Microsoft Solutions Architect

The Planet Group; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Life insurance & disability

Job summary

The Planet Group is seeking a Microsoft Solutions Architect Director to lead the Microsoft Solutions practice across Microsoft 365, Azure, Security, and Power Platform. You will set technical strategy, guide engagements, and establish standards while mentoring senior consultants and architects.

You will oversee solution design, governance, and customer outcomes, partnering with executives to drive transformation, modernization, and scalable delivery.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in Microsoft technologies, consulting, managed services, or enterprise IT leadership.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing consulting teams, architects, engineers, or technology organizations.
• Deep expertise across Microsoft 365, Azure, Security, Identity, and Power Platform technologies.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise transformation, migration, modernization, and managed services engagements.
• Strong consulting, architecture, and customer-facing leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the executive technical leader for the Microsoft Solutions practice.
• Provide strategic guidance across Microsoft 365, Azure, Security, Compliance, Power Platform, Copilot, Identity, and Modern Workplace solutions.
• Lead technical discovery, architecture reviews, assessments, and solution design activities for strategic customer engagements.
• Establish technical standards, reference architecture, implementation methodologies, and consulting best practices.
• Provide executive-level technology advisory services to customer stakeholders.
• Guide technical decision-making and risk mitigation across major engagements.
• Develop repeatable frameworks, accelerators, automation, and intellectual property to improve delivery quality and efficiency.

Skills

Microsoft technologies

Leadership

Executive stakeholder management

Customer-facing communication

Enterprise IT governance

Tools

Microsoft 365

Azure

Power Platform

Security

Job description

Welcome to The Planet Group! We're a global professional services firm delivering strategic staffing and advisory solutions. We operate at the intersection of talent and transformation – connecting the right people with the right opportunities in the areas of technology, engineering, accounting & finance, digital marketing, and manufacturing. Named one of the fastest-growing private companies in the US, The Planet Group operates with a global reach and a performance-first mindset. We partner with clients to move fast, stay agile, and drive measurable results – connecting the right talent with the right opportunity to fuel transformation and growth.

Position Summary

The Microsoft Solutions Architect is a senior technology leadership role responsible for providing technical vision, solution strategy, delivery governance, and organizational leadership across Microsoft-focused consulting, managed services, and transformation engagements. This leader serves as the foremost Microsoft subject matter expert within the practice, guiding both customers and internal teams through complex technology initiatives while establishing technical standards, methodologies, and best practices.

The Director is responsible for developing the technical capabilities of the organization, mentoring consultants and architects, overseeing solution quality, and ensuring successful customer outcomes. While business development and sales support are important aspects of the role, technical leadership, delivery excellence, and organizational development are the primary measures of success.

Key Responsibilities

1. Technical Leadership & Solution Strategy

• Serve as the executive technical leader for the Microsoft Solutions practice.
• Provide strategic guidance across Microsoft 365, Azure, Security, Compliance, Power Platform, Copilot, Identity, and Modern Workplace solutions.
• Lead technical discovery, architecture reviews, assessments, and solution design activities for strategic customer engagements.
• Establish technical standards, reference architecture, implementation methodologies, and consulting best practices.
• Provide executive-level technology advisory services to customer stakeholders.
• Guide technical decision-making and risk mitigation across major engagements.
• Evaluate emerging Microsoft technologies and determine service offering opportunities.
• Develop repeatable frameworks, accelerators, automation, and intellectual property to improve delivery quality and efficiency.
• Maintain technical credibility with customers, consultants, Microsoft representatives, and industry partners.

Success Metrics

• Technical governance effectiveness
• Architecture review outcomes
• Technical innovation and accelerators
• Customer technical satisfaction
• Lead and mentor consultants, engineers, architects, delivery leaders, and future technical leaders.
• Build and maintain a high-performing Microsoft consulting organization.
• Establish career development paths, certification strategies, and technical skill development programs.
• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding technical talent.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Develop succession plans and leadership growth opportunities across the practice.
• Provide performance coaching and professional development guidance.
• Drive organizational maturity through process improvement, knowledge management, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Represent the Microsoft Solutions practice in executive leadership and strategic planning discussions.

