprise applications that facilitate the success of DESs lines of business. Some of the services that DES delivers includes contracting mail fleet surplus printing and imaging workforce support & development enterprise risk management visitor services finance and HR for internal and small agencies facilities and capital campus security systems including duress and physical access. We embrace change and respect new ideas. If you are looking for a challenging and meaningful career and a place where your talents make a difference in the lives of Washingtonians TSD is the place for you!

About this Opportunity:
The Application Development team within Technology Services division of DES is responsible for the architecture solution design development and operations across the full range of applications that serve business needs of DES and other statewide agencies other government entities and citizens. The Lead Cloud Services Specialist plays a pivotal role in driving a full-scale digital transformation and modernization effort across the agency. As a strategic leader you will design and implement solutions that reshape how the agency operates - modernizing legacy systems automating manual workflows and advancing the use of integrated cloud technologies to enhance collaboration and data accessibility across all divisions. This position enhances organizational efficiencies reduce the reliance on in-house standalone applications and expand the use of our data to accomplish data-driven decision-making.

We are seeking an incumbent who has advanced expertise in troubleshooting automation and cloud technologies along with the ability to evaluate and implement new tools and systems. You will be responsible for planning prioritizing and executing Cloud Services/Ops activities with minimal supervision. Some of the essential duties include directing team activities setting priorities and ensuring alignment with organizational technology strategy and roadmap. This position leads cloud operations across platforms such as Azure and other cloud technologies supporting automated deployments and system reliability using technologies C# PowerShell JavaScript M365 D365 and Power Platform (PowerApps).

The Lead Cloud Services Specialist reports to the Senior Application Development Manager within the Technology Services Division.

For more information email the recruiter Rachel Vaughan: and and request the full job description.

Duties Include:
Serve as the lead for Microsoft 365 administration responsible for delivering secure reliable and user-focused M365 services across the agency

• Independently research design develop and deploy
• Administer ensuring availability reliability and performance
• Monitor system health analyze and test systems for performance
• Ensure regular backups of data
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders
• Collaborate with the agencys Information Security team
• Implement and maintain access controls
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues provide end-to-end root cause analysis
• Analyze industry-wide trends and make recommendations

• Mentor and train IT team members on cloud services and technical best practices by sharing expertise in M365 applications and fostering skill development
• Diagnose and resolve complex technical issues related to M365 applications working closely with IT team members to develop their problem-solving skills
• Support team members in the areas of SaaS and COTS solutions to enhance the technical expertise of the unit
• Influence the team for right design and technology implementation and give future architectural direction
• Guide team members
• As the lead plan prioritize and monitor team workload and deliverables
• Foster a positive team environment by recognizing contributions and supporting professional growth
• Develop and maintain structured planning and work management processes

• Analyze user systems requirements at senior level
• Administration governance and strategy for adopting and supporting Microsoft Power Platform
• Lead design implementation and maintenance
• Develop alternative and innovative solutions
• Develop Power BI dashboards and reports
• Responsible for managing application configuration
• Ensure all security policies and procedures like scanning logging and monitoring etc. are met
• Develop system-testing plans write test harnesses
  

• Collaborate with IT team leads
• Provide guidance on cloud-native services

• Support integration

• Researchevaluate and stay current on emerging AI ML and LLM technologies
• Collaborate with application data security and business teams to explore and pilot AI-enabled solutions
• Establish and promote foundational standards best practices and governance for AI usage
• Support integration of AI capabilities into existing systems applications and workflows
• Monitor and assess outcomes

• Delivers high quality applications and solutions
• Contributes to developing strong Engineering Practices
• Ensure following tenets of development are considered as part of the design: Accessibility Security Privacy and Safety Application compatibility Performance and Manageability
• Ensure that automated maintenance and monitoring tools are shipped
• Ensures Test Driven Development and culture of Continuous Integration Continuous Delivery Culture of Experimentation and Lean Agile as a way of operating
• Contributes towards improving common components and shared libraries that can enable rapid development of similar features in future

• Manage the development and delivery of training programs and conduct training sessions for end-users on M365 applications
• Ensure training materials and user guides are updated and accessible to all employees

Required Qualifications Education Experience and Competencies
To qualify for this position you must have a total of 11 years of combined qualifying education or qualifying experience.

