Partner Technical Architect at Microsoft

Job number: 676663
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Travel: 0-25 %
Profession: Technical Sales
Employment type: Full-Time
Role type: Individual Contributor

Job Descriptions

• Joining the MEA One Commercial Partner team (OCP) as a MEA Partner Technical Architect (PTA) means you will be playing a critical role helping Microsoft Partners to capitalize Digital Transformation market opportunity. Working in OCP means you are shaping the world’s largest eco-system of technology companies.
• Microsoft’s Mission: Through our partners Microsoft brings digital ambitions to life by helping companies empower their employees, engage their customers, optimize their operations, and transform their products.
• The Regional Partner Technical Architect (PTA) The PTA plays a critical role in working with partners to provide deep Modern Desktop & Unified Endpoint Management technical support through solution build and first mile customer engagements including Proof of Concepts, Architectural Design Sessions (ADS), Hackathons.

Responsibilities

• The Partner Technical Architect (PTA) will drive practice-based partner technical capabilities in collaboration with the PTS. This is a partner facing role that is accountable for developing and support practices in both existing and newly recruited partners.

Key responsibilities include:

• Technical Enablement: Jointly develop technical enablement plan for partners
• Enablement Execution: Lead and or contribute to the delivery of workshops, Bootcamps, trainings necessary to build the technical skills and expertise of partners
• Technical Engagement: Lead deep technical engagements leveraging the Services Framework, including; Technical Briefings, Proof of Concepts, Architectural Design Sessions, Hackathons to define, bring new solutions to market and support the partners development teams
• Partner Skilling and Sharing Best Practices: Network and collaborate with Microsoft’s Engineering and Global Black Belt teams on specific skill requirements for partners and the sharing of best practices
• Technical Acumen: Understands technology trends and opportunities, compliance/risk issues by reading, attending webinars, conferences delivered by Industry thought leaders such as Gartner, Forrester, IDC, ISG/Saugatuck
• The Participation Economy: Joins the Participation economy attending Digital Transformation/Technology conferences like Build. Participates on technical panels and user groups and contributes with insights and work that is shared in communities such as MSDN and Channel9
• Technical Network: Invests in own LinkedIn Profile to promote value, experiences and expertise. Responsible for building an expansive Network of partner technical contacts and internal contacts including Engineering, Global Black belts, M&O and peer Architects
• Evangelist: Evangelizes the partners practice and solutions in customer’s implementations via Technical briefings, Architecture Review Sessions
• Implementation Success: Improves partner’s implementation success by increasing the number of FastTrack endorsed architects in the partner’s organization.
• Pre-Sales: Enable the partner on technical pre-sales skills while supporting initial partner’s wins.
• The PTA is a Technical Architect building relationship with partner technical and development resources designing and architecting new solutions on the Microsoft Modern Desktop platform and Unified Endpoint Management. PTAs deliver value via a portfolio of service delivery engagements optimized to accelerate partner solution builds and first mile customer wins.
• The PTA should possess deep solution and technical expertise to be able to lead technical activities and drive high priority initiatives aligned to the Microsoft Partner Journey Maps in collaboration with Microsoft teams and the partner.
• The role will need to develop required solutions and build partner technical capacity by working with the managed partner portfolio through the Build-With lifecycle, from recruit to grow, aligned to partner segment.
• The PTA will own the technical engagement including envisioning briefings, technical briefings, business architecture, solution architecture, architectural design reviews, proof of concept, and manage specific implementation programs with corresponding Proofs of Concept plans.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of digital transformation business drivers, cloud platforms, emerging computing trends and their impact on partner practice building opportunities.
• 5+ years of related experience in technology solutions/practice development, Cloud / Infrastructure technologies. Knowledge of MS platform especially Microsoft 365, Office 365, project management, technical Sales and technical account management is expected.
• Experience in end-user solutions and technical architectures in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, Office 365 clients and Modern Desktop technology components like SCCM, Intune, AD, BitLocker, Virtualization, RMS, Windows 10, Office 365 “as a service” is preferred.
• Proven track record of building deep sales relationships with CXOs and practice building executives in ISV and Services (MSP, CD, SIs)
• Able to work cohesively with members of the Microsoft sales, services, and marketing organizations and Microsoft partners
• Strong negotiation, organizational, presentation, product demo, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Inclusive and collaborative - driving teamwork and cross-team alignment
• Strong partner relationship management skills
• Strong executive presence including communication and presentation skills with a high degree of comfort to large and small technical audiences.
• Problem solving mentality leveraging internal and/or external resources, conflict resolution, and follow through with partners.
• Technical BS degree, Computer Science or Math background required. MS in related fields desirable.

Additionally, the following skills are preferred: 

• Enterprise-scale experience with cloud and hybrid infrastructures, architecture designs, migrations, and technology management, Demonstrated knowledge of identity, authentication, security, privacy, and compliance, and how they factor into cloud and hybrid solution, Enterprise-scale experience with cloud and hybrid infrastructures, architecture designs, migrations, and technology, assessment and workshop delivery, ability to influence others, experience working in teams and cross teams, executive presence, consultative and technical selling, challenger mindset, product demo skills

Additionally, the following certifications are preferred: 

• Certification in Windows and Office 365 client technologies (MCSA or MCSE) preferred.
• Certification in information security (CompTIA, CEH, CISSP, CISAM) desired
• Certification in IT Infrastructure Architecture (CITA, MCA, MCSE) desired
• Certification in Virtualization solutions (MCITP, MCSE) desired

Benefits and Perks

• Industry leading healthcare
• Savings and investments
• Giving programs
• Educational resources
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Opportunities to network and connect
• Discounts on products and services
• Generous time away