Senior IT Technician - O365 Administrator

1. Purpose of the Role

RussellStone Technologies needs a senior technical staff member to own key functions currently handled by the Group IT Manager - primarily Microsoft 365 / Entra ID administration - so that day-to-day technical execution no longer depends on one person. This role carries deep technical ownership and takes senior-level tickets and projects off the Group IT Manager's plate.

This is not a decision-making or client-relationship-owning role. All business, client, and strategic decisions remain with the Group IT Manager. HR and candidates should understand this role as execution capacity and technical depth, not delegated authority - important context when screening for fit, since some senior candidates will expect more autonomy than this role offers.

2. Key Responsibilities

Microsoft 365 / Entra ID Administration (Primary Focus)

• Own day-to-day administration of Microsoft 365 across all client tenants - Exchange Online, SharePoint/OneDrive, Teams.
• Manage Entra ID: user lifecycle, groups, conditional access policies, MFA enforcement.
• Administer Intune for device management and compliance policies.
• Manage Purview / retention and compliance policies where required by client contracts.

Senior Technical Delivery

• Take ownership of escalated tickets that exceed the Junior Technician's scope, resolving independently where possible.
• Troubleshoot infrastructure and networking issues - routing, VPNs, firewalls, switching.
• Execute security incident response steps (compromised accounts, phishing containment) under the Group IT Manager's direction.
• Work within a help desk platform, following existing ticketing and escalation workflows.

Team Support

• Act as a senior technical point of reference for the Junior Technician - answering questions, reviewing work, sharing knowledge.
• Flag any decision requiring client, commercial, or strategic judgement to the Group IT Manager rather than deciding independently.

3. What This Role Is Not

• Not a client-relationship owner - client communication happens under the Group IT Manager's direction.
• Not a people manager - no direct reports or disciplinary authority.
• Not a decision-making deputy - all business and strategic decisions remain with the Group IT Manager.

4. Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• 5+ years' experience in an MSP or corporate IT environment, with substantial hands-on Microsoft 365 / Entra ID administration.
• Demonstrable, practical knowledge of conditional access, Intune, and Exchange Online administration verified via practical/technical assessment during interview, not CV claims alone.
• Comfortable resolving escalated technical issues independently, without needing constant oversight.
• Valid driver's licence and own transport for occasional site visits.
• Matric / NQF 4 or equivalent.

Certification (Conditional)

Formal Microsoft certification is not a strict prerequisite for application. RussellStone values demonstrated, hands-on capability over paper qualifications - candidates without certification but with strong verifiable experience should not be screened out.

Advantageous (Not Required)

• Existing Microsoft certification: SC-300, MD-102, MS-700, SC-401, or MS-102.
• Experience with PSA/ticketing platforms (Atera, ConnectWise, or similar).
• Exposure to Microsoft Graph API or scripting (PowerShell) for administration and automation.

5. Key Competencies

• Technical judgement - can diagnose and resolve without handholding.
• Reliability - this role exists specifically so critical functions don't depend on one person; consistency matters more than brilliance.
• Communication - able to explain technical issues clearly to the Junior Technician and, when directed, to clients.
• Boundary awareness - recognises what falls inside their technical remit versus what needs to go to the Group IT Manager.

6. What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months

• Microsoft 365 / Entra ID administration across all client tenants runs reliably without the Group IT Manager's direct involvement.
• Escalated tickets are resolved at a senior standard, consistently, without rework.
• The Junior Technician has a clear, capable senior peer to learn from day-to-day.
• Certification commitment (SC-300 or MD-102) is on track or completed.

7. Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: R28,000 - R35,000 per month, benchmarked against South African market data for senior IT technicians with strong Microsoft 365 / Entra ID specialisation.
• Placement within the band to be based on years of relevant experience and whether the candidate already holds relevant certification.

Pay: R28 000,00 - R35 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person