Head of Digital Workplace Collaboration Platforms, Engineering & Architecture

Head of Digital Workplace Collaboration Platforms, Engineering & ArchitectureLocations: Bethlehem, PA | Holmdel, NJ | Hudson Yards, NY Department: Digital Workplace Reports To: Head of Digital WorkplacePosition SummaryGuardian is seeking a highly experienced and hands on technology leader to lead our Collaboration Engineering & Architecture function within Digital Workplace.This role is responsible for the strategy, architecture, engineering, governance, security, and operational excellence of Guardian's collaboration ecosystem, including Microsoft 365, Exchange Online, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, messaging services, collaboration integrations, conferencing technologies, and emerging workplace productivity capabilities.The ideal candidate is not simply a people manager. We are looking for a proven leader who currently leads a similar collaboration engineering, messaging, workplace technology, or Microsoft 365 organization and remains deeply technical. This individual must be capable of engaging in executive strategy discussions one moment and technical architecture reviews, escalations, and design decisions the next.This role will lead a team of collaboration engineers and architects while partnering closely with Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, Cloud Engineering, Enterprise Architecture, Application Development, Service Management, Identity & Access Management, and business stakeholders across the enterprise.Key ResponsibilitiesCollaboration Platform Strategy & ArchitectureDevelop the vision, strategy, architecture, and roadmap for enterprise collaboration technologies.Define long-term architecture for Microsoft 365 collaboration services.Evaluate emerging technologies and determine adoption strategies.Establish platform standards, design patterns, and governance models.Drive platform modernization initiatives and technical debt reduction.Develop business cases and investment recommendations for collaboration technologies.Messaging & Collaboration EngineeringProvide leadership and technical oversight for:Exchange OnlineEnterprise Messaging ServicesMail Flow ArchitectureSMTP Relay ServicesEmail Security IntegrationsMicrosoft TeamsTeams PhoneTeams MeetingsTeams GovernanceSharePoint OnlineOneDrive for BusinessMicrosoft 365 GroupsViva and Collaboration ExtensionsCollaboration-related AI and Productivity ServicesProofpointZoomServe as senior technical escalation point for complex collaboration issues.Microsoft 365 Platform OwnershipLead engineering and operations for:Microsoft 365 tenant architectureCollaboration service lifecycle managementService health and reliabilityTenant governancePlatform configuration managementLicensing strategy and optimizationAdoption of new Microsoft capabilitiesPartner with Microsoft and strategic vendors to influence roadmaps and resolve critical issues.Security, Risk & CompliancePartner with Cybersecurity and Risk teams to:Implement collaboration security controlsSupport data protection initiativesDrive compliance with regulatory requirementsImplement retention, governance, and information protection controlsManage audit findings and remediation activitiesImprove security posture across collaboration platformsCollaboration Integrations & Business SolutionsLead engineering support for:Teams integrationsSharePoint integrationsOneDrive integrationsMicrosoft Graph solutionsSaaS platform integrationsWorkflow and automation solutionsProvide architecture review and governance for collaboration-related projects across the enterprise.Service Reliability & Operational ExcellenceAccountable for:Platform availabilityService resilienceDisaster recovery readinessBusiness continuity planningIncident responseProblem managementCapacity planningPerformance optimizationEstablish operational metrics, service objectives, and engineering standards.Leadership & Talent DevelopmentLead and develop a high-performing engineering organization.Build strong technical leadership capabilities within the team.Drive accountability and execution.Mentor engineers and architects.Develop succession plans and talent pipelines.Foster a culture of innovation, ownership, and customer focus.Vendor & Financial ManagementManage strategic relationships with strategic partners.Oversee platform licensing and vendor spend.Develop annual investment plans and business cases.Drive cost optimization while maintaining service quality.Required QualificationsLeadership Experience10+ years of IT experience.5+ years leading Collaboration, Messaging, Microsoft 365, Workplace Technology, or Infrastructure Engineering teams.Currently serving in a Director, Head, Senior Manager, Principal Architect, or equivalent leadership role.Deep Technical ExpertiseExpert level experience with:Microsoft 365Exchange OnlineExchange HybridMicrosoft TeamsSharePoint OnlineOneDriveEntra ID (Azure AD)Microsoft GraphTeams VoiceTeams GovernanceEmail SecurityMail FlowSMTPIdentity IntegrationStrong knowledge of:PowerShell AutomationMicrosoft PurviewDLPRetention PoliciesComplianceInformation GovernanceZero Trust ArchitectureArchitecture & EngineeringDemonstrated experience:Designing enterprise-scale collaboration environmentsLeading platform migrations and transformationsBuilding governance frameworksSupporting large-scale Microsoft 365 deploymentsDesigning resilient and highly available collaboration servicesPreferred QualificationsMicrosoft 365 Enterprise Administrator certificationMicrosoft Certified Azure Solutions ArchitectMicrosoft Teams Administrator certificationITIL certificationExperience in highly regulated industriesExperience leading enterprise collaboration transformationsExperience with AI enabled workplace technologies and Microsoft CopilotLeadership Profile We Are SeekingThis is not a traditional operational manager role.The successful candidate will be:A recognized collaboration technology leader.Deeply technical and architecture oriented.Comfortable challenging vendors and influencing senior leaders.Equally effective discussing strategy with executives and reviewing technical designs with engineers.Passionate about Microsoft 365, messaging, collaboration, and workplace productivity.Proven in leading through organizational and technology change.Why This Role MattersThis leader will own the engineering and architecture foundation that enables how Guardian employees collaborate, communicate, share knowledge, and remain productive. They will be responsible for ensuring our collaboration platforms remain secure, reliable, scalable, modern, and positioned to support future innovations in AI, intelligent productivity, and digital workplace transformation.Salary Range:$132,420.00 - $217,545.00The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.Our PromiseAt Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.Inspire Well-BeingAs part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at . Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.Equal Employment OpportunityGuardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.AccommodationsGuardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.Visa SponsorshipGuardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in RecruitmentAs part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools") to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at ). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to View email address on click.appcast.io, making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via View email address on click.appcast.io, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here. Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.SummaryLocation: New York; Bethlehem; HolmdelType: Full time