What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Analyst (Directory Services & Messaging) position at Recru, LLC?
Lead Analyst – Active Directory, Azure & Microsoft 365
- 100% Onsite in Downtown Houston
- 12 month Contract w/ possible extension
Job Summary
We’re looking for an experienced Lead Analyst to own and improve our Active Directory, Azure, Microsoft 365, and messaging environments. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working in hybrid environments (on‑prem cloud) and wants to lead modern identity, messaging, and collaboration solutions that support the business.
You’ll serve as a technical lead and subject matter expert, working closely with security, IAM, compliance, and business teams to deliver secure, scalable, and reliable Microsoft services.
What You’ll Do
Infrastructure & Cloud Leadership
- Design, support, and optimize Exchange (on‑prem & Exchange Online) environments
- Lead migrations from on‑prem Exchange to Exchange Online (cutover, staged, hybrid)
- Architect and manage Microsoft 365 services including Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Power Platform
- Oversee Active Directory design, health, security, and scalability
- Configure and maintain GPOs, DNS, PKI, and authentication services
Identity, Security & Automation
- Manage Entra ID (Azure AD), authentication, SSO, MFA, and OAuth
- Partner with IAM, Security, and Compliance teams to implement best practices
- Administer Intune for endpoint and mobile device management
- Automate processes using PowerShell, Graph API, APIs, and Ansible
- Perform regular security reviews and audits
Operations & Support
- Act as an escalation point for complex AD, Azure, and messaging issues
- Support collaboration tools like Exchange, Teams, Zoom, Workspace ONE
- Maintain clear documentation and operational standards
- Participate in 24x7 on‑call rotation
Leadership & Collaboration
- Mentor and support other analysts
- Provide technical guidance across teams
- Help drive adoption of Microsoft 365 and Azure services across the business
What We’re Looking For
Experience & Skills
- 5 years of hands‑on experience with:
- Active Directory, Azure, Microsoft 365, Exchange
- Hybrid cloud environments
- PowerShell scripting and automation
- Strong knowledge of:
- Exchange Server (2013–2019) & Exchange Online
- Windows Server (2012, 2016, 2019, 2022)
- Intune and mobile device management
- Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps)
- Authentication protocols (SSO, MFA, OAuth)
- Experience with cloud migrations
- Solid understanding of cybersecurity best practices
Nice to Have
- Experience with SailPoint and CyberArk
- Azure and AWS access management experience
- Microsoft certifications (Azure Administrator, Azure Architect, M365 Enterprise Admin)
Soft Skills
- Strong leadership and communication skills
- Comfortable working with cross‑functional teams
- Excellent problem‑solving and troubleshooting abilities
Day‑to‑Day Priorities
- Attend project and planning meetings
- Lead Exchange Online and Intune migration tasks
- Support business adoption of Azure and Microsoft 365
- Manage work queues and serve as the SME for your platforms