Service Architect; Azure & M365

Service Architect - Azure & Microsoft 365

Day Rate Contract | £500pd-£550pd Outside IR35 | UK‑based | Hybrid

We're looking for an experienced Service Architect (Azure & Microsoft 365) to support the operationalisation and go‑live of a newly built managed service for one of our key clients.

This role is focused on turning a newly delivered service into something that can run day‑to‑day - ensuring it is supportable, scalable, clearly understood, and fit for live operation.

You'll act as the bridge between solution delivery, operations, and managed service teams, making sure Azure and M365 services transition cleanly into BAU with the right processes, governance and service models in place.

• Owning the service architecture and operational readiness for a new managed service built by the client
• Designing and documenting support models, service catalogues, RACI, SLAs/OLAs and escalation paths
• Working closely with Azure and M365 technical teams to translate designs into supportable live services
• Leading service transition and go‑live activities, including early life support and hypercare
• Ensuring alignment to ITIL v4 practices and managed service standards
• Defining monitoring, alerting, incident, change and problem flows for Azure & M365 platforms
• Acting as the key point of assurance that the service is "ready to run" before go‑live

• Strong experience as a Service Architect / Service Design & Transition Lead
• Practical, hands‑on knowledge of Azure and Microsoft 365 services (you don't need to be an engineer, but you do need real platform understanding)
• Proven experience ope rationalising cloud‑based managed services
• Solid grasp of ITIL v4, service acceptance and transition into BAU
• Experience working with multiple stakeholder groups (delivery, operations, client, suppliers)
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, build‑to‑run environments