**NOTE: This position will require travel to other locations throughout the Continental U.S., up to 75% as needed. Preference is that this role is located in the East Geography of the US**
Are you excited about an opportunity to drive adoption of Microsoft’s newest enterprise products? Are you a strong consultant with expertise in telephony platforms and with a passion for delighting customers and partners? If so, Microsoft Enterprise Services is the right place for you!
In this role, the Consultant possessing the right skills and abilities will play a critical role in helping to accelerate adoption of software powered VoIP products and services solutions based on Microsoft Lync products globally by leveraging a centrally managed, highly skilled and agile pool of resources with deep subject matter expertise.
Microsoft Services is looking for Consultant(s) who have a mix of advanced Microsoft technology and strategic business acumen. The role requires both broad and deep technology knowledge and the ability to architect solutions by mapping common customer business problems to end-to-end technology solutions.
Demonstrated ability to engage in senior level technology decision maker discussions related to business value, unified communications, messaging and telephony technologies is a must. The Unified Communications Voice and Mobility Consultants are key enablers for our customers. They oversee delivery of the largest, most complex, and most strategic projects for enterprise customers.
The ideal candidate must have experience in the following areas:
• Voice and Data Platforms (TDM PBX & IP-PBX, Video MCU) Voice and Data Networks (PSTN, Wireless, IP) , UC & C Applications (Voice Call Control, Audio/Video/ Web Conferencing, IM/Presence, CDR, E-911, Voice/Fax and Unified Messaging) Enterprise Interaction Management (EIM), Work Force Management, Sales Automation, Contact Centers (ACD, IVR, CRM), Application Integration Services ( TAPI, TSAPI, JTAPI, CSTA). Knowledge of SS7, GRR303, H.320, H.323 and SIP protocols. Knowledge of TCP/IP networking, switches, routers and firewalls, network bandwidth management.
• VoIP/telephony experitise including knowledge of competitive solutions (ie. Cisco, Avaya/Nortel), working knowledge of PBX integration scenarios (ie. Communications Server deployed with the intent to handle voice communications; including the ability to make inbound and outbound PSTN voice calls via third party PBX, gateway or SIP Trunk
• Strong consulting background and in depth, hands on customer delivery experience with Microsoft Office Communications Server R2 with emphasis on the Enterprise Voice specific workloads within OCS R2 and up to Microsoft Lync
• Large scale, multi-site design, rollout and operational experience around core Microsoft Infrastructure components and OCS R2 or Lync Voice workloads
• Field consulting experience (i.e with large global Customers / Partners) on infrastructure architecture design, developing solution guidance and leading complex consulting engagements
• Credibility with senior level customer architects representing the traditional voice, server infrastructure and network functional areas. The ideal candidate will capably address the technology challenges and opportunities affecting each technical discipline allowing him/ her to bridge the knowledge and communication gap that often exists between these technical stakeholders - advancing adoption as a result
• A Microsoft MCSE certification, or OCS R2 Masters certification is highly desirable
Successful candidates must have experience delivering consulting engagements, managing customer expectations, a command of the voice technologies and other components that make up the core Unified Communications product family. The candidate must have deep technical knowledge and also possess the communication skills and organizational agility to guide customers through multi-year initiatives.
Where necessary, the candidate must also be able to perform the hands-on technical content development work on their own and deliver readiness training and speaking at conferences. The role requires an individual who is resourceful, confident under pressure, and has demonstrated skill in both crisis management and expectation management.
Key deliverables and associated activities include:
Providing Customer guidance
• Work with customers to align technology to their business opportunities and needs in context of their communications platform strategy including Cloud based opportunities
• Develop strategies to guide customers through multi-year initiatives leveraging each Communications Server and/or Cloud S+S release to ultimately decommission the existing competitive VoIP solution/PBX
• Identify solution system interfaces, constraints, scope, cost, risks and value
• Document business, information, application and technology aspects of approach
Business strategy and solutions
• Provide technical guidance to internal practice management
• Develop business and market solutions and strategies
• Support sales organization in architect-driven pre-sales initiatives
• Align with and support Microsoft product and strategy teams
Successful solution deployments
• Ensure proper business value and customer/partner satisfaction
• Provide quality assurance over both sales opportunities and project delivery
• Make go/no-go decisions on technical approaches
• Engage and lead Microsoft and partner resource
Grow and mentor others
• Create and champion technical community
• Develop architect talent pipeline
• Recruit and mentor consultants and architects
Operational excellence and innovation
• Drive IP development and reuse initiatives
• Drive best practice, architectural awareness initiatives
Qualifications
• Must have a degree in Computer Science or Engineering or equivalent work experience.
• At least 10-12 years related technology experience.
• Work experience must involve technical consulting, solution design, project envisioning, planning, development, deployment, and management.
• Must have a proven record of delivering business value/consulting services for large enterprise customers
• Some business process and people management skills or related experience required.
• Candidates must have deep understanding of customer and partner business and IT environment, and have demonstrated skills architecting and deploying technology to solve business problems.
• Candidates must have industry leading depth knowledge of subject area, and have demonstrated analysis and communication skills (written and verbal) connecting technology and business problems.
• Candidates will have attended Voice Ignite (or equivalent)
• Microsoft Certified Master for OCS, Cisco CCNA Voice or CCIE Voice and/or PBX vendor certifications are a BIG plus
We are looking for experienced individuals to be located in the US to be a part of this exciting team. In addition, the position will require travel to other locations throughout the Continental US.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, marital status, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected status.
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