Success Metrics

• Promotion and advancement rates
• Team capability growth
• Organizational maturity improvements

3. Delivery Governance & Customer Success

• Provide executive oversight for consulting, managed services, and project delivery engagements.
• Ensure consistent application of delivery methodologies, quality standards, and customer success practices.
• Oversee technical escalation management and major issue resolution activities.
• Partner with delivery leaders to review engagement health, risks, resource alignment, and customer satisfaction.
• Conduct executive project reviews and delivery governance meetings.
• Validate solution quality and technical readiness before major implementations.
• Support service improvement initiatives and operational optimization efforts.
• Establish delivery frameworks that improve consistency, predictability, and customer outcomes.
• Serve as an executive sponsor for strategic customer relationships.

Success Metrics

• Customer satisfaction (CSAT)
• Define the long-term technical vision and roadmap for Microsoft Solutions offerings.
• Drive expansion of service offerings across Microsoft technologies and adjacent solution areas.
• Lead automation, AI, Copilot, and modernization initiatives to improve delivery capabilities.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to identify market opportunities and strategic investments.
• Develop intellectual property, assessment frameworks, migration methodologies, and service accelerators.
• Build strategic relationships with Microsoft and technology partners.
• Ensure practice capabilities remain aligned with evolving customer needs and Microsoft roadmap investments.

Success Metrics

• New service offerings developed
• Innovation adoption
• Strategic technology initiatives launched

5. Business Development Support

While not the primary responsibility of this role, the Director may:

• Participate in executive customer discussions and strategic pursuits.
• Support proposal development and Statement of Work reviews.
• Assist sales teams with technical qualification and solution positioning.
• Contribute to thought leadership, webinars, customer presentations, and marketing content.
• Identify expansion opportunities within existing customer accounts.

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years of progressive experience in Microsoft technologies, consulting, managed services, or enterprise IT leadership.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing consulting teams, architects, engineers, or technology organizations.
• Deep expertise across Microsoft 365, Azure, Security, Identity, and Power Platform technologies.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise transformation, migration, modernization, and managed services engagements.
• Strong consulting, architecture, and customer-facing leadership skills.
• Experience building and developing technical teams.
• Exceptional communication and executive stakeholder management capabilities.

Preferred Technical Expertise

• Microsoft Cloud
• Business Applications
• Leadership & Delivery
• Technical Mentorship

Ideal Candidate Profile

A highly respected Microsoft technology leader who combines deep technical expertise with exceptional leadership skills. This individual is passionate about developing people, solving complex business challenges, guiding enterprise technology strategy, and building a world-class consulting organization. Success is measured primarily through technical excellence, team development, customer outcomes, and organizational growth, with sales support serving as a valuable but secondary responsibility.

Compensation and Benefits

• Unlimited PTO
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Life insurance, short-term & long-term disability, and other supplemental benefits
• A collaborative, growth-oriented culture with ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Base Salary: $180,000- 200,000 annual salary plus potential bonus structure

*The base salary rate will be commensurate with experience level and past success.

SUCCESS STARTS WITH THE RIGHT TEAM

The Planet Group is one of the largest staffing companies in the U.S. with growing operations across Europe, India, and LATAM. If you're searching for a company that is committed to your long-term growth and success, a team of like-minded driven people who can help you develop as a professional, and a place where you'll be rewarded for your efforts.... you've come to the right place! We're an organization of over-achievers and innovators who are driven to help businesses — and each other — thrive.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Join a company that puts diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the forefront. The Planet Group celebrates our differences and fosters an environment where each person can bring their authentic self to work. Employees are encouraged to unleash their innovative, collaborative, and entrepreneurial spirits.