Microsoft 365 Platform Administrator

Whitworth University is a residential campus shaped by learning, curiosity, and community life. This role is based on campus and requires consistent, in-person engagement.

Position Summary Whitworth University is seeking a Microsoft 365 Platform Administrator to help advance how our campus collaborates, manages information, and uses emerging technology. Serving as the university’s primary SharePoint administrator, this position supports and strengthens Whitworth’s broader Microsoft 365 environment, including Teams, OneDrive, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and related collaboration and automation tools. The role works closely with academic and administrative departments to improve business processes, strengthen information governance, develop effective collaboration solutions, and help employees make meaningful use of Microsoft 365 and AI-enabled technologies. For someone who enjoys solving problems, improving systems, and helping people use technology more effectively, this position offers the opportunity to influence both Whitworth’s Microsoft 365 environment and its growing use of Copilot and AI.

Core Responsibilities SharePoint Administration | 40%

• Serve as the primary administrator and technical lead for the university’s SharePoint environment.
• Design, implement, and maintain SharePoint communication sites, team sites, hub sites, document libraries, lists, content types, metadata structures, and information architecture.
• Establish and maintain SharePoint standards, site provisioning processes, ownership models, permission structures, content lifecycle management, and retention strategies.
• Manage SharePoint security, permissions, external sharing configurations, and access requests while ensuring compliance with university policies and data protection requirements.
• Plan and execute migrations from file shares, legacy repositories, and third-party systems into SharePoint.
• Monitor SharePoint utilization, storage growth, performance, compliance requirements, and overall platform health.

Microsoft 365 Platform Administration | 25%

• Administer and support M365 applications including Teams, OneDrive, Microsoft Groups, Planner, Forms, and related collaboration technologies.
• Assist with administration of Entra ID, licensing, M365 groups, collaboration permissions, and cloud service integrations.
• Configure and support M365 retention policies, sensitivity labels, compliance features, information protection controls, and content governance policies.
• Develop PowerShell automation and administrative processes to improve operational efficiency and consistency.
• Evaluate and implement new M365 features and services to support institutional goals and improve user productivity.
• Participate in project planning, testing, implementation, and support activities related to Microsoft technologies.
• Document procedures and best practices for system administration and user adoption.

Microsoft Copilot Administration & AI Enablement | 20%

• Administer Copilot licensing, deployment, user provisioning, and service configurations.
• Support institutional AI policies by implementing relevant controls and standards in Copilot and AI technologies.
• Monitor Copilot adoption, utilization, security considerations, and effectiveness across departments.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity through the use of Copilot, automation, and Microsoft AI technologies.
• Develop recommendations and best practices for responsible use of artificial intelligence within academic and administrative environments.
• Assist departments in developing prompts, workflows, agents, and use cases that leverage Copilot capabilities.

End User Support & Training | 10%

• Support end users in their utilization of SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Copilot, and other M365 applications.
• Consult with departments to identify collaboration needs, information management challenges, workflow opportunities, and business process improvements.
• Develop user documentation, training materials, and support procedures.
• Conduct training sessions and awareness workshops related to Copilot and AI-enabled services.
• Assist with implementation of workflow automation solutions using Power Automate, Forms, and other Microsoft 365 technologies.

Additional Responsibilities | 5%

• Participate in technology planning initiatives related to cloud collaboration, document management, automation, and artificial intelligence.
• Assist with data governance, information management, records retention, and compliance initiatives.
• Participate in technology committees, user groups, and training opportunities to maintain current knowledge of Microsoft technologies and industry best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director, Network Services and Chief Security Officer (CSO).
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications and Core Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, information technology, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, relevant experience, training, and/or certifications.
• Professional experience administering or supporting Microsoft 365, including SharePoint Online and related collaboration technologies.
• Experience managing permissions, access, sharing, document management, or information governance within a cloud-based environment.
• Experience troubleshooting technical issues and working with technical and non-technical users to identify needs and implement effective solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and support evolving cloud, automation, and AI technologies.
• A personal commitment to the Christian faith.
• An active commitment to equal opportunity for all persons.
• A commitment to the educational mission of Whitworth University as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church.

Preferred

• Advanced experience administering and governing SharePoint Online, including site architecture, permissions, information architecture, and content management.
• Experience administering Microsoft 365 services such as Teams, OneDrive, Entra ID, Microsoft 365 Groups, or Microsoft Purview.
• Experience with Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot agents, or other enterprise AI technologies.
• Experience with PowerShell, Microsoft Graph, or Power Platform tools for administration, workflow, and automation.
• Relevant Microsoft certifications and/or experience supporting Microsoft 365 in higher education or another complex organization.

Core Competencies

• Strong ability to administer, troubleshoot, and continuously improve Microsoft 365 and collaboration technologies.
• Ability to apply effective practices for permissions, information architecture, data governance, security, and content lifecycle management.
• Ability to analyze business needs and develop practical technology, workflow, and automation solutions.
• Ability to build effective relationships and communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to learn, evaluate, and responsibly apply rapidly evolving cloud, automation, and AI technologies.

Other Details Schedule Full-time (1.0 FTE) | 12 months | 40 hours per week Whitworth office hours are 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday – Friday

Whitworth University is a Christian liberal arts university. Our shared mission is to provide our diverse students with an education of mind and heart, equipping them to honor God, follow Christ, and serve humanity. We seek candidates who are willing to engage with the university’s mission and integrate their Christian faith into their work.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, faith statement, and contact information for at least three professional references. A background check and sexual misconduct check will be required of the successful candidate.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain valid work authorization throughout the duration of employment, including those on OPT. Whitworth University does not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Benefits

At Whitworth University, we are committed to supporting the well-being of our faculty, staff, and their families by offering an extensive benefits package. Eligible employees can enjoy a variety of benefits, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Employer-matched 403 (b) retirement plan
• Tuition remission programs available for employees, their spouses, and dependents
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Accrued vacation and sick leave based on full-time equivalency (FTE). All staff accrue 8 hours of sick leave per month and 10 to 20 days of vacation per year, depending on employee category.
• 2 days of Floating Holiday leave based on full-time equivalency (FTE)
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program
• Resources for Christian vocation and calling
• No cost access to the University Recreation Center (UREC) and the Megan E. Thompson Aquatic Center
• 15 paid holidays throughout the year

To discover more about these offerings, please visit our benefits page. You are on this webpage because a position at Whitworth sparked your curiosity. If you find yourself questioning hitting the apply button because you might not meet 100% of the qualifications, we think you should do it! When you click apply and submit an application, your application is reviewed by a committee of real, living, and breathing human beings who want to understand your background, experience and skills to find ways you relate to the key competencies needed for success in the position.

Looking for resources to help with writing a faith statement? Check out our faith statement resource page for more information.

Whitworth complies with all federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws that are applicable to religious nonprofit institutions and does not engage in unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation, sex, or disability. With our Christ-centered commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community, the university encourages applications from populations underrepresented at Whitworth including members of racial/ethnic communities, women, and persons with disabilities.

Online applications are stored on a secure site. Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the information submitted.

It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.