Sr. Technical Project Manager

Sr. Technical Project Manager – Microsoft 365 Cross-Cloud Tenant to Tenant Migration

for a 6+ month contract in Long Beach, CA. We would prefer candidates local to the Long Beach, CA area, Partially onsite, partially remote.

Position Summary:

Our government client is seeking an experienced and technically proficient Microsoft 365 Cross-Cloud Tenant-to-Tenant Migration project manager to plan, lead and execute the migration of our client's data and services from one Microsoft 365 tenant to another. As the client's Project Manager and technical specialist, you will play a critical role in leading a smooth and seamless transition of data, configurations, and identities between the source and target tenants while maintaining data integrity, security, and compliance. This consultant will have led at least two previous migrations of this type. As the client-side project manager, this position must be experienced with vendor management. Key responsibilities include project planning and management, task assignment and tracking, issue and risk management, status reporting, facilitating project meetings, pre-migration assessment, data and settings migration, Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and identity management, SharePoint and OneDrive migration, Microsoft Teams migration, email and messaging migration, domain and DNS configuration, testing and validation, user communication and training, data security and compliance, change management and user adoption, documentation, risk management, and post-migration support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Management: Develop a comprehensive migration plan, including timelines, milestones, resource allocation, and communication strategies, to ensure a smooth and successful migration process. Track issues and escalate when appropriate. Oversee vendor tasks associated with the following:

• Pre-migration Assessment: Conduct a thorough assessment of the source and target environments to identify data, configurations, and dependencies that need to be migrated.
• Data and Settings Migration: Execute the migration of data, configurations, and settings from the source tenant to the target tenant. This includes migrating emails, files, SharePoint sites, OneDrive accounts, and other relevant data.
• Identity and Access Management: Handle the migration of user identities and access rights, ensuring a seamless transition for users and maintaining security and permissions.
• Azure AD and Domain Configuration: Set up and configure Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) in the target tenant, including synchronizing users, groups, and attributes from the source tenant.
• Email and Messaging Migration: Plan and execute the migration of email data, distribution groups, and other messaging-related components between the source and target tenants.
• SharePoint and OneDrive Migration: Migrate SharePoint sites, document libraries, lists, and OneDrive for Business data while preserving metadata, permissions, and workflows.
• Microsoft Teams Migration: Handle the migration of Teams, channels, chats, and associated files, ensuring seamless collaboration for users in the target tenant.
• DNS and Domain Configuration: Manage domain configurations and DNS settings to ensure a smooth transition and proper functioning of services in the target tenant.
• Testing and Validation: Conduct thorough testing and validation of migrated data and services to identify and resolve any issues before finalizing the migration.
• User Communication and Training: Communicate with end-users about the migration process, provide training if needed, and address any concerns or questions during the migration.
• Change Management: Implement change management strategies to facilitate user adoption, manage resistance, and ensure a positive user experience throughout the migration.
• Data Security and Compliance: Ensure data security and compliance with relevant regulations throughout the migration process, taking necessary measures to protect sensitive information.
• Post-migration Support: Provide post-migration support to address any user-reported issues and ensure a smooth transition to the target environment.
• Documentation: Create detailed documentation of the migration process, configurations, and any customizations made during the project.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation plans to minimize disruptions and downtime during the migration.
• Collaboration with Stakeholders: Collaborate with various stakeholders, including IT teams, management, and end-users, to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify lessons learned from the migration project and contribute to the improvement of future migration processes and best practices.
• Project cost and schedule: Monitor project cost and schedule while maintaining an appropriate level of quality in deliverables.
• Reporting: Provide regular status reports on project health, overall progress, identify and communicate any roadblocks/risks, and escalate as needed to the project sponsor.

Required Knowledge and Experience:

1. Minimum of 8 years of experience in Microsoft 365 administration, with a focus on tenant-to-tenant migrations.

2. Microsoft 365 Suite Expertise: In-depth knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications, including SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Teams, and other services. Understanding how these services interact and their dependencies is crucial for a smooth migration.

3. Microsoft 365 Tenant Architecture: Familiarity with the architecture of Microsoft 365 tenants, including user roles, groups, licenses, and domain configurations, is necessary for planning and executing the migration.

4. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): A strong grasp of Azure AD is essential for managing user identities, authentication, and authorization during the migration. Understanding Azure AD Connect and Azure AD synchronization is particularly important.

5. Data Governance and Compliance: Knowledge of data governance principles and compliance regulations is important when dealing with sensitive data during the migration. Ensuring data integrity and security is maintained throughout the process is crucial.

6. Migration Tools and Methods: Experience with third-party migration tools and Microsoft's native migration methods is essential. Understanding their capabilities and limitations will help in selecting the most suitable approach for the specific migration requirements.

7. Network and Connectivity: Understanding network requirements and connectivity between the source and target tenants is crucial for ensuring a stable and efficient migration process.

8. Pre-migration Assessment: Conducting a comprehensive assessment of the source and target environments to identify potential issues and plan for remediation is critical for a successful migration.

9. Troubleshooting and Issue Resolution: Experience in troubleshooting and resolving migration-related issues is essential for overcoming unexpected challenges that may arise during the migration process.

10. Change Management and Communication: Proficiency in change management and communication is important for informing and guiding users through the migration process, minimizing disruptions, and managing user expectations.

11. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Understanding backup and disaster recovery procedures is important to have a safety net in case of any unforeseen problems during the migration.

12. Project Management: Experience in project management is necessary to plan, schedule, and execute the migration project efficiently. This includes defining milestones, assigning tasks, and managing resources effectively.

13. Migration Best Practices: Familiarity with best practices for Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations is crucial for reducing risks and ensuring a successful outcome.

14. Effective verbal and written communication skills

Desired Skills:

1. Microsoft 365 Expertise: In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 applications, services, and features, such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Teams, and Azure AD.

2. Data Migration Experience: Proven track record of successfully executing complex data migration projects, ideally involving Microsoft 365 tenant-to-tenant migrations.

3. Troubleshooting and Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and resolve migration-related issues efficiently.

4. Communication and Collaboration: Excellent communication skills to interact with stakeholders, team members, and end-users, and the ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.

5. Adaptability: Flexibility and adaptability to handle unexpected challenges and changes that may arise during the migration project.

6. Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure data integrity, minimize errors, and maintain compliance throughout the migration.

7. Project Management: Understanding of project management principles, including planning, status reporting, scheduling, issue and risk management, and resource allocation.

8. Data Governance and Compliance: Knowledge of data governance best practices and compliance regulations to ensure data protection and security during the migration process.

9. Change Management: Experience in change management practices to facilitate user adoption and manage expectations during the migration.

10. Technical Documentation: Ability to create detailed technical documentation for the migration process, configurations, and post-migration support.

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or related field can provide a strong foundation for understanding the technical aspects of the migration.

Certifications:

• Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert. Validates expertise in Microsoft 3