Microsoft Team Lead (Infrastructure & Operations)

Solicited Co Trading as Codematch; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park Kingsway Campus is seeking a Microsoft Team Lead (Infrastructure & Operations) to lead a team of IT professionals in managing Microsoft applications and server infrastructure. The role supports the university's digital strategy by ensuring secure, available, and scalable Microsoft environments.

The successful candidate will deploy, maintain, and optimize on‑premises and cloud solutions, mentor staff, and contribute to IT policy and strategic

Qualifications

• Degree or relevant IT qualification (NQF 7) is required.
• 3–5 years IT infrastructure experience.
• 2–3 years in a technical middle management role.
• Proficiency in AD/Entra ID, Azure, Microsoft 365, PowerShell.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and administrative support within the department.
• Ensure successful deployment, maintenance and support of Microsoft environments (on‑premises & cloud).
• Manage and coordinate operational activities to maintain continuous system availability.
• Contribute to the university IT strategy and implementation of best practices.
• Mentor and coach team members on Microsoft technologies.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and provide strategic solutions.
• Stay updated with the latest Microsoft technologies and industry trends.

Skills

Technical Leadership

Microsoft Technologies

Windows & Azure

IT Infrastructure

Team Coaching

Education

Degree or relevant IT qualification (NQF 7)

Tools

Active Directory/Entra ID

Microsoft 365/Intune

PowerShell

Azure Cloud

Hyper-V/VMware

System Centre Suite

Job description

Microsoft Team Lead (Infrastructure & Operations)

Job Openings Microsoft Team Lead (Infrastructure & Operations)

About the job Microsoft Team Lead (Infrastructure & Operations)

Job Title:Microsoft Team Lead (Infrastructure & Operations)

Job Summary:We are looking for a Microsoft Team Lead to join the Information & Communication Systems Division: Infrastructure & Operations at the University of Johannesburg (Auckland Park Kingsway Campus). The incumbent will lead a team of IT professionals, ensuring the effective management of Microsoft applications and server infrastructure to support the universitys digital strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical Leadership:

• Provide technical expertise and administrative support within the department.
• Ensure successful deployment, maintenance, and support of Microsoft environments (on-premises & cloud).
• Manage and coordinate operational activities to maintain continuous system availability.
• Contribute to the universitys IT strategy and implementation of best practices.
• Mentor and coach team members on Microsoft technologies.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues and provide strategic solutions.
• Stay updated with the latest Microsoft technologies and industry trends.

Operational Management:

• Ensure IT infrastructure security, reliability, and efficiency.
• Develop and enforce IT policies, procedures, and security measures.
• Liaise with vendors for incident resolution and contractual obligations.
• Oversee the testing and deployment of Microsoft systems.
• Maintain documentation for Microsoft infrastructure architecture.

Documentation & Reporting:

• Maintain accurate documentation of IT processes and systems.
• Prepare and present reports on system changes, project status, access reviews, and IT operations.

Problem Solving & Decision-Making:

• Make informed decisions based on short-term and long-term impacts.
• Foster a problem-solving mindset within the team.

Project Coordination:

• Negotiate contracts & agreements with vendors.
• Manage IT projects, ensuring timely completion within budget.
• Ensure projects align with business goals & university IT strategy.
• Contribute to the annual infrastructure & operations budget.
• Draft and evaluate tender documentation for Microsoft solutions.
• Implement and support ICT vendor management.
• Consult and advise university departments regarding their server & application requirements.
• Ensure collaborative engagement across university campuses.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

Required:

• Degree or relevant qualification (NQF 7) in IT.
• 3 to 5 years of job-related experience.
• 2 to 3 years of experience in a technical middle management role.
• Proficiency in:
  • Active Directory & Entra ID.
  • Virtualization infrastructure.
  • Windows Operating Systems.
  • Microsoft Azure infrastructure.
  • Microsoft 365 & Intune.
  • PowerShell scripting.
  • Cloud computing & virtualization (Azure, Hyper-V, VMware).
  • Networking protocols & security.
  • Microsoft SQL.

Preferred:

• Security skills: Experience in security hardening techniques for Windows environments.
• Patch & vulnerability management.
• Experience with Microsoft System Centre Suite:
  • Virtual Machine Manager.
  • Operations Manager.
  • Configuration Manager.
• Identity Management: Strong understanding of identity governance.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage IT projects effectively.
• Vendor Management: 2+ years of experience managing vendor relationships.

Experience Level:

• Minimum 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in IT infrastructure & operations.
• Minimum 2 to 3 years in a technical middle management role.

Location & Work Type:

• Onsite role based at Auckland Park Kingsway Campus.
• Must be available to support all UJ campuses as needed.
• Remuneration: Market-related.
• Employment Type: Permanent.
• Employment Equity (EE) position.
• Strong leadership & mentoring abilities.
• Commitment to high-quality service delivery.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving & troubleshooting skills.
• Ability to develop innovative solutions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects & deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail & quality assurance.
• Ability to work independently & within a team.