Here are multiple ways to meet the qualifications for this position:

OPTION 1

• Eleven (11) or more years of experience supporting Microsoft technologies including Office Exchange Active Directory and SharePoint with at least four (4) years of experience administering Microsoft 365 cloud environments to include:

  • Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Azure and a solid understanding of cloud architecture and cloud service models

  • Demonstrated experience in performing business and system analysis with the ability to lead technical initiatives and provide consultation to meet customer and organizational needs

  • Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex system and infrastructure issues including cloud and hybrid environments

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and effectively collaborate across cross-functional teams

• An associates degree in computer science OR equivalent to two (2) years ofvocational training in a technical field
  AND
• Nine (9) or more yearsof experience supporting Microsoft technologies including Office Exchange Active Directory and SharePoint with at least four (4) years of experience administering Microsoft 365 cloud environments
  • Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Azure and a solid understanding of cloud architecture and cloud service

  • Demonstrated experience in performing business and system analysis with the ability to lead technical initiatives and provide consultation to meet customer and organizational needs

  • Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex system and infrastructure issues including cloud and hybrid environments

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and effectively collaborate across cross-functional teams

• Abachelors degree in computer science information systems or related technical discipline
  AND
• Seven (7) or more yearsof experience supporting Microsoft technologies including Office Exchange Active Directory and SharePoint with at least four (4) years of experience administering Microsoft 365 cloud environments
  • Demonstrated experience with Microsoft Azure and a solid understanding of cloud architecture and cloud service

  • Demonstrated experience in performing business and system analysis with the ability to lead technical initiatives and provide consultation to meet customer and organizational needs

  • Proven ability to troubleshoot and resolve complex system and infrastructure issues including cloud and hybrid environments

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and effectively collaborate across cross-functional teams

• Excellent verbal listening and written communication skills
• Experience working with cloud platforms (e.g. Azure) and supporting cloud adoption migration or hybrid environments
• Knowledge of DevOps practices including CI/CD pipelines and version control tools (e.g. Azure DevOps Git)

• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification
• Experience working in hybrid (on-premises and cloud) environments
• Exposure to emerging technologies such as AI/ML/LLM in cloud platforms
• Experience working in hybrid (on-premises and cloud) environments

• Communications - ability to concisely and effectively interact with other individuals as well as internal and external organizations
• Teamwork - ability and desire to work cooperatively with others participates and fosters teamwork and influences other within a team
• Interpersonal Skills - ability to notice interpret and anticipate others concerns and feelings and to communicate this awareness empathetically to others
• Growth mindset - ability and eagerness to learn curiosity self-motivation
• Analytical Mindset - analytical methodical approach
• Product Mindset - consider customer perspective and experiences when designing systems
• Personal Responsibility - personal and professional characteristics that are needed to meet the organizations expectations and demands of the workplace
• Customer Relations - ability to anticipate assess and respond effectively to the needs of diverse customers
• Job Management - ability to take responsibility for their own performance by setting clear goals and balancing critical job requirements through the proper use of task management results orientation stress management and problem-solving skills
• Drive For Results - ability to drive for results not merely finding the boundary of responsibility but following a problem through to its conclusion to solve it once and for all is a skill and ability which a successful engineer should exhibit
• Technical Excellence - ability to apply technical excellence

• Able to learn and understand the language and concepts of our DES DEI culture and commit to being a part of creating and maintaining a diverse equitable respectful and inclusive workplace
• Demonstrate a commitment to growth learning and self-awareness when provided training and opportunities to participate in improving our work environment
• Participate and behave in a manner that creates trust and builds working relationships promoting teamwork and collaboration in the work environment
• Demonstrate the understanding that all people are valued; contribute to an equitable inclusive and respectful environment when working with members of the group team organization or community
• Commit to being an active participant in continually evaluating improving and supporting strategies that promote an enduring environment of equity inclusion and belonging in our organization.

Special Requirements / Condition of Employment

Please note that this position does not provide immigration sponsorship. Applicants must possess work authorization that does not require employer sponsorship.

• Must successfully pass a criminal background check

How to Apply

Interested We would love to hear from you! Click Apply at the top of this page to start your application. You can save the application and come back to it if needed. Be sure to complete the application fully to include a full work history and responses to the supplemental questions.

Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

• A letter of interestthat details why you are the successful candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position
• A current resume detailing experience and education
• A current list of at least three (3) professional referenceswith current contact information