Information Technology Specialist 5 - Unified Communications & Collaboration Architect

State of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 56,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Minnesota seeks an Unified Communications & Collaboration Architect to lead end-to-end design, implementation, and governance of TRA's enterprise communications. You will own Cisco Webex, Calabrio ONE, InformaCast, and interoperability with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet, guiding migrations, security, and performance across the agency.

Ideal candidates have deep UC experience, strong leadership, and the ability to drive standards, migrations, and vendor coordination while ensuring

Qualifications

• Five years of progressive enterprise UC experience with senior-architect level background.
• Bachelor's degree can substitute for one year of experience.
• Design and deliver UC solutions in complex enterprises with cloud migrations.
• Secure communications: encryption, cert management, SSO/SAML.
• Communicate clearly with diverse audiences and lead multiple projects.
• Knowledge of VoIP/SIP, QoS, and real-time voice/video readiness.
• Exposure to AI/ML features in UC (Webex AI, speech analytics).
• Diagnose complex issues and propose cost-effective solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills to lead and influence across teams.

Responsibilities

• Architect and govern TRA's UC ecosystem end-to-end.
• Oversee Cisco Webex, Calabrio ONE, InformaCast deployments.
• Ensure interoperability with Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet.
• Set technical standards, roadmaps, and vendor direction.
• Provide escalation point for complex issues and migrations.

Skills

UC design

Secure comms

Project leadership

VoIP/SIP

AI features in UC

Troubleshooting

Stakeholder leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT/Software Eng/MIS

Tools

Cisco Webex

Calabrio ONE

Singlewire InformaCast

Zoom

Microsoft Teams

Google Meet

Webex Room Systems

Job description

Working Title: Unified Communications & Collaboration Architect

Job Class: Information Technology Specialist 5

Agency: Teachers Retirement Association

• Job ID : 98081

• Location : St. Paul

• Telework Eligible : Yes

• Full/Part Time : Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited

• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers

• Date Posted : 10/29/2026

• Closing Date : 11/12/2026

• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Teachers Retirement Assoc / Teachers Retirement Asc-MAPE

• Division/Unit : TRA Information Technology / TRA Technology Operations (TechOps)

• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift

• Days of Work : Monday - Friday

• Travel Required : Yes - Up to 10%

• Salary Range: $40.43 - $69.11 / hourly; $84,417 - $144,301 / annually

• Job Class Option : Network

• Classified Status : Classified

• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE

• FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative

• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) has been administering pension coverage to Minnesota educators for decades, with a mission to help members and their beneficiaries plan for an independent and financially secure retirement. We are currently seeking candidates with a strong background in Information Technology (IT) unified communications, exceptional technical abilities, and excellent interpersonal skills for our Unified Communications & Collaboration Architect role.

Our Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C) Architect serves as the agency’s highest-level technical authority for the end-to-end design, implementation, optimization, and governance of TRA’s enterprise communications and collaboration ecosystem. The position is the primary technical owner of the Cisco Webex platform suite, as well as workforce and quality management through Calabrio ONE and enterprise mass notification through Singlewire InformaCast. In addition, the position provides architectural guidance, interoperability oversight, and user-experience stewardship for the universal collaboration platforms used across TRA, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, while providing expert-level network and infrastructure integration for real-time voice and video traffic. Working independently, the incumbent establishes agency-wide technical standards, develops migration roadmaps, directs the technical work of vendors, and serves as the final internal escalation point for the communications systems on which TRA members, employers, the Board of Trustees, and staff depend daily. The position works cross-functionally across the agency to ensure reliable, secure, accessible, and scalable communications services that support agency productivity, business continuity, and member service objectives.

This position is located in our St. Paul, Minnesota office and requires a schedule that includes regular in-person work. Additionally, the incumbent must be able to secure their own transportation for in-state business travel. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time for this role.

Minimum Qualifications

Five years of progressive experience in enterprise unified communications and collaboration, including at least four years in a senior technical or architect-level role.

A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology (IT), Software Engineering, Management Information Systems, or a closely related field can substitute for one (1) year of experience.

The following technical knowledge, abilities, and experience must further be demonstrated:

• Experience designing and delivering unified communications and collaboration solutions in a complex enterprise environment, including migration from legacy on-premises telephony to cloud calling and cloud contact center platforms.

• Experience implementing secure communications standards, including encryption, certificate management, and identity federation (Single Sign On (SSO)/Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML)).

• Ability to communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences, manage multiple concurrent projects, and provide lead work direction to staff, contractors, and vendors.

• Working knowledge of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), quality of service (QoS) design, and network readiness for real-time voice and video, including Domain Name System (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), firewalls, Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal, and Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN).

• Exposure to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning features in unified communications, such as the Webex AI Assistant and speech analytics.

• Ability to diagnose problems, complex system failures, security vulnerabilities, in order to recommend cost-effective and/or alternative solutions.

• Strong interpersonal skills necessary to lead and collaborate on enterprise projects; train a variety of stakeholders; and influence others to resolve conflicting viewpoints.

Successful candidates must also possess the ability to secure their own transportation for in-state business travel and/or conferences. Travel may be required up to 10% of the time for this role.

Preferred Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Management Information Systems, or a closely related field.

Possession of an industry-standard certification (or willingness to obtain in 1 year), such as Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert – Collaboration (CCIE Collaboration), Webex Contact Center Enterprise certification or equivalent training, and/or Calabrio Certified Administrator (WFM/QM).

Proven experience architecting and maintaining emergency mass notification systems (e.g., Singlewire Informa Cast) and enterprise digital signage platforms integrated with notification workflows.

Administration of Webex room systems and DeskPros, including RoomOS configuration and macro scripting.

Calabrio ONE workforce and quality management configuration and administration.

Enhanced 911 (E911) design and compliance for cloud calling, including dispatchable location.

Administration and interoperability of Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, including Cloud Video Interop (CVI).

Experience running Webex, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet in a virtual desktop environment.

API integrations (REST, webhooks, JSON), especially integrating a contact center with line-of-business applications.

Server, virtualization, and storage platforms that support on-premises communications components.

Physical Requirements

This position requires occasional transporting of articles such as file folders, ledgers and/or small tools. May be required to move or maintain a stationary position for long periods of time.

Additional Requirements

Successful candidates must pass past-employer reference checks and a criminal background check.

It is the policy of TRA that all finalist(s) submit to a background check prior to employment. The background check may consist of the following components:

• State of Minnesota state government employment records check (applies to current and past State of Minnesota state government employees only)

• Criminal History Check

• Employment Reference Check

• Social Security and Address Verification

• Education Verification

• Driver's License Check

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [e-mail] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.