The Microsoft Architect is based in Chicago and is the Firm's senior technical authority on the Microsoft platform and is accountable for the architecture and evolution of Sidley's Microsoft estate. The role's first priority is a well-architected, governed, and consistently deployed productivity foundation (SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Exchange Online and Outlook, the Microsoft 365 applications, Entra, Purview, Graph, and tenant administration) so that lawyers and staff can collaborate securely and client confidentiality is protected by design. On that foundation, the Architect leads Copilot enablement across the Firm, layers in the broader Microsoft AI platform (Foundry, Work IQ, Fabric IQ, Foundry IQ, and Microsoft Scout) as readiness allows, and partners directly with Microsoft engineering to maximize the return on the Firm's investment.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Design and own the target-state architecture and standards for the Microsoft productivity estate, including SharePoint and OneDrive information architecture, permissions and sharing, lifecycle, and SharePoint Advanced Management to keep the estate Copilot-ready.
- Architect Teams (including Teams Phone and Rooms), Exchange Online and Outlook, Microsoft 365 Groups, and the wider Microsoft 365 application portfolio, including data residency, Microsoft 365 Backup, and integration with the Firm's document management systems.
- Lead enterprise deployment and remediation of the Microsoft stack, retiring inconsistent policies, oversharing, and legacy configuration through pilots, waves, and change management.
- Configure Microsoft Entra and design the tenant's administrative architecture: the Microsoft 365 permission model, admin roles, tenant-wide policies and configuration profiles, and configuration-as-code baselines.
- Establish, with Information Security and Information Governance, the Microsoft Purview architecture (sensitivity labels, data loss prevention, retention, information barriers, eDiscovery, and legal hold) and the interfaces to Intune, Defender XDR, and Entra.
- Drive Copilot enablement across the estate (readiness and data hygiene, licensing, grounding, connectors, and adoption guardrails), operate the Copilot Control System, and establish the agent identity and governance model (Entra Agent ID, Microsoft Agent 365, and Copilot Studio).
- Architect Microsoft Foundry and its integration with the Azure estate, define governance for Fabric, Power BI, and the Power Platform, and translate Microsoft's AI and productivity roadmap (Work IQ, Fabric IQ, Foundry IQ, and Microsoft Scout) into Firm priorities, pilots, and licensing inputs.
- Liaise with Microsoft engineering as the Firm's primary technical counterpart, bringing requirements and escalations to Microsoft; partner with Security, Enterprise IT Services, Network, Endpoint, and business stakeholders; and mentor Microsoft 365 administrators and engineers.
Education and/or Experience:
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- A minimum of 7 years architecting or administering Microsoft 365 in an enterprise environment.
- Deep understanding of SharePoint Online and OneDrive, and enterprise-level expertise in Microsoft Copilot, Teams, Exchange Online and Outlook, and the Microsoft 365 productivity applications.
- Deep knowledge of the Microsoft 365 permission model, policies, and configuration profiles, with proficiency in the Microsoft 365 admin center, the Copilot Control System, and the workload admin centers.
- Foundational understanding of Microsoft Entra and the ability to configure Entra and other Azure-based services; working knowledge of Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Graph, Intune, and the Power Platform.
- Ability to architect Microsoft Foundry within an Azure estate, with a base understanding of Work IQ, Fabric IQ, and Foundry IQ and current awareness of Microsoft's AI roadmap, including Microsoft Scout.
- Demonstrated experience partnering directly with Microsoft engineering or product teams, and the ability to produce clear architecture documentation for technical and non-technical audiences.
Preferred:
- Microsoft certifications such as Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert, Identity and Access Administrator Associate, or Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
- Law firm or professional services experience, including confidentiality, ethical wall, and information governance requirements, and integration with document management systems such as iManage or NetDocuments.
- PowerShell and Microsoft Graph scripting, and hands-on experience with Copilot Studio, agent development, or the Defender XDR stack.
Other Skills and Abilities:
The following will also be required of the successful candidate:
- Strong organizational skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Good judgment
- Strong interpersonal communication skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Able to work harmoniously and effectively with others
- Able to preserve confidentiality and exercise discretion
- Able to work under pressure
- Able to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and priorities
#LI-Hybrid
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Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or in the future
The target salary range for this role is:
$161,400 - $229,950 if located in Illinois
Salaries vary by location and are based on numerous factors, including, but not limited to, the relevant market, skills, experience, and education of the selected candidate. Our compensation package also includes bonus eligibility and a comprehensive benefits program. Benefits information can be found at Sidley.com/Benefits.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Duties and Responsibilities above satisfactorily and meet the requirements. The requirements listed above are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. If you need such an accommodation, please email
sidleytalentacquisition@sidley.com?subject=Recruiting%20Accommodation%20Needed
(current employees should contact Human Resources).
Sidley Austin LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer.