Teams Voice & Video Architect

Teams Voice & Video Architect Description About Pearson: Pearson is a global education company that helps people around the world to make progress in their lives through learning. With a rich heritage that combines 150 years of experience in publishing with the latest learning technology and digital services, we help people to learn whatever, wherever and however they choose. We are now transforming Pearson to accelerate our activity in digital learning, education services and emerging markets. This will enable us to make a lasting impact in helping to solve some of the most important challenges in global education. We believe education is a vital force that can empower people, help them to reach their potential and contribute to more connected communities, all around the world. Our strength comes from our outstanding people; our strong relationships in the education world; our expertise in using technology to help people learn; our global footprint and local reach; and our position as a profitable, global company with a unifying sense of purpose. We're investing in our technology and infrastructure. By working at Pearson, you have a unique chance to make a real difference to the lives of people all over the world. About DWS: The Pearson Digital Workplace Services [DWS] team is simplifying how Pearson employees work, engage and collaborate by using a broad range of technology, initiatives and transformation activities. We are introducing new, globally consistent platforms and services primarily based on Microsoft products: with Office 365 (replacing Google G-Suite) being a key delivery over the next 18 months. Pearson DWS is helping to unite employees around the world, enabling us to operate as a truly global organisation, and ensure that Pearson is fit for the future. About you: We are searching for passionate delivery focused solution architects that can understand, articulate and drive value from our technology. You are already a seasoned veteran leading the Modern Workplace ecosystem across different sized enterprises and sectors, a subject matter expert with a broad lens on Workplace technology: a true ‘T’ shaped individual. Are you ready to be a catalyst for change and innovation in Pearson? You will use your proven track record of cultivating professional relationships across key stakeholders and work tirelessly with our global business units, technology, engineering and security teams to distill and deliver Pearson’s requirements. You will be responsible for the strategy for leading Pearson to adapt to changing and emerging technologies. You will lead the service design and are critical to the service transition into our operations. You have a creative approach to devising new solutions and enhancements, you are the key to managing the technical roadmap, driving technology adoption, meeting business and security demands. As a key member of our team, you bring your proven history of developing strong relationships with Microsoft. You will have insight to future changes, roadmaps and direction at Microsoft. You will be Pearson’s advocate and work to influence Modern Workplace and other peers and partners towards Pearson’s business requirements. Above all this is an exciting time to work at Pearson: we are evolving the way we deliver the latest Microsoft workplace and security products in new and agile ways. Meshing automation, CI/CD and agile practices that will be both challenging and rewarding as we transition into a true Digital Workplace Service. Role purpose: The Teams Architect provides end to end technology ownership for Microsoft Teams based voice and video services to support Pearson’s global businesses. This role is responsible for Pearson’s technical solution for global voice and video network, interoperability with associated legacy voice, video and event streaming communications technologies, immersive video conferencing technology and multi-party voice and video collaboration across different end points and use cases. The role is responsible for the strategic architecture, design, automation, engineering, product lifecycle and development of all in scope Microsoft and related voice and video services. To realize these goals and objectives the position must balance core Microsoft technology, product vision and with a delivery focused pragmatism with an eye on workplace experience plus business value. The role also encompasses wider awareness of the Microsoft Modern Workplace platform working across regions in a strong multi-disciplined architecture group embracing agile ways of working. Key responsibilities As a direct report to the Director of UCC and Collaboration within the Digital Workplace Services group, the candidate will be responsible for: Developing short and long-term strategic Microsoft technology roadmaps, backed by pragmatic designs that support our enterprise technology roadmaps and key business objectives Participate and contribute to the running of a cross region Architecture function that will drive and govern the Digital Workplace Services and provide deep technology leadership and vision Building plans and policies for Microsoft Teams and associated voice and video communications services, strategies and technologies. Establishing a consistent and progressive strategy and architecture for unified communications exploiting new market opportunities as appropriate. Strategically plan, develop and drive implementation of new initiatives to enhance the global business. This includes projects related to investments and improvements Embrace, sponsor and coach agile ways of working with a view to fully automating the configuration and management of our Microsoft Teams services Ensuring that required metrics are understood and available. These metrics make certain the platform remains operational, optimized and available to business end users Ensuring that key platform product life cycles are understood, tracked, and communicated with appropriate remediation when required Coordinating design team support for future M&A activities. This support includes initial impact assessments, planning through to design, and implementation of the technical integration aspects of the merger as they relate to UCC and Teams Services. Deliverables and outcomes (Within 12 months) Deliver Teams strategic Voice and Video blueprint, working with Director of UCC and Collaboration. Support the delivery of the myWorkplace Programme and ensur