IAM Engineer

The Economist Group; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global information organization seeks a technically adept IAM Specialist to manage and evolve its identity ecosystem. This role integrates IT operations, security, and HR technology, overseeing systems like Active Directory and AWS IAM. You will collaborate with Security teams to uphold compliance and ensure secure access to resources while automating workflows linked to the HR system. The position includes a solid benefits package supporting wellbeing, professional growth, and work-life balance.

Benefits

Highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan

Private health insurance

24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources

Work From Anywhere program

Generous annual and parental leave

Dedicated days off for volunteering

Qualifications

• Solid experience administering Active Directory and Okta in a hybrid or cloud environment.
• Working knowledge of AWS IAM including users, roles, and policies.
• Familiarity with HRIS integrations for user provisioning.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain identity access systems including Active Directory and AWS IAM.
• Design automated identity lifecycle workflows synchronized with HRIS data.
• Enforce security principles across identity systems.

Skills

Active Directory administration

Okta administration

AWS IAM

Scripting (Python, PowerShell)

ITIL/ITSM frameworks

Attention to detail

Excellent communication skills

Tools

Jira Service Management

Okta Workflows

Job description

Overview

The Economist Group is seeking a technically adept and security-minded Identity & Access Management (IAM) Specialist to oversee and evolve our identity ecosystem. This role sits at the nexus of IT operations, security, and HR technology—ensuring that our people have the right access, at the right time, with the right controls. You will manage and optimize our identity and access platforms (Active Directory, Okta, and AWS IAM) and integrate them with the Group's HR system, HiBob, to automate the joiner-mover-leaver lifecycle. Working within a modern IT environment, you will contribute to a secure and frictionless digital workplace, supporting both on-premise and cloud infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Administer and maintain Active Directory, Azure AD, Okta Workforce Identity, and AWS IAM accounts, groups, and roles.
• Design and implement automated identity lifecycle workflows, synchronised with HiBob HRIS data.
• Enforce least-privilege and zero-trust principles across identity systems and applications.
• Collaborate with Security and Compliance teams to meet audit, access review, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain IAM documentation, including architecture diagrams, SOPs, and user guides.
• Troubleshoot authentication and provisioning issues across SSO, MFA, and federated applications.
• Contribute to change control processes, ensuring smooth deployment of identity-related changes.
• Support ITSM processes for access requests, approvals, and escalations in Jira Service Management.
• Identify opportunities to improve automation, governance, and reporting using scripting (Python, PowerShell, or similar).

Qualifications

• Solid experience administering Active Directory and Okta in a hybrid or cloud environment.
• Working knowledge of AWS IAM (users, roles, policies, permissions boundaries).
• Familiarity with HRIS integrations (ideally HiBob or similar) for user provisioning.
• Understanding of SAML, OIDC, and SCIM protocols.
• Competent in PowerShell or Python scripting for automation and reporting.
• Comfortable working within ITIL/ITSM frameworks and change control processes.
• Strong attention to detail, with a collaborative and service-oriented mindset.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience with Okta Workflows, Okta Privileged Access, or AWS SSO.
• Knowledge of compliance standards such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, or GDPR.
• Exposure to modern endpoint management (e.g., Intune, Jamf) and device identity concepts.

Benefits

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. Our benefits package is designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance. It includes a highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan, private health insurance, and 24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Program. We also offer a range of lifestyle benefits, including our Work From Anywhere program, which allows you to work from any location where you have the legal right to do so for up to 25 days per year. In addition, we provide generous annual and parental leave, as well as dedicated days off for volunteering and even for moving home. You will also be given free access to all The Economist content, including an online subscription, our range of apps, podcasts and more.